Accused of shooting an unarmed man for no justifiable reason while on-duty, a Texas police officer was recently charged with murder for fatally shooting the man.
Shortly before 8:30 p.m. on October 3, Wolfe City Police Officer Shaun Lucas responded to a call concerning a fight in progress. According to a press release from the Texas Department of Public Safety, Officer Lucas “made contact with a man, later identified as 31-year-old Jonathan Price, who was reportedly involved in the disturbance. Officer Lucas attempted to detain Price, who resisted in a non-threatening posture and began walking away. Officer Lucas deployed his TASER, followed by discharging his service weapon striking Price. EMS was notified and Price was transported to Hunt Regional Hospital, where he later died.
“The preliminary investigation indicates that the actions of Officer Lucas were not objectionably reasonable.
“The Texas Rangers have charged Officer Lucas with the offense of Murder and booked him into the Hunt County Jail. This investigation is being conducted by the Texas Rangers, with the cooperation of the Wolfe City Police Department and the Hunt County District Attorney’s Office.
“No additional information is being released at this time.”
During a press conference on Monday, civil rights attorney Lee Merritt stated that Price intervened in the fight before police arrived, according to witnesses.
“When police arrived, I’m told, he raised his hands and attempted to explain what was going on,” Merritt said in a recent Facebook posting. “Police fired Tasers at him and when his body convulsed from the electrical current, they ‘perceived a threat’ and shot him to death.”
Merritt also took to Twitter and wrote, “Shaun David Lucas is in custody for the murder of #JonathanPrice. His bond has been set at $1,000,000.00.
“This didn’t happen quickly. It should happened the day he murdered JP. John should still be here.
“This is step one. Let’s see it through to justice.”
Both Merritt and Price’s family have demanded that police officials release Lucas’ body cam footage from the night of the incident, but the video currently remains concealed from the public.
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