Tributes have been pouring in for a Texas police officer who was gunned down as he attempted to apprehend three robbery suspects. Officer Garett Hull was placing the men under arrest at a bar in south Fort Worth when he was shot in the forehead Friday.
A massive public vigil was held last night for the slain policeman at the Bob Bolen Public Safety Center. Hull’s wife and two kids sat in the front row as officials addressed the crowd.
Hundreds of people are here for the candlelight vigil for Garrett Hull. I see police, fire fighters and other officials from departments across the state. @startelegram pic.twitter.com/IhgKsJs7hg
— Kaley (@KaleyJohnson6) September 20, 2018
“He was the man that everybody wanted as their back up…Garrett gave his life for this city, but he lived his life for his family,” declared Fort Worth Police Officers Association President, Manny Ramirez. “Garrett Hull was a remarkable man, a steadfast Christian.”
“Do the persons that ended Garrett’s life, the scumbags who go out and shoot people and rob, who shouldn’t be out on the street, deserve the same as the police officers, the firefighters, the people who serve the public daily?” added Joel Fitzgerald, Fort Worth Chief of Police, as reported by the Star-Telegram. “Did these guys even care? I doubt it.”
A huge crowd paid tribute to fallen Officer Garrett Hull of the Fort Worth Police DepartmentMore from NBC DFW: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Fort-Worth-Officer-Hull-493376331.html via Alice Barr NBC5 #NBCDFWNow
Posted by Ben Russell NBC5 on Thursday, September 20, 2018
In light of the unspeakable tragedy, Fitzgerald urged the community to assist law enforcement with fighting violent crime in the city. “At this time more than ever, we see what happens in a community where there is lawlessness, where there is fear,” he said. Where people prey on community members and people trying to bring folks to justice,” Fitzgerald said.
Sun is setting as crowd gathers at Fort Worth Police Officer Garrett Hull’s vigil. pic.twitter.com/jfEMOGiYVs
— Allison Harris (@AllisonFox4News) September 20, 2018
“Don’t make Garrett’s sacrifice anything less than a commitment to this department and, moreover, this family, to be better.”
The Burleson and Mansfield Police chiefs and their wives, along with Fort Worth Officer Matt Pearce, printed these t-shirts, on sale for $10, to directly benefit Fort Worth Police Officer Garrett Hull’s family. Selling at his vigil tonight & online: https://t.co/xJXZFMK8wc pic.twitter.com/4WEYfbR6rt
— Allison Harris (@AllisonFox4News) September 19, 2018
“It’s getting dark and I’m not saying the speech I had prepared too well right now,” Fitzgerald concluded. “But I will say this. Garrett gave his life … to maintain peace, and it’s that same peace that we gather in this evening.”
I watched this earlier today and can’t get it off of my mind. This man has put his life on the line day after day to…
Posted by Julie Kernodle McAteer on Saturday, September 15, 2018
Two of the suspects, Samuel Mayfield, 23, and Timothy Huff, 33, were charged with capital murder Saturday. The other, 23-year-old Dacion Steptoe, was shot dead after firing at officer Hull. Steptoe’s partner, Julia Ruffin, posted on Facebook Friday, saying that she had tried to convince him to get away from his life of crime.
“He just wanted to get some money and give me and our boys the world!” she wrote. “I tried to show him a better way of life. I begged him and told him every day it was only two options in these streets. I begged him every day to get out and come home to us. I never thought I would loose (sic) u this way!”
As Fort Worth Police Chaplain Dean Nichols closed the vigil in prayer. Garrett’s family each lit a candle in memory of the heroic officer.
Officer Garrett Hull’s family lighting first candles at the vigil. pic.twitter.com/KfERygkfru
— Allison Harris (@AllisonFox4News) September 20, 2018
“At this moment of trial and this moment of heaviness, we thank you that Officer Hull is in your kingdom and in your presence,” Nichols declared. “Because he was one of your saints.”