Federal charges in cop’s killing
A Houston man likely facing the death penalty in the Oct. 20 death of a veteran Houston police sergeant during a domestic call appeared in court briefly Friday on a federal gun charge.
Elmer Rolando Manzano, 52, will be held in federal custody without bond pending state and federal proceedings. He could face the death penalty in state court in the slaying of 65-year- old Sgt. Harold Preston, who was shot while assisting in a domestic call at an apartment complex near NRG. Manzano is also accused of attempted capital murder in relation to injuries to officer Courtney Waller and the aggravated assault of his own 14-year- old son, who answered the door to police on the day of the in
cident.
Manzano sat handcuffed and alone at counsel table at a video hearing before U. S. Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan on Friday afternoon in Houston. The judge notified Manzano through a translator that he is charged with possession, on the day of the shooting, of a 9 mm Ruger handgun and a Colt .38 revolver in violation of two parts of the U. S. Code.
Manzano, a native of El Salvador who officials say has lived in the U. S. for nearly two decades, is also charged with two counts of possessing a handgun-while in the country illegally. He’s also facing criminal forfeiture of the guns and ammunition. He faces up to 10 years in prison on each of the federal counts.
Manzano, who was hospitalized after being shot during the domestic call, seemed to be in good health, according his lawyer, Mario Madrid, who also appeared via video at the hearing.
The judge set a trial on the federal counts for Dec. 28 before U. S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison.
Manzano was sentenced in 2002 for evading arrest. He has a prior conviction for two misdemeanor assault charges in Dallas County in 2000.
Preston was nearing retirement after an 41-year police career at the time of his slaying.