Deputy constable and accused killer had 'cordial interaction' before murder, court records say
GALVESTON COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- Harris County prosecutors say Precinct 4 deputy constable Cpl. Maher Husseini and the man accused of killing him spoke for several minutes before the murder.
The suspect, Athir Murady, was officially charged with murder Thursday and stood before a judge in the morning. His face was still cut up after his dramatic arrest.
Murady remains in the Galveston County Jail, where a judge denied him bond on an evading arrest charge.
Video from Wednesday shows deputies walking Murady to the jail. The visible facial injuries were reportedly from a police K-9's bite during his arrest.
SEE ALSO: Man pulled from Galveston Bay during deputy murder manhunt identified, Galveston Co. DA says
In newly released court documents, prosecutors say Husseini's dashcam video shows the suspect and victim met 10 to 15 minutes before the murder at an address that comes back to the victim's private security business.
According to documents, the video shows the suspect walking up to the victim's car. The two shake hands and have a cordial interaction, then move to the back of the victim's vehicle and speak for several minutes. The two drove off, and the victim was shot about 1.3 miles away.
Prosecutors said the suspect shot the victim 13 times, including five shots to the head and seven to the left shoulder and chest area. They believe the suspect used a revolver.
Galveston police officers searched the suspect's vehicle and reportedly found multiple revolver speed loaders, which are used to load gun chambers quickly. They also allege to have seen more weapon equipment and several cell phones and laptops. Investigators didn't recover any guns from the suspect's vehicle, though.
Prosecutors have not said whether the victim and the suspect knew each other before the day of the shooting.
Authorities said Murady got out of his own vehicle and ambushed Husseini while he sat in his SUV at a red light on Fondren Road and Richmond Avenue in southwest Houston on Tuesday afternoon.
First responders rushed Husseini to Ben Taub Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Sources told ABC13 that Husseini's camera in his car captured the killing. A Harris County prosecutor was in Galveston on Wednesday night to question the suspect.
After the shooting, officials said Murady took off. He was captured, in part, thanks to an attentive Galveston deputy city marshal who was driving home when he spotted a vehicle matching the suspect's description and called police.
WATCH: Deputy city marshal's firsthand account of the moment he spotted the suspect
"I kind of watch it, and I kind of don't want to watch it because I know what happened earlier in the day," Sgt. Nick Yeley said. "We're all family. We all wear a uniform. We're all sisters and brothers in this, and when one of my brothers goes down, it hurts my heart, and I want to say his family is in our prayers. It's hard for us."
After he was spotted, Murady allegedly led deputies on a chase through a neighborhood, drove straight into Galveston Bay, and treaded water for about half an hour before being taken into custody 60 miles away from the initial shooting scene.
When a law enforcement boat finally got him out, police said he kept resisting, even after a police K-9 bit him.
ORIGINAL REPORT: Man accused of gunning down Pct. 4 deputy in custody after driving into Galveston Bay: Authorities
Pct. 4 Constable Mark Herman said he promoted Husseini, who has been with the agency since 2021, a week ago.
Husseini's brother told ABC13 he was married and leaves behind children.
"It's too much. There's total chaos in our communities and we got to get it fixed," Herman said. "My mentality with law enforcement, and all of you know me, is to fight, fight, fight. The only thing these criminals understand is force."
Meanwhile, Husseini's funeral was held on Thursday. Mourners remembered him as an amazing human and someone who was loved and respected by many.
