Samuel Leonard Wiki – Samuel Leonard Biography
Samuel Leonard was a father who was one of the two Concho County Sheriff’s deputies killed when responding to a dog complaint in Eden, Texas. The second deputy was identified as Stephen Jones, and an Eden city employee was also critically wounded. The murder suspect, Jeffrey Nicholas, 28, has been arrested and charged with capital murder.
The deputies and city employees were dispatched at about 8:40 p.m. Monday, May 10. Officials said in a statement that the situation quickly turned violent.
“An altercation occurred which quickly escalated to gunfire,” the statement said.
The Concho County Sheriff’s Office is collecting donations for the families of both deputies, they wrote in a Facebook post. Neighbors told San Angelo Live deputies first encountered Nicholas in his vehicle. They said he fled, barricaded himself in his home and opened fire.
Samuel Leonard Age
Samuel Leonard was 26 years old.
Family
Zach Leonard wasn’t surprised when his brother took a career in law enforcement, he wrote in a touching tribute. He wrote that from the time Samuel Leonard was a young boy, he was a protector of the innocent. Of his brother’s career in law enforcement, he wrote, “It was what he was born to do.”
Zach said his brother was his best friend, and he often called him to share what was on his mind.
The post said:
I’m at a loss right now and my heart isn’t just broken, it’s shattered, but I feel like I need to say a few words about my brother and best friend, Samuel Leonard.
Sam was the type of person who looked out for the innocent from the time he was a little kid, once getting into a fist fight on the playground with older, bigger kids because they were picking on his twin brother. I wasn’t surprised when he told me he was going into law enforcement, it was what he was born to do.
He was a wonderful brother and friend and although this is senseless and I’m struggling with the fact that I won’t be able to just call him up and laugh about something random like we always did, I don’t mourn like someone who has no hope. I don’t hope his soul is at rest, I know. Because of our faith in Jesus, I know that eternity will be spent with him and that provides for moments of peace. Rest easy program. I love you dearly and will see you soon.
Leonard was married with a young daughter, Facebook posts said. His funeral will be held at First Baptist Church Monday, May 17, 2021, according to his obituary.
“If anyone is wanting to send anything to the families of Stephen Jones or Samuel Leonard, please send items to PO Box 67 in Paint Rock or bring by the Sheriff Office in Eden and we will make sure the families receive them. Accounts are being set up at both Eden State Bank and Paint Rock Bank to benefit both families. Thank you!” the office wrote in a Facebook post.
Neighbors Recounted the Police Chase
Witnesses told San Angelo Live that the situation rapidly increased from the time deputies approached Nicholas in his vehicle to a gun battle that cost two deputies their lives. Eden City Mayor Pete Torres, who lives around the corner from Nicholas, was among the eyewitnesses to the deadly shooting and convinced Nicholas to surrender after about 30 minutes barricaded, the news station reported.
Several witnesses recounted the scene, with one saying the deadly situation began when officers conducted a traffic stop on Nicholas near his home. The witness told the news outlet they heard police talking to Nicholas, saying “Roll your window down and then put up your hands.” Instead, the driver fled, the witness said.
Soon after, there was gunfire, with nine or 10 gunshots and “people shooting back and forth…”
Another witness reported hearing the suspect yelling “Those aren’t my dogs. You are always harassing me and tasing me..,” the person told the news outlet.
Nicholas then shouted about his Constitutional Rights, witnesses told the news outlet.
Neighbors told reporters there are six dogs in the neighborhood “that are vicious that control the neighborhood.”
The suspect was arrested by Texas Rangers and booked into the Tom Green County Jail at 5:38 a.m. Tuesday, May 11, 2021, on a $4 million bond, $2 million for each count of capital murder of a peace officer, according to the county’s jail roster.
The Bodies of the Fallen Deputies Were Escorted
Fellow police officers mourned the loss of the two fallen Concho County sheriff’s deputies, writing condolences on their social media pages. You can watch a video of the full procession here.
Video: A procession arrived in Lubbock Tuesday morning with the bodies of two Concho County Sheriff’s deputies who were killed in the line of duty Monday night in Eden. An autopsy on both deputies will be performed here in Lubbock. pic.twitter.com/uDN39zj3ZT
— KLBK News (@KLBKNews) May 11, 2021
“We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the Concho County Sherriff Department on the loss of two of their deputies in the line of duty Monday evening,” the Lubbock Police Department wrote on Twitter.
Lubbock Police Department organized a procession to escort the bodies of the officers. Video of the procession showed a long line of emergency vehicles escorting the bodies.
“The Lubbock Police Department is heartbroken at the loss of two Concho County Sheriff’s Deputies who were killed in the line of duty Monday evening,” they wrote. Lubbock Police shared details of the route, and asked the public to “lift up the families, both blood and blue, of these two heroes.”
“When a police officer is killed, it’s not an agency that loses an officer, it’s an entire nation,” Officer Down Memorial Page Founder Chris Cosgriff wrote on the website.
The Officer Down Memorial Page said there have been 119 officers killed in the line of duty in 2021.
“Please pray for the families and friends of the two Concho County Deputies who were shot and killed in the line of duty last evening,” the National Fraternal Order of Police said in a statement on Twitter. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Concho County Sheriff’s Office.”
The Pflugerville ISD Police Department also sent their sympathies to the families.
“The Pflugerville ISD Police Department sends our condolences & prayers for peace and comfort to the families of Deputy Samuel Leonard & Sergeant Stephen Jones and our blue family at the Concho County Sheriff’s Office ~ Rest easy brothers, we have it from here,” they wrote on Twitter.