The first Sikh sheriff's deputy to wear a turban while on duty in Texas was gunned down during what was meant to be a routine traffic stop.
Harris County Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal was shot in the back of the head during a traffic stop on Friday. According to The Associated Press, the 42-year-old stopped his alleged killer, Robert Solis, for a slew of warrants. Dashcam footage from the stop showed the wanted fugitive seemingly complying with Dhaliwal, but when the deputy returned to his squad car, Solis fired upon him.
“He was just a gem of a person. He was a beautiful soul,” Simran Jeet Singh, a senior religion fellow at the New York-based Sikh Coalition, told The Associated Press. “Everyone who knew him admired him greatly.”
Horrific news. Lt. Sandeep Dhaliwal, the first ever Sikh officer to wear a turban in Texas was shot and killed in the line of duty today.
A good man devoted to serving others. Please offer your love and prayers for his family. pic.twitter.com/lVjTQVpEHu
— Simran Jeet Singh (@SikhProf) September 27, 2019
Dhaliwal was a devoted follower of the Sikh faith. He leaves behind a wife and three children. In 2015, the trailblazing officer made history when the sheriff's office changed its policies to adhere to his faith. He was allowed to grow out his facial hair and wear a turban while on duty.
The Houston Chronicle reports Solis had a female passenger in the car at the time of the shooting. He drove away after and abandoned the getaway car in a Kroger parking lot near the scene. The murder weapon, .45-caliber Glock, was also found discarded near a restaurant in the area.
This video captures the essence of who Deputy Dhaliwal was. He touched countless of lives along the way. A legacy that will never be forgotten. We will aspire to be as good as he was. #HouNews
#lesm
https://t.co/c3i2eBBLMv— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) September 28, 2019
Solis was seen exiting a Marble Slab Creamery near the restaurant. An officer identified him, and Solis became irate when the officer tried to arrest him. He was detained and charged with capital murder of a police officer and denied bond during a court hearing on Saturday.
According to Heavy, the 47-year-old has an extensive criminal record. He was convicted of two felonies due to an incident on February 11, 2002. Solis confronted his cousin's boyfriend while brandishing a gun. She told Solis he abused her, and Solis went to the boyfriend's home and attacked him. In 2016 and 2017, he had run-ins with the law for driving while intoxicated and violating parole. He also reportedly struggles with schizophrenia.
