A white Texas policeman who shot and killed a black city worker was fired on Thursday for 'his egregious violation of the city'...
A white Texas policeman who shot and killed a black city worker was fired on Thursday for 'his egregious violation of the city's and police department's policies'.
Shaun Lucas, 22, has already been charged with murder over the October 3 killing of Jonathan Price, 31.
The shooting happened in Wolfe City, 60 miles north east of Dallas.
Price, a motivational speaker employed by the city, was shot four times in the chest by Lucas, who had only joined the police in April.
Jonathan Price, 31, was shot and killed by Officer Shaun Lucas, 22, on October 3
On Thursday Lucas was fired from the force, having already been charged with murder
Lucas arrived at a convenience store in Wolfe City to investigate a report of a fight, according to a probable cause affidavit released on Wednesday.
Price extended a handshake to Lucas moments before he shot him, and asked him: 'You doing good?'
The affidavit states that Lucas opened fire after 'Price appeared to reach out and grab the end of Officer Lucas' taser'.
It also states that Lucas did 'intentionally and knowingly cause the death' of Price, when he fired four shots at the unarmed black man.
In Thursday's letter the mayor and city council thanked the police for their assistance in the case.
'Contemporaneous with the criminal investigation and because Mr Lucas is a certified peace officer, the city was required to conduct an administrative investigation of Mr Lucas' misconduct.
'Earlier today Mr Lucas was terminated for his egregious violation of the city's and police department's policies.'
The Wolfe authorities also thanked the residents of the 1,500-person city for the fact that their vigils and protests 'have remained peaceful'.
A candlelight vigil was held on Monday night for Price, 31
Price's death is the latest in a string of police killings of black men and women across the US
Marcella Louis, Price's mother, cries during a candle light vigil in honor of her son
Lucas fired four shots at unarmed Price (pictured) on Saturday night
Lucas is currently being held at the Rockwall County jail on a $1 million bond.
In a statement released on Monday night, the Texas Rangers, who are investigating the shooting, said Lucas' actions 'were not objectionably reasonable.'
Lucas has hired attorney Robert Rogers, who also represented fired Dallas police officer Amber Guyger.
She was convicted of murder in the September 2018 shooting death of Botham Jean - she was off duty, but still in uniform, when she mistakenly entered Jean's home instead of her own, and thought he was an intruder so opened fire.
Rogers said that Lucas responded to a fight.
'Mr Price did not claim to be an uninvolved, innocent party,' Rogers said in a statement.
'Officer Lucas told Mr Price he was detained and Mr Price resisted.
'After Mr Price refused repeated instructions and physically resisted, Officer Lucas deployed his Taser and continued to give Mr Price instructions.
'Mr Price resisted the effects of the Taser and attempted to take it away from Officer Lucas.'
Rogers said that Lucas only discharged his weapon in accordance with Texas law 'when he was confronted with an aggressive assailant who was attempting to take his Taser.'
The Texas Rangers stated that Price 'resisted in a non-threatening posture and began walking away.'
The Rangers did not mention anything about the Taser.
City worker Jonathan Price (pictured) extended a handshake to the white Texas policeman
The aftermath of the shooting was captured on a Facebook Live video by a bystander
No comments