Some crimes naturally get a lot of attention, including those involving a tourist’s death and multiple injured parties, and there is generally an attendant scramble for law enforcement to make arrests and wrap these dramatic cases up. A June 2021 shooting in Austin in which two juveniles were swiftly arrested after a tourist was killed and many others were injured on the streets of the city (as reported in U.S. News and World Report) highlights this point. About a week after the shooting, the murder charge against the youths was dropped – as more evidence came to light.
If you are facing a criminal charge of any kind, you have legal rights, and you need an experienced Florence criminal defense attorney on your side.
The Shooting in Question
The deadly shooting at the heart of this report happened on June 12, 2021. After a dispute broke out between two groups of teenagers (both from Killeen) in which all the following happened:
A 25-year-old man was shot and later succumbed to his injuries.
Thirteen other people were injured in the process.
Two of those injured were in critical condition.
The victims are all considered innocent bystanders (at this juncture in the investigation).
While the police swept in and initially charged two juveniles with aggravated assault (one of whom was charged as an adult), another suspect was later identified as a person of interest in relation to the shooting, and the 19-year-old has since been arrested and charged with murder. The charges against the two juveniles were subsequently dropped.
Ballistics Plays a Significant Role in the Reversal
The Interim police chief of the City of Austin reports that the juveniles who were initially arrested did have guns on them and were directly involved in the dispute that led to the injuries and death. Ballistics evidence, however, later revealed that the shot that killed the victim came from the gun of the 19-year-old man who is currently facing murder charges. The chief was careful to make the point that the juveniles who were originally charged were not innocent bystanders in the matter, and the DA involved in the case shared that he dropped the charges against the juveniles in order to focus on the murder charge at hand and that the door remains open to further charges being brought against one or both of them as the investigation continues.
Reach out to an Experienced Florence Criminal Defense Attorney Today
If you are facing any kind of criminal charge, protecting your rights is paramount, and Brett Pritchard at The Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard in Florence, Texas, is a formidable criminal defense attorney who is driven to skillfully advocate for your case’s optimal outcome – in defense of your legal rights. Our dedicated legal team is on your side and here to help, so please do not hesitate to contact or call us at 254-501-4040 for more information today.
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