MESQUITE, Texas — With heavy hearts, hundreds gathered in front of the Mesquite Police Department headquarters Sunday in honor of officer Richard Houston.
The fallen officer's mother, brother and nephew attended the candlelight vigil showing courage and prayed with the community.
Houston was shot Friday afternoon while responding to a disturbance near an Albertson's grocery store in the 1500 block of South Beltline Road in Mesquite.
There was an exchange of gunfire between Houston and the suspect, identified as 37-year-old Jamie Jaramillo, of Balch Springs, according to police. The officer was taken to Baylor Medical Center in Dallas, where he died.
At Sunday's vigil, a heartbroken community continued to mourn the loss of the 21-year veteran of the police force. Houston was a married father of three children.
The wife of another Mesquite officer talked about her husband's last interaction with Houston. "Saw him on Tuesday. They joked and had a good laugh together, and that was the last time he saw him."
Funeral arrangements were also made Sunday, and Mesquite police said the public is welcome to attend. The service is set for Thursday, Dec. 9 at Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall. Visitation is from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and the service is scheduled for 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Houston had received 48 letters of commendation in his career as an officer, according to police, including two life-saving awards.
In April, he was honored with a Certificate of Merit when he helped prevent a suicide attempt by a person accused of stealing a car.
The Mesquite Police Department said a donation page was set up to help the Houston family.
The suspect, Jaramillo, was last reported in critical condition at a hospital. Police said Jaramillo's charges will include capital murder of a peace officer.
Further details on the incident were not released as the investigation continues.