A white police officer who shot and killed an unarmed black man in a convenience store in a small town in East Texas on Saturday was arrested Monday and charged with murder, the government said. In a few hours, Shaun Lucas filed his $1 million bail, CBS Dallas/Fort Worth reports.
The circle of relatives of the guy who shot, Jonathan Price, 31, asks why this happened.
The Texas Rangers said on a Monday that Lucas, a police officer from Wolfe City, responded to a riot call and met with Price. “Officer Lucas tried to stop Price, who resisted in a non-threatening stance and began to walk away,” he said. Lucas then TASER and shot Price, according to the Array, adding: “Preliminary investigation indicates that Officer Lucas’ movements were unreasonable. The Texas Rangers have charged Officer Lucas with murder. “
Price’s circle of family and friends said Monday that the school’s former football player was worried about a domestic riot in the store when he shot.
“When the police came, they told me, raised their hands and tried to do what was going on,” civil rights lawyer Lee Merritt said in a Facebook post. “Police fired Taser weapons at him and when his body convulsed due to electric current. “, “perceived a threat” and shot him. “
CBS Dallas subpoenaed witnesses who said things escalated between Price and the alleged attacker in the circle of family feuds, but had calmed down until police arrived.
The explanation for why Lucas used deadly force is unclear, the station said.
After Lucas posted bail, Merritt said, “This guy is harmful and not on bail. The circle of relatives was relieved to hear of his arrest and is seeking his conviction. “
Price’s family circle said there’s video evidence that a criminal was shot and they need justice. “The leader (of the police) saw the video and told me he wasn’t happy with what he saw,” Merritt said.
Merritt said earlier that Price “deserved justice because he is a human citizen who did not violate the law and shot through police officers. “Merritt said Price’s family circle deserved to “know each and every detail of what happened, and they want to know that immediately. “
Family and friends said Price, a well-known Wolfe City employee in the close-knit community, described him as a “hero of the city,” a “standing child” and a “mentor who worked with children. “Most said they didn’t see an explanation as to why. a police officer would kill him, CBS DFW reports.
Former major leaguer Will Middlebrooks, a year of Price’s lineup, created a GoFundMe page “Justice for Jonathan,” which grossed more than $70,000. Middlebrooks said he had been “distinguished” by his skin color.
Jonathan Price’s father, Junior Price, among those who rushed to the scene after hearing about the shooting, said he spoke to the officer who shot his son and asked why.
“Later, I haven’t gotten here yet, ” said the father.
Hundreds of others marched through the city on Monday and took part in a candlelight vigil.
Price played football in 2008 for Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. Hardin-Simmons football coach Jesse Burleson tweeted that college “has lost one of our own in a terrible situation. “. “
Former Texas Rangers third base baseer Will Middlebrooks, who grew up with Price, opened a GoFundMe page to cover his friend’s funeral expenses. “We exceeded $50,000 in less than 24 hours,” Middlebrooks tweeted.
Wolfe City is a city of approximately 1500 people about 70 miles northeast of Dallas.