It was nothing less than a cowardly assassination.

Deputy Darren Goforth, age 47, was shot and killed Friday night. He was pumping gas into his patrol car when he was murdered.

The gunman walked up from behind him and opened fire for no apparent reason, Harris County Sheriff Ron Hickman said.

When Goforth fell to the ground, the gunman stood over him and shot him some more, authorities said. He died at the scene.

“He was literally gunned down in what appears to be an unprovoked, execution-style killing,” Hickman said. “I have been in law enforcement for 45 years, I have never seen anything this cold-blooded.”

After an intense overnight manhunt, a suspect is in custody.