2 Austin PD Officers Cleared Of All Charges In February Shooting

Austin TX

23 August, 2021

4:28 PM

Description

AUSTIN, TX — Two Austin police officers have been cleared of all charges by a Travis County grand jury in the February shooting death of Jordan Walton. Officers Ryan Nichols and Jeffrey Hutchison were cleared of charges after a county grand jury did not return an indictment on either officer for the Feb. 10 shooting, according to the Travis County Sheriff's Office on Friday. On Feb. 10, police said they received a 911 call around 5:28 p.m. for a car accident at 2901 Rogge Lane in central Austin. Minutes later, they received another call for a burglary in progress a few doors down at 2907 Rogge Lane. Authorities said officers were dispatched to the two scenes as they determined both calls were related. Officer later learned the second scene turned into a hostage situation. Because the call was upgraded due to a hostage, the department's S.W.A.T. team was dispatched to the scene to assist patrol officers, officials said. The first officer to arrive on scene tried to enter the home to help a 10-year-old boy and his aunt who were being held hostage by Walton. Officials said when officers kicked in the door to help the hostages, they were shot at by Walton who was firing from a bedroom. Police said Walton fired 22 shots total at police, which forced officers to retreat the home. The aunt, who remained in the home, was on the phone with a 911 call dispatcher and gave told them what was going on inside the house. Walton also called 911 and threatened officers that he would hurt the boy if they did not "go away." Walton later took the boy outside several times and used him as a "shield" while telling police to leave the area. Officers say Walton kept one hand behind the child's back as if he had a gun pointed at him. The last time Walton came outside with the boy, an APD SWAT officer, who had a clear shot, shot at Walton and killed him. The child who was with Walton was not injured, officials said. Police later learned that Walton wrecked his car into another house and ran down the block with a 9mm automatic handgun and broke into the hostages' home. Authorities said Walton did not know the family. Officials said the entire incident took about an hour before Walton was shot and killed by police. "The District Attorney's office takes the work of presenting all facts and evidence to a grand jury very seriously," said District Attorney Garza. "In this case, an independent group of members of the Travis County community, heard the evidence and law and decided that the conduct of Officers Nichols and Hutchison was lawful." RELATED COVERAGE: Elderly Man Shot, Killed By Pflugerville Officer In North Austin Round Rock PD Hiring For 911 Dispatchers Man Indicted On 3rd Degree Felony Theft Over State Hemp Licenses