'It's a shame': Fallen deputy constable had quit mall job at time of death, authorities identify gunman

The late San Jacinto County Precinct 1 Deputy Constable Neil Adams had quit his off-duty job as a security guard at the PlazAmericas Mall at the time of his passing on Feb. 23 at the age of 62, according to Houston ABC affiliate KTRK.

According to San Jacinto Precinct 1 Deputy Constable Roy Rogers, Adams was hours away from completing his last shift on what was supposed to be his last day at the Southwest Houston shopping center at 7500 Bellaire Blvd. when he was fatally shot by a shopper.

Adams divulged to San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers that he told his wife, Dee Dee, that the mall was rife with safety issues that caused him to quit, KTRK reported.

Rogers said Adams worked at PlazAmericas to supplement his income, which was purportedly equaled to less than $40,000 a year.

"It's a shame you can't make a living doing what you love doing," the constable told KTRK.

Authorities identified the alleged gunman as 35-year-old Czyz Harrison. 

Harrison purportedly took selfies before causing a disturbance at the Casanova Collezioni store to which Adams was summoned, according to KTRK.

Adams and Harrison then engaged in a scuffle when the latter grabbed the officer's gun and shot him with it, authorities said.

Police tracked Harrison down to the food court, where he was shot after he rushed toward them brandishing a sharp object.

Unidentified witnesses said they heard multiple gunshots throughout the ordeal.

"We heard five shots right there too and that's when we started just running to the back of the store," one mall employee told KTRK. "There were kids here too, with families."

First responders rushed both Adams and Harrison to the hospital where they died.

In memory of Adams, San Jacinto County lowered its flags to half-staff.

The Houston Chronicle reported that the county seat of Coldspring, which is almost 65 miles northeast of Houston, was immersed in hush grief but county staff and officials still reported to work more than 12 hours after Adams died.

“It’s our job, we have to do our jobs,” a tearful Dawn Wright, the San Jacinto County Clerk, told the publication.