Milam County deputy will recover after being shot near Rockdale

ROCKDALE, Texas (KBTX) - A Milam County deputy shot twice Wednesday afternoon outside Rockdale will recover, according to Milam County Sheriff Mike Clore.

Deputy Samuel Ferguson IV was taken by PHI Life Flight to Baylor Scott & White Temple and remains in stable condition as of Thursday afternoon.

The shooting happened around 2:00 p.m. Wednesday in the 100 block of Inwood Drive near Western Hills Road and Highway 79.

Ferguson IV, who serves as the department’s mental health deputy, was on a mental health-related call along with Central County Services when he was shot. During the assessment, Sheriff Clore says the gunman became uncooperative while showing suicidal tendencies and it was determined that he was in crisis and a danger to himself and others. When Deputy Ferguson tried to take the man for an emergency order of detention, the man opened fire on the deputy.

Deputy Ferguson IV was hit multiple times and returned fire, fatally striking the gunman.

His name has not been released.

Deputy Ferguson IV has been in law enforcement for more than 28 years, according to Sheriff Clore. He served with the University of Texas Police Department from 1992-2014 and he’s been with the Milam County Sheriff’s Office since Oct. 2015. He is licensed as a Master Peace Officer and a Mental Health Officer.

The Texas Rangers have been requested to investigate the officer involved in the shooting.

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