April 24--A shootout near the Johnson County town of Venus left a gunman and a sheriff's deputy dead Saturday afternoon, and a walkie-talkie on the belt of a second deputy deflected a bullet.
Three deputies were dispatched to answer a domestic disturbance.
They first went to the front door of a house, then to a shed on the property, where a man inside opened fire, the Sheriff's Department said.
The gunman was fatally shot when deputies returned fire, Johnson County Sheriff Bob Alford said.
Killed was Deputy Clifton Taylor, 31, who had been with the department a little more than three years and was engaged to be married.
Taylor was shot three times, in his neck, his side and his back, likely when he was falling to the ground, Alford said. He was pronounced dead at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth after being flown by medical helicopter from the scene.
Alford said at a news conference outside JPS Hospital that Taylor was a "dedicated officer" who was "exemplified by his actions today."
"I can't say enough what a fine officer Clifton Taylor was ... what a fine man he was," the sheriff said. "He attended church with me. He will be missed."
The gunman, identified as Wesley Davis, 47, of Oklahoma, was killed when two other deputies and a Venus police officer returned fire, Alford said.
Taylor was the first deputy at the scene in the 2200 block of Eagle Court, just outside the Venus city limits, he said.
A family member told Taylor that Davis had fled to a shed with a handgun and "that he needed to be careful."
Alford said Davis opened fire with a .380 pistol when the officers approached the shed.
"Our officers did return fire," he said. Sheriff's deputies carry .357 Magnums, he said.
The shootout left two families grieving, the sheriff said.
Taylor's family members "are very distraught, but they all send their prayers and concerns to the family of Davis," Alford said.
"Davis's family also said the same for them ... that they're sorry for what happened."
Texas Rangers were called to the scene, which is customary in an officer's shooting, and will investigate, Rangers Lt. Crayton McGee said.
A bullet struck Deputy Patrick Geyer's walkie-talkie, Alford said. Geyer, 39, was treated for a bruise and was released from Harris Methodist Walls Regional Hospital in Cleburne. He has been with the department for eight years.
Also responding was Deputy Eric McClelland, 25, who was not injured.
Alford said his officers are "very distraught" over the shooting.
"You deal with a lot of guilt," he said. "Guilt for not saving Clifton Taylor and the guilt for having to take the life" of another person. "It's hard on my officers."
Aside from his deputy's position, Taylor was working three off-duty jobs to boost his savings before getting married, Alford said.
Sandra Baker, 817-390-7727
