Reuben Becerra DeLeon Jr., a 31-year-old Hispanic male, tragically lost his life on October 26, 2005, in Houston, Texas. Officer DeLeon, who was off-duty at the time, was shot multiple times by two suspects who knocked on the door of an apartment reserved for officers working security. The suspects were later identified as gang members participating in a gang initiation, knowing that police officers used the apartment.
The suspects were seen fleeing the scene by another off-duty officer
and witnesses. Following a thorough investigation, two suspects were arrested. The suspect who shot Officer DeLeon was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison. Officer DeLeon, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, had served with the Houston Police Department for eight months and was survived by his wife and three children.
Officer DeLeon's funeral was held on October 29, 2005, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Rosenberg, Texas. He was buried in the Greenlawn Memorial Cemetery in Fort Bend County.
This tragic incident highlights the dangers faced by law enforcement officers, even when off-duty, and the impact such losses have on their families and communities.
