A tragic incident occurred during Hurricane Beryl as a Texas police officer lost his life while on his way to work, according to officials. The Houston Police Department (HPD) announced the heartbreaking news on Monday evening as the storm passed through Texas on its way north.
The officer who lost his life was identified as Russell Richardson, a member of HPD's technology services department. HPD acting police chief Larry Satterwhite expressed deep sadness in a post on social media, stating that it was a sad day for the HPD family.
Richardson, 54, was an Information Security Officer assigned to the Office of Technology Services. Tragically, he was caught in rising floodwaters on Houston Avenue, leading to the loss of his life. Satterwhite requested prayers for Richardson's family, including his wife and children, as well as his coworkers and friends.
Following HPD's announcement, social media users flooded the post with messages of sympathy and support for Richardson's loved ones and colleagues. The storm, now downgraded to a tropical storm, is projected to impact several states as it moves north towards Canada.
Since hitting Texas, Tropical Storm Beryl has resulted in at least three fatalities and left over 2.7 million people affected by power outages. The storm is expected to impact Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana in the coming days.
Efforts to gather additional information from HPD are ongoing as the community mourns the loss of Officer Richardson and grapples with the aftermath of the storm.
