Deputy Adam Sherifi Killed Serving Felony Warrants in Texas
A Texas deputy killed in the line of duty Tuesday night near Canton has been identified in news reports as Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Deputy Adam Sherifi, who died after being shot while assisting with the service of felony warrants, according to local media accounts. A Canton police officer was also wounded in the exchange of gunfire.
The shooting unfolded late Tuesday, October 20, 2026, in the 4300 block of State Highway 198 south of Canton, a small city in Van Zandt County in East Texas. Sheriff’s officials said deputies were assisting the Canton Police Department in serving felony arrest warrants for aggravated assault and aggravated assault on a peace officer.
What happened on State Highway 198
According to the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office, deputies and Canton police officers were deployed to a residence on State Highway 198 at about 10 p.m. Tuesday. At approximately 10:22 p.m., shots were fired from inside the home toward officers, and officers returned fire.
Sherifi, who was among the responding deputies, suffered fatal gunshot wounds. A Canton police officer was also struck and taken to a local hospital. Authorities did not release information about the wounded officer’s condition.
After the gunfire stopped, officers found the suspect dead inside the home from a gunshot wound. Officials have not said whether the suspect’s death was self-inflicted or the result of officers’ return fire.
Texas Rangers investigating the shooting
Sheriff Kevin Bridger said the Texas Rangers — the investigative division of the Texas Department of Public Safety — are investigating the shooting, which is standard procedure for officer-involved shootings in the state. The investigation is expected to reconstruct the sequence of events inside the home and determine the source of the fatal wound to the suspect.
Authorities described the shooting as an isolated incident and said there is no ongoing threat to the public. State Highway 198 was briefly closed while investigators worked the scene, and residents were asked to avoid the area overnight.
Texas deputy killed: remembering Adam Sherifi
According to reporting by Police1, Sherifi is survived by three children, including one born in September. Tributes from fellow law enforcement officers and East Texas residents began circulating online Tuesday night and into Wednesday, honoring a deputy who died while supporting officers serving dangerous felony warrants.
Details about memorial services have not yet been announced. The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office had not released an official statement about Sherifi’s tenure with the agency as of publication.
When a Texas deputy is killed in the line of duty, departments typically activate peer-support teams and begin coordinating honors funerals that draw officers from across the state. In the coming days, Van Zandt County is expected to release funeral arrangements, and fellow deputies will likely stand watch as Sherifi’s family grieves a father of three — including the newborn child born in September, according to Police1 reporting.
Line-of-duty deaths in Texas
Sherifi’s death adds to the toll of Texas law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in 2026. Serving warrants — particularly felony warrants for violent offenses — is among the most dangerous tasks in policing, often bringing officers into contact with armed suspects in confined, unpredictable settings.
- When: Tuesday night, October 20, 2026, around 10:22 p.m.
- Where: 4300 block of State Highway 198, south of Canton, Van Zandt County, Texas
- Operation: Assisting Canton PD in serving felony warrants for aggravated assault and aggravated assault on a peace officer
- Casualties: Deputy Adam Sherifi killed; one Canton police officer wounded; suspect found dead
- Investigation: Texas Rangers leading the inquiry
Community response in East Texas
Canton is a community of roughly 4,000 residents about 60 miles east of Dallas, where the sheriff’s office and the small Canton Police Department work closely together. News of the shooting brought an outpouring of support from across East Texas, with fellow officers, first responders, and residents sharing condolences and prayers for Sherifi’s family and for the wounded officer’s recovery.
Flags at law enforcement facilities in the region are expected to be lowered in Sherifi’s honor, and fellow deputies were expected to escort him to his final resting place. Funeral arrangements had not been announced as of publication.
What’s next
The Texas Rangers investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not said when further details — including the identity of the suspect and the findings of the investigation — will be released. RadioSea will update this story as official information becomes available.