On Monday, October 23, 2000 shortly before 2:00 p.m., Deputy John C. Risley, assigned to Patrol District IV, responded to a disturbance call near Tomball. Apparently when Deputy Risley arrived at the scene, a 70-year-old retired oil worker, who was armed with a shotgun, confronted him. The suspect believed his neighbors were involved with organized crime and was intent on resolving it himself. There were no obvious signs that the suspect was suffering from any kind of mental illness. The neighbors had called the police after the elderly suspect confronted them on their doorstep. Deputy Risley was at the residence for about 20 minutes when he called for backup. The backup deputy was heading for the location when a 911 call came from the house reporting that shots had been fired. The suspect shot and killed Deputy Risley before backup arrived. When the backup deputy arrived on the scene he saw the suspect sitting on the porch. He asked the suspect where Deputy Risley was and the suspect motioned toward Deputy Risley’s body. The suspect then raised his shotgun toward the backup deputy and a gun battle erupted with the backup deputy returning fire and killing the suspect. Paramedics at the scene were unable to revive Deputy Risley. A Life Flight Helicopter transported him to Memorial Hermann Hospital where he was pronounced dead at approximately 3 p.m. Deputy Risley’s fellow deputies knew him as a giving man who was devoted to his family. He was married and had two daughters, ages 16 and 11. Deputy John C. Risley was 38 years old and a 10-year veteran of the Department. Deputy Risley was the 30th deputy to die in the line of duty.