Officer Indicted For Shooting Unarmed Suspect
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - In a rare move, a grand jury says a Dallas police officer should face criminal charges for the on-duty shooting of an unarmed suspect.
Former Senior Corporal Amy Wilburn was indicted by a grand jury today for aggravated assault.
On December 9, 2013, Wilburn shot 19-year-old Kelvion Walker, seriously injuring him.
Walker was an unarmed passenger in a suspected stolen car. A witness told police that Walker had both hands in the air when Wilburn approached the car and fired the shot.
Weeks later, Dallas Police Chief David Brown fired Wilburn from the force after an internal affairs investigation.
Walker spent days in the hospital and underwent surgery after the shooting.
He filed a civil suit against Wilburn in December, and his attorney, Geoff Henley, believes the indictment by the grand jury will have an impact on the civil case.
"You do not have carte blanche to shoot people when they are unarmed and not resisting. I think this is an important message," said Henley.
Wilburn's attorney says the former officer is devastated by the grand jury's decision today.
"Grand juries are one sided. The District Attorney controls that. They don't get to control the trial. We'll have a trial, and I'm confident she'll be acquitted," said Robert Rogers, who represents Wilburn.
The ruling is thought to be the first indictment of Dallas police officer for an on-duty shooting in 41 years. In 1973, officer Darrell L. Cain was charged and convicted of murder for the fatal shooting of 12-year-old Santos Rodriguez.
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