Police: Capital murder charges likely in Texas cop’s death

This undated photo provided by the Fort Worth Police Department shows Fort Worth police officer Garrett Hull. Hull, sn undercover officer who was shot during a gun battle between police and a group of robbery suspects outside of a Fort Worth bar that left one suspect dead has died, authorities said Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. ( Fort Worth Police Department via AP)

HOUSTON –  Two men arrested in the fatal shooting of a North Texas undercover police officer during a bar robbery are expected to face capital murder charges, police said Saturday.

Samuel Mayfield and Timothy Huff remained jailed Saturday on bonds totaling $850,000 for each individual. Each suspect has been charged with 10 counts of aggravated robbery and two counts of criminal attempted capital murder.

Police said that Mayfield and Huff, both 33, and another suspect, Dacion Steptoe, 23, were confronted by Officer Garrett Hull and a team of undercover and uniformed officers after the trio robbed a Fort Worth Bar early Friday morning.

The 40-year-old officer was shot by Steptoe during a foot chase. Hull was taken to a hospital where he died late Friday night. Steptoe was killed at the scene by another officer who returned fire.

Fort Worth police said Saturday that with Hull’s death, authorities expect to upgrade the charges faced by Huff and Mayfield.

Police say one of the attempted capital murder counts each man faces is expected to be upgraded to capital murder. The remaining attempted capital murder charge relates to another officer that police say was shot at by the suspects.

Jail records didn’t list attorneys for Huff and Mayfield.

Police said Mayfield, Huff and Steptoe are suspected in 17 robberies in and around Fort Worth in recent months, and that they primarily targeted Latino bars.

Hull is being remembered by police and city officials as a brilliant officer and a great husband and father.

"Our whole department is hurting right now," said Fort Worth Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald.

The police chief said that Hull was an organ donor.

"Over the next few days as candidates are matched up with him, we will see him prolong the lives of other folks that potentially can live a long and prosperous life because of the sacrifice that he made," Fitzgerald said.

Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price called Hull a hero who was "the glue that held his unit together."

Hull, who is survived by a wife and two daughters, had served 17 years with the department.

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Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter at www.twitter.com/juanlozano70

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