At approximately 6:40 a.m. on Tuesday, May 22, 2001, Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Joseph N. Dennis assigned to Patrol District I, responded to a Family Disturbance call at 9530 Maple Leaf in northern Harris County. Upon arriving he found the call was related to an Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. The reportee was the sister of the suspect. While Deputy Dennis was writing the offense report the suspect drove past the residence. The reportee pointed at the suspect and alerted Deputy Dennis that he had just driven by. Deputy Dennis immediately pursued the suspect for approximately one-mile and stopped him at the dead end of the 9900 block of Oakland Circle. While attempting to handcuff the suspect, the suspect shot Deputy Dennis in the head. The suspect was apprehended approximately eight hours later. At the time of his arrest the suspect was wearing Deputy Dennis’ handcuffs on his left hand and he had Deputy Dennis’ duty weapon. The suspect was also in possession of the 25-caliber handgun that he used to shoot and kill Deputy Dennis. The suspect was subsequently found guilty of Capital Murder of a Peace Officer and is currently on death row.

Deputy Dennis was a 10-year patrol deputy and a 14-year veteran of the Department. At the time of his death he was survived by his wife, Rene’ Dennis, also a Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy, and his two children, Brandon Joseph age 9 and Chelsea Rene’ age 5. Rene’s father, Roy McDonald, was also a deputy with the Harris County Sheriff’s Department.