Harris County designates May 8, 2025 as Deputy Sheila Jones Day after downtown courthouse shooting

Harris County Commissioners Court on May 8 unanimously approved a joint resolution designating May 8, 2025, as Deputy Constable Sheila Jones Day after the Precinct 1 deputy ran toward gunfire in the county courthouse complex and helped neutralize an armed suspect.

The court’s resolution recited that on April 22, 2025, while performing her duties near the Harris County Family Law Center, Deputy Jones “courageously confronted a dangerous and volatile situation,” was wounded, and helped prevent further injuries to county employees and members of the public. The court consolidated two proposed resolutions into a single joint recognition and approved the consolidated resolution on a 4-0 vote.

The court heard extended public remarks from Constable Alan Rosen, who described the incident’s timeline: “That’s approximately how much time passed from when an active shooter opened fire in our courthouse complex to when that threat was neutralized. 28 seconds.” Rosen and other officials credited Deputy Jones and more than a dozen deputies who converged on the scene with preventing a mass-casualty outcome.

District Attorney Sean Teer (as listed on the meeting roster), County Attorney Christian Menifee, and the Harris County District Clerk Marilyn Burgess also addressed the court. Menifee spoke to Deputy Jones’s regular presence in the courthouse complex and the bond she has with county employees; Burgess noted jurors were assembling in the Jury Assembly Building when the shooting occurred and thanked deputies for protecting jurors and courthouse staff.

Family members and county leaders gathered for the recognition. Commissioners praised Jones’s training and quick action during the incident; Commissioner Adrian Garcia said the deputy “left the comfort of that security to go engage this individual,” and that her actions likely prevented a far worse outcome. After the remarks the court recessed briefly for photographs honoring Deputy Jones and the constable’s office team.

Action and procedure: the court debated whether to present separate resolutions from individual offices or a single, joint resolution on behalf of all five court members. Commissioner Ramsey moved and Commissioner Garcia seconded a motion to include all court offices in a single resolution; the court approved the amendment and then carried the consolidated resolution 4-0. The court recorded the consolidated resolutions as adopted during the morning’s roll-call of consent items.

The court did not discuss any new policy or budgetary measures as part of the recognition; the action was strictly ceremonial and memorialization via resolution.

Provocation and context: the incident prompted the county to reiterate downtown courthouse security practices and led several department heads to request coordination on employee safety notifications and courthouse emergency procedures later in the meeting.

Ending: Commissioners and county leaders asked constituents to join them in thanking Deputy Jones and county law enforcement for their actions. The court’s formal resolution will be entered into the county record.