A Canton police officer was also wounded during the gunfire as authorities tried to serve felony arrest warrants south of Canton.
CANTON, TX — A suspect fired more than 800 rounds from a semiautomatic rifle at law enforcement officers serving felony warrants, killing a Van Zandt County sheriff’s deputy and wounding a Canton police officer, Sheriff Kevin Bridger said Friday.
The shooting happened late Tuesday, Oct. 20, at a home in the 4300 block of State Highway 198, south of Canton. Authorities identified the suspect as 42-year-old Mi Van Nguyen. Deputy Ahmed “Adam” Al-Sherifi was fatally wounded, while Canton police Officer Chris Watson was shot and later underwent surgery. Nguyen was later found dead inside the residence from a gunshot wound. Authorities have not determined publicly whether the fatal shot was self-inflicted or came during the exchange of gunfire.
Bridger said Al-Sherifi, Deputy Brandon Fontenot and Watson were at the home at about 10:22 p.m. to serve two felony arrest warrants. Authorities said the warrants involved allegations of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault on a peace officer. As officers attempted to make contact, Nguyen opened fire from inside the residence with a semiautomatic rifle, according to the sheriff.
Bridger said Nguyen fired more than 800 rounds at the responding officers. Law enforcement officers returned fire during the confrontation. The sheriff described the volume of gunfire as extraordinary and called the shooting an “act of pure evil.” The sheriff’s account of the number of rounds represented a significant new detail released during a Friday news conference, three days after the attack.
Al-Sherifi was killed during the exchange. Bridger said the deputy leaves behind a wife and young children, including a newborn. The sheriff described him as a public servant who represented “duty, bravery and service.” The department and surrounding community have been mourning Al-Sherifi since authorities announced his death following the shooting.
Watson suffered a gunshot wound to his arm and was taken for medical treatment. Canton police said he underwent surgery and was in stable condition. Watson has nearly 12 years of law enforcement experience and joined the Canton Police Department in June, according to local officials and the department’s public statements following the shooting.
Bridger credited Fontenot with providing emergency aid to Watson while the shooting continued. The sheriff said Fontenot also returned fire to help protect the wounded officers and create an opportunity for other deputies and Texas Department of Public Safety personnel to reach Watson and move him to safety. Authorities have not released a complete accounting of how many rounds law enforcement officers fired during the exchange.
After the gunfire ended, officers found Nguyen dead inside the home with a gunshot wound. Officials have not said whether he was struck by law enforcement gunfire or died from a self-inflicted wound. That question is among the issues being examined as investigators reconstruct the shooting and determine the circumstances surrounding Nguyen’s death.
The Texas Rangers are investigating the shooting, and the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office has said it is cooperating with the investigation. Bridger said authorities consider the episode isolated and that there is no continuing threat to the public connected to the shooting.
Al-Sherifi’s funeral is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, at Gravity Athletics in Canton. Watson continued recovering after surgery as the Texas Rangers’ investigation remained underway. Authorities had not announced a final determination on how Nguyen died as of Saturday.
Author note: Last updated October 24, 2026.