A white police officer was charged with murder in the shooting death of an unarmed Black man. Wolfe City police officer Shaun Lucas, 22, was booked into the Hunt County Jail on Monday night. His bail was set at $1 million.
Lucas is charged with killing Jonathan Price, who was walking away from Lucas when the officer opened fire Saturday night.
Price was reportedly helping to break up a domestic dispute when he was shot by Lucas, the Texas Rangers said in a statement.
According to the statement, Lucas said he responded to the domestic assault call, where he encountered Price, 31, who was “involved in the dispute.”
The statement said Lucas “attempted to detain Price, who resisted in a non-threatening posture and began walking away.”
Lucas used a stun gun before shooting Price, who was pronounced dead at a hospital.
“The preliminary investigation indicates that the actions of Officer Lucas were not objectionably reasonable,” the Texas Rangers said.
“When police arrived, I’m told, he raised his hands and attempted to explain what was going on,” said civil rights attorney Lee Merritt in a Facebook post. “Police fired Tasers at him and when his body convulsed from the electrical current, they ‘perceived a threat’ and shot him to death.”
A GoFundMe account started by former Major League Baseball third baseman Will Middlebrooks, who grew up with Price, netted over $50,000 in less than 24 hours.
“I’m sick. I’m heartbroken… and I’m furious,” Middlebrooks said.
Update: Shuan Lucas has been released on $1 million bond.
