A murder charge has been filed against a 28-year-old North Texas man who authorities say was driving drunk when his vehicle struck and killed a sheriff's deputy.
In addition to murder, Ricky Trent Stanley Jr. of Whitesboro is facing five other charges that include intoxication manslaughter causing the death of an officer. His bond is set in excess of $3 million.
Authorities say Stanley has two previous convictions for driving while intoxicated.
Grayson County officials say sheriff's Deputy Chad Christian Key was struck Saturday night while directing traffic east of Sherman, northeast of Dallas. He was pronounced dead at an area hospital. The 42-year-old Key, a father of three, had been a patrol deputy for a little more than two months.
Stanley is being held at the Fannin County jail.
Key's funeral will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Sherman. He will be laid to rest at Burleson Cemetery in Luella.
A memorial fund has been set up for Key's three children and donations can be made at any Landmark Bank in Texas or Oklahoma to the "Chad Key Memorial Fund."
