Several North Texas first responders were honored with the Star of Texas Award on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. Terrell police officer Jacob Candanoza, who was killed during a traffic stop in 2024, and Fort Worth firefighter Caleb Halvorson, who nearly lost his life battling a fire, were among those ho nored. Gov. Greg Abbott presented the awards in recognition of their service and sacrifice in the line of duty. Jacob Candanoza Candanoza’s family, joined by members of the Terrell Police Department, accepted the award in his honor. The man who admitted to killing Candanoza was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. A Kaufman County judge handed down the sentence to Darrian Johnson within minutes of his court appearance, after he pleaded guilty to the fatal shooting of Officer Candanoza. On Dec. 8, 2024, Johnson shot Candanoza several times during a traffic stop off Highway 34 in Terrell and fled the scene, authorities said. According to Terrell Police at the time, Candanoza gave the responding officers the suspect’s license plate information, which helped in the investigation. Off-duty officers and Texas state troopers later spotted the vehicle in the Canton area in Van Zandt County, about 30 miles east of Terrell and eventually caught Johnson and charged him with capital murder. The case was resolved nearly two years later without a trial because Johnson filed a guilty plea. Cameras were not allowed inside the courtroom, but family members of the fallen officer addressed Johnson during victim impact statements. Caleb Halvorson spent 34 days in the hospital after the roof of a burning building collapsed on Sept. 3, 2025. Halvorson was seriously injured after being trapped under debris. He was airlifted to Parkland Hospital with third-degree burns covering 12% of his body, mainly on his left side. He underwent multiple surgeries and fought through infections. Halvorson said he tore his ACL, MCL, PCL, and labrum. ...read more read less