TARRANT COUNTY, Texas -- A Tarrant County sheriff's deputy died of a sudden pulmonary embolism that struck while he was getting out of his car Friday night in downtown Fort Worth, Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn said.
Keith Darryl Shepherd, 58, was found in his personal vehicle with "significant head injuries" in a parking lot in the 100 block of North Burnett Street around 9:30 p.m.
Police initially said the 19-year veteran of the department had been shot, but that was retracted Saturday morning.
Instead, Waybourn said, an examination by the Tarrant County medical examiner's office indicated Shepherd suffered a blood clot in his lung that caused him to fall near his vehicle. The deputy then struck his head on something but managed to get back in his vehicle before he died.
"The pulmonary embolism started by the car, which caused the falling, and he was able to slightly recover and get into the car and was able to continue," Waybourn said during a news conference Saturday.
Shepherd had a "star-shaped trauma to the back of the head," which was caused by something on the ground that wounded the deputy, Waybourn said.
Shepherd was rushed to Texas Health Harris Methodist Fort Worth, where he died a short time later, Waybourn said.
Waybourn said Shepherd had been taking a dinner break and did not return as expected around 7 or 7:30 p.m. He was found in a parking lot near the Tarrant County jail.
Fort Worth police led the investigation, the sheriff said. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also was on the scene.
Officers blocked off several streets, and police with rifles could be seen searching a nearby parking garage not long after Shepherd was found.
Shepherd had "a great reputation" in the department and was a strong leader, Waybourn said. He was also a great husband and father, the sheriff said.
"There are a lot of tears going on," Waybourn said.
Shepherd is survived by his wife, Veronica, and two daughters.
Shepherd's body was scheduled to be moved Saturday to Wade Family Funeral Home in Arlington, Waybourn said. Services are pending.
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