Former Houston Officer Sentenced to 60 Years for Killing Couple in No-Knock Drug Raid

A former Houston Police Department narcotics officer was sentenced to 60 years in prison for the murder of two people during a 2019 no-knock drug raid, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced on Tuesday.

Gerald Goines, 60, was convicted of felony murder in September for his role in the deaths of Dennis Tuttle, 59, and Rhogena Nicholas, 58. The couple was shot and killed in their southeast Houston home on Harding Street during a January 28, 2019 raid that was initiated based on false information Goines provided to obtain a warrant.

“This is historic because we believe this is the first-ever murder conviction of a Houston-area law enforcement officer committed while in uniform,” said Ogg. “We hope other victims who have been hurt or wrongfully accused or even convicted see the courage of these families and also come forward.”

Jurors deliberated for 10 hours before delivering the sentence, which will require Goines to serve at least 30 years before he is eligible for parole.

Goines had falsely claimed that Tuttle and Nicholas were involved in heroin dealing, which led to the no-knock warrant. When Goines and his squad entered the couple’s home, a gunfight broke out, leaving Tuttle, Nicholas, their dog, and several officers wounded.

“Gerald Goines has been a stain on the reputation of every honest cop in our community,” Ogg said. “He was responsible for the deaths of these two people and for the false convictions of many others.”

Assistant District Attorneys Tanisha Manning and Keaton Forcht of the Major Offenders Division prosecuted the case. Manning emphasized that Goines targeted poorer communities, believing they lacked the resources to challenge police actions in court.

“You didn’t see this happening in River Oaks or West University,” Manning said. “Goines preyed on predominantly poor communities who may or may not have the resources to fight back.”

Goines will serve his sentence for the deaths of Tuttle and Nicholas while investigators continue to look into other cases he may have mishandled during his time in law enforcement.