9 Austin PD Officers Cleared Of Charges In August 2018 Shooting

Austin TX

08 November, 2021

10:02 AM

Description

AUSTIN, TX — A Travis County grand jury has cleared nine Austin police officers of all charges in connection to the August 2018 shooting death of Aquantis Griffin. Officers Joseph Cast, Justin Halbach, Joseph Moran, Lewis Holland, Wesley Devries, Alberto Martinez, Daniel Mathis, Christopher Salacki and Stephen Johnson were not indicted by the jury on Friday, according to Travis County District Attorney José Garza. "The District Attorney's office takes the work of presenting all facts and evidence to a grand jury very seriously," Garza said. "In this case, an independent group of members of the Travis County community, heard the evidence and law and decided that the conduct of the Officers was not unlawful." Live in Austin? Click here to subscribe to our free breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox and mobile devices. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and download our free mobile app on Android or iPhone. The DA's office said the incident began in the early morning hours of August 18, 2018 at Terminal 6 nightclub, located in the 300 block of E. 6th Street. A confrontation between two groups behind the nightclub later escalated when a person began firing his weapon between the groups, authorities said. Police were called to the scene and saw Griffin running from the scene with a firearm in his right hand, officials said. Officers pursued Griffin down the back alley, giving hims commands to drop the gun. At the end of the alley were additional officers, authorities said. Those officers heard the gunshots and drew their weapons when they saw Griffin coming towards them holding the gun in his right hand. Griffin was running in the direction of the police officers and also a crowd of civilians, police said. Griffin later turned the corner and raised his weapon in the direction of police and ignored all commands to drop his weapon. The officers fired their weapons striking Griffin multiple times. Griffin died shortly after from his injuries.