SGT. Joshua Clouse

Officer: Cameron Police Department, Sergeant Joshua I. Clouse

Date: 5/11/2023          Location: Cameron, TX         FACTORS (1,2,7,15,17,18,19)

Perpetrator(s) Involved: Albert Rafael Acosta

Criminal Activity History/Involved: Unknown. / Yes, Acosta had a violent domestic dispute with his wife.

Mental Illness: Unknown.

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

Race/Sex/Age: Latino/Male/29

What prompted the initial contact with the killer? At around 10:55 p.m. on May 10, 2023, Cameron police officers responded to a 911 call from a woman calling from a nearby business to report her husband had just shot her in the back of the neck. Upon arrival the officers investigated the incident, determined her husband Albert Acosta was still in their house and applied for an emergency search warrant. Shortly afterward, a team of officers from the Cameron PD, Milam County Sheriff’s Officer and Texas Department of Public Safety executed that warrant at Acosta’s residence.

Actions taken by subject toward police: Acosta opened fire at the officers as they attempted to enter his house, fatally shooting Sgt. Joshua Clouse who was to be the first officer in.

Reactions by the police: The officers returned fire, fatally hitting Acosta.

How murdered? Sgt. Clouse was fatally shot while executing a search warrant on a domestic violence perpetrator.

What could have been done differently for the officer to still be alive? Sgt. Clouse was the lead officer on the search warrant team involving a known armed offender, demonstrating the remarkably bravery of officers who serve such warrants every day throughout the country.

Would the officer have been justified in using deadly force before being murdered? Sgt. Clouse was shot before having a chance to identify and use deadly force against the subject.

Outcome for the cop-killer: Acosta was justifiably shot dead during the gunfight with the officers.

Miscellaneous: There is remarkably scant reporting on Acosta.