Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitive Ernest Christopher Nathan Killed During Arrest Attempt in Alabama

PINE HILL, Alabama — Ernest Christopher Nathan, a 47-year-old Houston murder suspect who had been listed as a Texas 10 Most Wanted fugitive, was fatally wounded during an attempted arrest by a U.S. Marshals Service task force in Pine Hill, Alabama.

The officer-involved shooting happened at approximately 6 a.m. Tuesday, September 22, 2026, in the 100 block of Ruby Drive in Pine Hill, Marengo County.

According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, officers assigned to the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Task Force were serving an arrest warrant for Nathan when an officer was struck by gunfire.

Task-force officers returned fire, fatally wounding Nathan. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The wounded officer was transported to a local hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s State Bureau of Investigation is conducting an independent investigation into the officer-involved shooting.

What Happened to Ernest Christopher Nathan in Alabama?

ALEA said its State Bureau of Investigation began examining the shooting at the request of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Members of the Gulf Coast Regional Task Force went to a residence in the 100 block of Ruby Drive in Pine Hill to execute an arrest warrant for Nathan, who was wanted in Texas on a murder charge.

After officers arrived, an officer assigned to the task force was struck by gunfire.

Task-force officers returned fire, striking Nathan. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities have not released a complete account of the encounter, including the precise sequence of the gunfire, how many officers fired or how many shots were discharged.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Ernest Christopher Nathan Case Data

The Texas Department of Public Safety lists Nathan’s date of birth as June 9, 1979, his height as 6 feet and his weight as approximately 200 pounds. DPS identified him as wanted for murder and cautioned that he should be considered armed and dangerous.

Why Was Ernest Nathan Wanted in Texas?

Nathan had been wanted out of Harris County since February 2024 in connection with a murder case, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

DPS records state that Nathan was arrested by the Houston Police Department on October 4, 2022, on charges of murder and evading arrest or detention with a vehicle. He was released on bond the following day.

A warrant was later issued on February 29, 2024, for his arrest for failure to appear in the murder case.

Texas DPS subsequently included Nathan among its Texas 10 Most Wanted fugitives.

In October 2024, DPS named him its featured fugitive for the month and announced an increased reward of up to $6,000 for information leading to his arrest.

Nathan Was Listed as a Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitive

The Texas Department of Public Safety’s fugitive profile identified Nathan as a Houston-area fugitive wanted for murder.

The profile lists aliases including Nathan Ernest, Chris Nathan, Ernest Nathan and Ernest C. Nathan, among others.

DPS also documented criminal-history entries including murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, battery of a pregnant person and possession of a firearm by a felon. The agency warned that Nathan should be considered armed and dangerous.

Nathan was also listed as having ties to Georgia, Ohio and Louisiana, in addition to Houston and Harris County.

Task Force Officer Wounded During Arrest Attempt

ALEA confirmed that an officer assigned to the Gulf Coast Regional Task Force was struck by gunfire during the attempt to arrest Nathan.

The officer was taken to a local hospital for treatment and is expected to make a full recovery.

Authorities have not publicly identified the officer or released detailed information about the officer’s injuries.

Although some reports have described the wounded officer as a U.S. Marshal, ALEA’s official account refers to an officer assigned to the Gulf Coast Regional Task Force and does not identify the officer’s employing agency.

Did Ernest Nathan Shoot the Officer?

ALEA’s public statement establishes that an officer was struck by gunfire after the task force arrived and that task-force officers subsequently returned fire, fatally wounding Nathan.

Some news reports have characterized Nathan as having shot the officer. However, the initial ALEA announcement does not publicly provide enough detail to independently establish the complete sequence of the exchange of gunfire.

Because the State Bureau of Investigation is still investigating, the most precise description at this stage is that an officer was struck by gunfire during the warrant operation and task-force officers returned fire.

Additional findings may clarify the sequence as the investigation progresses.

Ernest Christopher Nathan Cause of Death

Nathan was fatally wounded by gunfire from task-force officers during the encounter and was pronounced dead at the scene.

ALEA has confirmed the officer-involved shooting and Nathan’s death. A separate detailed medical examiner report specifying the formal medical cause and manner of death was not identified in the information reviewed.

For that reason, this report describes Nathan’s death as resulting from the fatal officer-involved shooting without attributing additional medical findings that have not been publicly released.

