This is the horrifying moment an inmate is shot dead after he attacks an officer and makes a run for it at a Texas hospital.
Newly released footage shows Joshua Wright, 36, attacking a corrections officer in a bid to escape while receiving undisclosed treatment at Seton Hospital in Kyle, Texas on December 12, 2022.
Wright, who was imprisoned on a string of misdemeanor charges, can be seen pushing back the officer before running down a corridor in the emergency department.
The corrections officer, who was named as 29-year-old Isaiah Garcia, fired his gun and struck Wright after the inmate appeared to bend down to pick up an unidentified object, according to the Hays County Sheriff’s Office.
Wright died from his injuries. A felony charge of deadly conduct against Garcia was dropped last month and the Sheriff’s Office now released video footage of the incident – more than a year and a half after Wright was killed.
Wright was incarcerated for misdemeanors including charges like unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, bail jumping, reckless driving, criminal mischief and evading arrest.
Last month, Hays County Criminal District Attorney Kelly Higgins announced that her office dismissed the indictment charging former Corrections Officer Garcia with the third-degree felony offense of deadly conduct.
In a press release, the DA’s office in Hays County said: ‘On December 12, 2022, Garcia shot and killed 36-year-old Joshua Wright while working as a corrections officer for Hays County.
‘Wright was in the Hays County jail and had been transported to Seton Hays Hospital in Kyle the previous evening after complaining of a medical problem.
‘Garcia was assigned to guard Wright at the hospital and was preparing to transport Wright back to jail when the shooting occurred.
‘As Wright exited a restroom, Garcia attempted to replace the handcuffs that were removed from Wright.
‘Wright forcefully shoved Garcia and attempted to escape by running through the emergency room toward the public exit. Garcia shot and killed Wright during that escape attempt.’
The DA’s Office said the grand jury in April 2023 considered the possible charges of murder and manslaughter in connection with the shooting.
‘Under Texas law, a corrections officer or peace officer may be justified in using force, including deadly force, if he reasonably believes it is immediately necessary to prevent the escape of a person in custody,’ the office’s press release stated.
After hearing the evidence and the relevant law, the grand jury then declined to return an indictment for either of those charges.
But it did return an indictment charging Garcia with the third-degree felony offense of deadly conduct.
The indictment alleges that Garcia discharged a firearm at or in the direction of one or more individuals by shooting at Joshua Wright in a medical facility when patients and staff were present.
While the indictment did not charge Garcia with an offense directly related to the death of Wright, it did accuse him of deadly conduct for the circumstances in which he fired his weapon in a crowded emergency room.
The DA’s Office had shown the now-released bodycam footage to Wright’s family.
Higgins said: ‘We are aware that the Wright family, as well as many in the community, was deeply disappointed in the grand jury’s decision not to indict Garcia for murder or manslaughter.
‘The wishes of a victim or the family of a victim are always considered, but other factors that must be considered include public safety and fundamental fairness.’
Weighing those factors, the State moved to dismiss the case against Isaiah Garcia last week and the court dismissed the case.
Prior to the dismissal, Garcia had agreed to a permanent surrender of his corrections officer license and further agreed not to seek any license or certification in the future to work as a peace officer, corrections officer or armed security guard.
Higgins said that the Wright family had also requested for the case to be dismissed after consulting with their legal representatives and watching the bodycam footage.
‘The reasons offered by the family for their request were carefully considered and, ultimately, found to be persuasive,’ Higgins said.
‘We have chosen to respect the family’s privacy and will offer no additional discussion of those reasons. We encourage others to also respect their privacy.’