A police officer from Wolfe City, Texas, was arrested and charged with murder on Monday for his alleged role in the shooting death of Jonathan Price, a 31-year-old black man.
The Texas Rangers released a statement claiming that Officer Shaun David Lucas did not take “objectionably reasonable” action when he shot and killed Price while responding to a domestic disturbance. Lucas was detained and held on $1 million bond, which he posted shortly after his arrest.
Lee Merritt, a civil rights attorney representing the Price family, celebrated the charges against Lucas but said he should have been arrested much sooner.
“This is the first step. This man is dangerous and should not be out on bond. The family was relieved to hear of his arrest and are looking forward to his conviction,” Merritt said.
Shaun David Lucas is in custody for the murder of #JonathanPrice. His bond has been set at $1,000,000.00
This didn’t happen quickly. It should happened the day he murdered JP. John should still be here.
This is step one. Let’s see it through to justice. pic.twitter.com/ydC124MYbG
— S. Lee Merritt, Esq. (@MeritLaw) October 6, 2020
The incident between Lucas and Price took place on Saturday. Price, a man who has been lauded as a “hometown hero” and a “standup guy,” intervened in a domestic dispute that was taking place outside, according to reports from witnesses. Lucas was called to respond to the domestic dispute. It is not clear what caused the situation to escalate, but at one point, Lucas moved to arrest Price, who peacefully resisted the arrest, according to the Texas Rangers.
“Officer Lucas attempted to detain Price, who resisted in a non-threatening posture and began walking away. Officer Lucas deployed his TASER, followed by discharging his service weapon striking Price,” the Texas Rangers said.
Price’s father, Junior Price, said the witnesses provided video evidence that showed that Lucas was not justified in using lethal force. Merritt said he shared the video with the chief of police for Wolfe City, who “wasn’t happy with what he saw.”
“I want to see what the man gets … what he has coming to him for killing my son,” Price added.
Will Middlebrooks, a former Major League Baseball player and childhood friend of Price, set up a fundraiser for the family. He said that he believes Price was shot because he was black.
“My friend tried to break up a fight between a man and a woman at a gas station, bc that’s how we were raised. Don’t put your hands on a woman. Yet he was singled out in the fight, shot and killed… unarmed… no weapon… just his skin color,” Middlebrooks said in a tweet.
Want some proof? My friend tried to break up a fight between a man and a woman at a gas station, bc that’s how we were raised. Don’t put your hands on a woman. Yet he was singled out in the fight, shot and killed… unarmed… no weapon… just his skin color. https://t.co/rvY2k49Tz1
— Will Middlebrooks (@middlebrooks) October 4, 2020
The fundraiser for Price’s family collected more than $71,000 as of Tuesday.
