A former Texas police officer became one of the few members of a police force charged with murder for killing a man while on duty, as the Texas Rangers charged former Wolfe City officer Shaun Lucas, the Washington Post reports.
Witnesses say 31-year-old Jonathan Price was breaking up a fight at a convenience store when Lucas rolled onto the scene and shot Price. Lucas claimed Price tried to take away his Taser, but witnesses contradicted the claim and Lucas’s own body cam footage did not support his claim.
The body cam showed Price approaching the officer as he arrived on the scene and extended his hand to shake hands. Price also apologized for broken glass on the scene, saying that someone tried to “wrap him up.”
While questioning Price, Lucas claimed he thought Price was intoxicated and tried to detain him. Price objected and started to walk away, at which time Lucas tased Price, which had no effect. Price turned and started walking towards Lucas and appeared to reach out for the Taser, at which time Lucas shot him four times.
The Texas Department of Public Safety, the agency which oversees the Texas Rangers, said that Price “resisted in a nonthreatening posture and began walking away,” ruling that Lucas had acted with an unjustified use of force.