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The shooting death of a Texas sheriff’s deputy has drawn the ire of President Barack Obama, who condemned the named assailant for the murder while vowing greater action to protect police. Deputy Darren Goforth was gunned down at close range last Friday while the officer was fueling his patrol vehicle in the greater Houston area.

Shannon J. Miles, the 3o-year-old Black man who shot and killed the 47-year-old Goforth, has been charged with capital murder. Goforth and Miles were known to Chevron gas station clerk Luis Garcia, who befriended the deputy and had a more vague opinion of the accused shooter according to local outlet KPRC.

Obama’s statements came after he placed a call to Goforth’s widow, Kathleen Goforth, on Monday. The Washington Times reported extensively on the president’s call and shared portions of his statement, which he made while heading to Alaska.

From the Times:

“On behalf of the American people, I offered Mrs. Goforth my condolences, and told her that Michelle and I would keep her and her family in our prayers. I also promised that I would continue to highlight the uncommon bravery that police officers show in our communities every single day,” the president said in a statement.

“They put their lives on the line for our safety. Targeting police officers is completely unacceptable — an affront to civilized society. As I said in my State of the Union Address, we’ve got to be able to put ourselves in the shoes of the wife who won’t rest until the police officer she married walks through the door at the end of his shift. That comfort has been taken from Mrs. Goforth. So we must offer her our comfort — and continue to stand up for the safety of police officers wherever they serve,” Mr. Obama said.

According to several outlets, Goforth was shot a reported 15 times. Sen. Ted Cruz, who is running as a GOP presidential hopeful, blasted the president and other officials for what he claims is a drummed-up anti-police conversation taking place nationwide.

Harris County Sherrif Ron Hickman took aim at the Black Lives Matter movement, seeming to assert that the group’s activities in combating police brutality aided Miles in unleashing his violent assault.

Photo: Harris County Sheriff’s Office