Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal was shot and killed in what was supposed to be a routine traffic stop earlier this fall. The community stepped in to commemorate the man and support his family through the loss, and in a heart-lifting move, professional baseball player Carlos Correa donated a substantial amount of money in honor of the slain officer.
On Friday, Sept. 27, 2019, a driver in Harris County, near Houston, Texas, was stopped in traffic by the deputy and opened fire on Officer Dhaliwal, shooting him in the back of the head. ABC13 reports that first responders treated the deputy before he was flown to Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center. Tragically, he succumbed to his injuries. His death was announced the following day by Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, who made the announcement on Twitter:
“I’m sad to share with you that we’ve lost one of our own. Our @HCSOTexas was unable to recover from his injuries. There are no words to convey our sadness. Please keep his family and our agency in your prayers.”
The Sheriff’s Office set up a GoFundMe page to help raise money for Deputy Dhaliwal’s family, and it raised several thousand from the community within days. And in an incredible act of kindness, Carlos Corres, the shortstop for the Houston Astros, also pitched in. On Monday, Corres went to visit Dhaliwal’s family and gave then an additional $10,000! Such generosity!
According to ABC13, Dhaliwal had recently completed a mission in Puerto Rico, Correa’s home country, where he also volunteered in aiding after Hurricane Maria in 2017. The MLB player expressed his condolences over the passing of the deputy on Twitter:
“Thank you, Sandeep for everything you did to help others here in Houston and Puerto Rico! Rest In Peace you'll always be remembered!”
Sherrif Ed Gonzales also took to Twitter to express his gratitude over the pro shortstop’s act of kindness. “It was unsolicited; you proactively reached out to assist fallen @HCSOTexas Deputy Dhaliwal’s family in their darkest hour. Your visit was uplifting an your donation of 10k is very timely,” the heartfelt message read.
Other notable donations came from the restaurant Papa Johns. According to KHOU11, the restaurant donated all profits from branches in the Houston area on Tuesday, Oct. 1. The fallen deputy was honored by the Houston Texans with a moment of silence observed before kickoff. Many members of the community also held vigils and visits in remembrance of Deputy Dhaliwal.
“In the days since his death, we have all seen the impact that Deputy Dhaliwal had on the community,” Sheriff Gonzales explained, per KHOU-11.
“A symbol for his community. A symbol for his tolerance and acceptance, and I’m glad that we spent time with such a great man,” Gonzalez adds.
