Third suspect arrested, charged in death of Harris County Deputy Darren Almendarez

HOUSTON - The third suspect authorities were searching for in connection with the death of Harris County veteran deputy Darren Almendarez has been arrested.

On Friday night, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said Fredrick Tardy was in custody.

DETAILS: Harris County deputy killed in grocery store parking lot, 2 suspects detained

Fredrick Tardy, 17, is charged in the death of Harris County Deputy Darren Almendarez. (Photo: Harris County Sheriff's Office)

Tardy, 17, is charged with Capital Murder.

Court documents show Tardy may suffer from mental illness or intellectual disability.

Two other men, Joshua Stewart and Fredarius Clark, are also charged with Capital Murder in the shooting death of Dep. Almendarez.

Harris Co. Deputy Darren Almendarez (Photo courtesy of HCSO)

The deputy was gunned down outside a grocery store Thursday night, while he was off-duty.

He approached three suspects, two who were under his truck in the parking lot, and was greeted with gunfire. Dep. Almendarez, 51, was able to return fire, hitting at least two of the suspects, despite being shot multiple times.

RELATED: 2 suspects identified, charged in murder of Harris County deputy

The suspects drove off at a high speed.

Dep. Almendarez, a 23-year veteran of HCSO, was transported to Houston Northwest Hospital where he was pronounced dead. 

Fredarius Clark (L) and Joshua Stewart (R) are charged with Capital Murder in the death of veteran Harris County Sheriff's Deputy Darren Almendarez.

Stewart, 23, and Clark, 19, arrived at the same hospital in the suspect vehicle a short time later, with gunshot wounds.

Tardy was not with them when they arrived at the hospital. He was detained the following day.

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