HOUSTON – A man, who is one of three suspects charged in the fatal shooting of Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Darren Almendarez, has been found guilty.
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Joshua Stewart was found guilty of capital murder by a Harris County jury on Friday. He has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Stewart is one of three suspects accused in the fatal shooting of Deputy Darren Almendarez in 2022.
Almendarez, who was off duty, was out grocery shopping with his wife at the Joe V’s grocery store located at 2929 FM 1960 in North Harris County when he saw three suspects trying to steal his catalytic converter, officials said.
As Almendarez approached the suspect’s vehicle, the suspects began firing at Almendarez, striking him. Despite being struck multiple times, the deputy fired back, shooting at least two of the suspects.
Almendarez was taken to Houston Northwest Hospital, where he died.
Along with Stewart, Fredarius Clark and Fredrick James Tardy are also charged with capital murder.
Clark’s trial is scheduled to begin on May 29. Tardy has a pre-trial conference on April 14.
Since Almendarez murder, a bill named after him was signed into law.
In 2023, Gov. Greg Abbott signed the “Deputy Darren Almendarez Act” into law. The law enhances criminal penalties for offenses involving a catalytic converter.