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Murder Of Sheriff's Deputy Prompts Debate Over Anti-Cop Rhetoric

This undated photo provided by the Harris County Sheriff's Office shows sheriff's deputy Darren Goforth who was fatally shot Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. Goforth, was pumping gas into his vehicle when a man approached him from behind and fired multiple shots, Harris County Sheriff's Office spokesman Ryan Sullivan told The Associated Press. (Harris County Sheriff's Office via AP)
This undated photo provided by the Harris County Sheriff's Office shows sheriff's deputy Darren Goforth who was fatally shot Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. Goforth, was pumping gas into his vehicle when a man approached him from behind and fired multiple shots, Harris County Sheriff's Office spokesman Ryan Sullivan told The Associated Press. (Harris County Sheriff's Office via AP)

Last Friday night, police say an African-American man named Shannon Miles targeted a white Houston-area sheriff’s deputy at a gas station and killed him, for no apparent reason.

The local sheriff blamed the rhetoric of the Black Lives Matter movement for the death of Harris County sheriff’s deputy Darren Goforth. Black Lives Matter activists are criticizing that claim.

The Houston Chronicle quoted a Black Lives Matter leader, Deray McKesson, as saying: “I grieve for the victims of violence. It is unfortunate that Sheriff Hickman has chosen to politicize this tragedy and to attribute the officer’s death to a movement that seeks to end violence.”

Here & Now’s Robin Young discusses the story with Craig Cohen, host of Houston Matters on Houston Public Media.

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