In the quiet community of Copperas Cove, Texas, a dedicated public servant, 27-year-old Police Officer Elijah Garretson, lost his life in the line of duty on January 11, 2026. A U.S. Army veteran, Garretson had served with the Copperas Cove Police Department for seven months, having graduated from the police academy in June 2025 as the Academic Honor Graduate of his class. Even during his training, he was recognized for saving a fellow cadet's life.
He is survived by his wife and daughter.
The tragic events unfolded late on the night of January 10, 2026, when Officer Garretson was shot and killed. An officer-involved shooting occurred near the intersection of Great Hills Drive and Lost Trail. The Texas Department of Public Safety later identified the suspect as 26-year-old Jamison Wade Cavazos of Lampasas, Texas.
Following the shooting of Officer Garretson, law enforcement tracked Cavazos to another location. After a lengthy negotiation with authorities, Cavazos died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The investigation into the incident has been taken over by the Texas Rangers, a standard procedure for officer-involved shootings in the state.
Further details revealed that Cavazos had a criminal history. At the time of the incident, he was on deferred adjudication for a charge of Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity and had recently pleaded "true" to a new offense of Driving While Intoxicated. A warrant for his arrest was issued on January 9, 2026, after he failed to appear in court for sentencing. Law enforcement agencies and communities across Central Texas expressed their condolences and support for Officer Garretson's family and the Copperas Cove Police Department in the wake of this tragic loss.
