Deputy Sheriff David Bosecker

Officer: Eastland County Sheriff's Office, Deputy Sheriff David Bosecker

Date: 7/21/2023          Location: Eastland County, TX         FACTORS (1,2,7,15,18,19)

Perpetrator(s) Involved: Cody Douglas Pritchard

Criminal Activity History/Involved: Unknown. / Yes, Pritchard was involved in a violent domestic dispute and ambushed the responding deputy.

Mental Illness: Unknown.

Substance Abuse History/Involved: Unknown. / None reported.

Race/Sex/Age: White/Male/42

What prompted the initial contact with the killer? At around 9 p.m. on July 21, 2023, Eastland County Sheriff’s Office (ESCO) deputies responded to a 911 call of a violent domestic dispute at a residence.

Actions taken by subject toward police: A man involved in that domestic, Cody Douglas Pritchard, ambushed the first deputy to arrive at the residence, Deputy Sheriff David Bosecker, fatally shooting him.

Reactions by the police: Other deputies responded shortly after and took Pritchard into custody without any further bloodshed.

How murdered? Deputy Bosecker was ambushed upon responding to a violent domestic.

What could have been done differently for the officer to still be alive? There is no indication the domestic dispute involved a firearm nor a subject threatening to kill a responding officer so Deputy Bosecker responded as any other officer would have. 

Would the officer have been justified in using deadly force before being murdered? Deputy Bosecker never had a chance to use deadly force.

Outcome for the cop-killer: Pritchard was arrested at the scene and has been charged with Capital Murder.

Miscellaneous: There is remarkably little reporting on Pritchard’s potential history of criminal activity, mental illness or substance abuse.