Texas Officer Elijah Garretson Killed While Arresting Wanted Fugitive
Copperas Cove Police Officer Elijah Garretson, 27, was shot and killed while attempting to arrest 26-year-old fugitive Jamison Cavazos, who was wanted for engaging in organized criminal activity and failing to appear in court as of Jan. 10, Texas officials said. According to State Sen. Pete Flores, Garretson and two other officers struggled with Cavazos during the arrest attempt when Cavazos opened fire, fatally wounding Garretson before fleeing and later dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a prolonged negotiation at a second location. The Texas Rangers are investigating the shooting, and two pistols were recovered from Cavazos. Garretson, a New Hampshire native and former U.S. Army sergeant stationed at Fort Hood, had graduated from the police academy in June 2025 as its Academic Honor Graduate and was credited with saving a fellow cadet’s life during training. He leaves behind a wife and 5-year-old daughter, and law enforcement communities in Texas and New Hampshire have publicly honored his service and sacrifice.
📌 Key Facts
- Officer Elijah Garretson, 27, was killed while trying to arrest fugitive Jamison Cavazos in Copperas Cove, Texas.
- Cavazos, 26, was wanted for engaging in organized criminal activity and failure to appear, and died from a self-inflicted gunshot as officers closed in after a standoff.
- The Texas Rangers are leading the investigation, and two pistols were recovered from Cavazos.
- Garretson was a former U.S. Army sergeant, an Academic Honor Graduate of his 2025 police academy class, and is survived by a wife and 5-year-old daughter.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2023, approximately 38% of known offenders who feloniously killed law enforcement officers in the United States were Black or African American, while Black or African American individuals comprise about 13.6% of the U.S. population.
Officers Killed and Assaulted in the Line of Duty, 2023 Special Report — FBI LEOKA
In 2019, Black or African American individuals accounted for 51.3% of arrests for murder in the United States, compared to their 13.6% share of the population, which may relate to the overrepresentation in offenders who kill police.
Crime in the United States 2019 - Table 43 — FBI Uniform Crime Reporting
As of 2023, the racial composition of Copperas Cove, Texas, is approximately 52.4% White (non-Hispanic), 20% Hispanic, and 14.3% Black, with a population of about 37,100.
Copperas Cove Demographics | Current Texas Census Data — Texas-Demographics.com
📰 Source Timeline (1)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time