A candlelight vigil will be held Wednesday evening for Fort Worth police Sergeant Billy Randolph, who was killed in the line of duty Monday when he was struck by a suspected drunk driver on I-35W.
The vigil is scheduled for Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m. at the Fort Worth Police Department’s South Patrol Division, 3501 W. Risinger Road.
A temporary monument has also been erected outside the department office.
Police identified the suspect who struck and killed Sgt. Randolph as De Aujalae Evans, 25, of Fort Worth.
Evans is charged with charges including DUI, manslaughter and the death of a police officer or firefighter. She remains in police custody and will be held in the Tarrant County Jail on a $750,000 bond, police said.
Randolph was responding to a crash early Monday morning on Interstate 35W southbound near Sycamore School Road. I-35 had been closed for about three hours due to a crash involving an 18-wheeler that resulted in a fuel spill and a fire. The driver of the 18-wheeler was helped by bystanders and was not injured, police said.
Randolph was on the I-35W exit ramp to Sycamore School Road when Evans, driving a red 2020 Nissan Versa, drove the wrong way and struck the officer, police said.
Officers rushed Randolph to John Peter Smith Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A procession of officers, family and friends accompanied his body from JPS to the coroner’s office.