Alabama SBI Investigating Officer-Involved Shooting

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s State Bureau of Investigation is handling the officer-involved shooting investigation at the request of the U.S. Marshals Service.

The investigation is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the warrant operation and the subsequent exchange of gunfire.

Potential evidence in an investigation of this type can include video recordings, firearms and ballistic evidence, witness statements, the warrant-service plan and the positions and actions of those involved.

ALEA said the findings will ultimately be turned over to the Marengo County District Attorney’s Office.

Pine Hill Shooting Connects Alabama and Texas Investigations

The incident brought together an Alabama officer-involved shooting investigation and a Texas murder case that had remained unresolved while Nathan was being sought as a fugitive.

Nathan had been listed by Texas DPS as a Texas 10 Most Wanted fugitive and was wanted in Harris County on a murder charge.

The Gulf Coast Regional Task Force located him in Pine Hill and attempted to serve the arrest warrant early Tuesday morning.

The operation ended with Nathan dead and one task-force officer hospitalized.

What Happens Next?

Nathan’s underlying Texas criminal case will not proceed against him following his death.

The Alabama officer-involved shooting, however, remains under investigation.

ALEA’s State Bureau of Investigation will compile its findings and submit them to the Marengo County District Attorney’s Office for review.

Until that process is complete, additional claims about precisely who fired first, the number of shots fired or the individual actions of officers and Nathan should not be presented as established fact unless supported by investigators or other authoritative evidence.

Final Update on Ernest Christopher Nathan’s Death

As of September 24, 2026, authorities have confirmed that Ernest Christopher Nathan, 47, a Texas 10 Most Wanted fugitive wanted in connection with a Houston-area murder case, was fatally wounded during a U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Task Force arrest operation in Pine Hill, Alabama.

The incident occurred at approximately 6 a.m. September 22 in the 100 block of Ruby Drive.

ALEA said an officer assigned to the task force was struck by gunfire after officers arrived to execute an arrest warrant. Task-force officers returned fire, fatally wounding Nathan, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

The injured officer was hospitalized and is expected to make a full recovery.

Nathan had been wanted in Harris County since February 2024 and was listed by the Texas Department of Public Safety as a Texas 10 Most Wanted fugitive wanted for murder.

The Alabama State Bureau of Investigation continues to examine the officer-involved shooting. Its findings will be submitted to the Marengo County District Attorney’s Office.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Ernest Christopher Nathan?

Ernest Christopher Nathan was a 47-year-old Houston-area man wanted in Harris County on a murder charge. Texas DPS listed him as a Texas 10 Most Wanted fugitive.

When was Ernest Nathan killed?

Nathan was fatally wounded on September 22, 2026, during an arrest operation in Pine Hill, Alabama.

Where did the shooting happen?

The shooting occurred in the 100 block of Ruby Drive in Pine Hill, Marengo County, Alabama.

Why was Ernest Nathan wanted?

Nathan was wanted in connection with a Houston-area murder case. Texas DPS records state that he was arrested by Houston police in October 2022 on murder and evading-arrest charges and was later wanted after a failure-to-appear warrant was issued in February 2024.

Was an officer injured?

Yes. An officer assigned to the Gulf Coast Regional Task Force was struck by gunfire and hospitalized. Authorities said the officer is expected to make a full recovery.

Who killed Ernest Nathan?

ALEA said task-force officers returned fire during the encounter and fatally wounded Nathan. The broader circumstances and sequence of the shooting remain under investigation.

Who is investigating the shooting?

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the officer-involved shooting. The completed findings will be turned over to the Marengo County District Attorney’s Office.

Disclaimer

This article is based on information released by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and current reporting from established Alabama news organizations.

Ernest Christopher Nathan had been charged with murder in Texas, but a criminal charge is an allegation and does not constitute a finding of guilt. Texas DPS records confirm that Nathan was wanted for murder and had been listed as a Texas 10 Most Wanted fugitive.

ALEA has confirmed that an officer assigned to the Gulf Coast Regional Task Force was struck by gunfire and that task-force officers returned fire, fatally wounding Nathan. The complete sequence of the officer-involved shooting remains under investigation.

Details that have not yet been established by investigators—including the precise sequence of gunfire, who fired first, the number of shots fired and the individual actions of those involved—have not been presented as confirmed facts.

This article should be updated if the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation, the Marengo County District Attorney’s Office or another authoritative agency releases additional findings.