MANCHESTER, N.H. —

A New Hampshire native working as a police officer in Texas was killed in the line of duty over the weekend.

Elijah Garretson, a police officer with the Copperas Cove Police Department in Texas, was killed Saturday in a shooting.

Few details have been released, but police said a suspect in the shooting was later located and, after a lengthy negotiation attempt, killed himself. The Texas Rangers are investigating the shooting.

ABC affiliate KXXV said a state senator identified the suspect as Jamison Cavazos, 26. State Sen. Pete Flores said Garretson was shot and killed while “attempting to apprehend a fugitive wanted for engaging in organized criminal activity and failure to appear in court.”

Garretson grew up in New Hampshire and graduated from Manchester Memorial High School. Southern New Hampshire University confirmed that Garretson completed a few courses there.

Afterward, Garretson joined the U.S. Army and became a cavalry scout, serving for seven years.

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In 2025, Garretson joined the Copperas Cove Police Department.

“Elijah was brilliant intellectually and had an amazing soul. He was a kind, compassionate, loving, and wonderful human being,” Garretson’s father, Roger, told News 9 in a statement. “Long before he became a police officer, he did his best to help people in need. He was there for his friends and family to the absolute best of his ability.”

Roger Garretson said his son loved to read, play soccer, watch baseball, football, hockey and spend time with friends and family.

“Elijah did not want to be the center of attention. He would be embarrassed by all of this. But he was a hero, and he deserves every bit of love and respect we can offer up to him. His passing leaves an enormous hole in all of our lives,” Roger Garreston said.

During a school board meeting on Monday night, Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais held a moment of silence.

In a written statement, the Manchester School District said that Garretson, a 2016 graduate, was a “valued member of our school community who continued to put others before himself after leaving New Hampshire. Any time we lose a member of our school community, past or present, the loss is deep. Our hearts go out to Elijah’s family and friends as they navigate this difficult time.”

He leaves behind a wife and a 5-year-old daughter.