On July 26, 2013, 32-year-old Larry Jackson Jr. was shot dead by
Austin Police Department
Austin Police Department (APD) is the principal law enforcement agency serving Austin, Texas. As of fiscal year 2022, the agency had an annual budget of $443.1 million and employed around 2,484 personnel, including approximately 1,809 officers. ...
Detective Charles Kleinert in
Austin, Texas
Austin ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Texas. It is the county seat and most populous city of Travis County, Texas, Travis County, with portions extending into Hays County, Texas, Hays and W ...
. Jackson was at the scene of a bank robbery earlier that day in central Austin. When questioned by Kleinert as to why he falsely identified himself to a bank employee, Jackson ran. When Kleinert caught up to Jackson a struggle between Jackson and Detective Charles Kleinert ensued. One gunshot was fired, fatally striking Jackson in the back of the neck.
Kleinert was indicted by a
grand jury
A grand jury is a jury empowered by law to conduct legal proceedings, investigate potential criminal conduct, and determine whether criminal charges should be brought. A grand jury may subpoena physical evidence or a person to testify. A grand ju ...
on the charge of
manslaughter
Manslaughter is a common law legal term for homicide considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is sometimes said to have first been made by the ancient Athenian lawmaker Draco in the 7th ce ...
. In October 2015, a judge dropped the charge against Kleinert.
Details
As Kleinert was questioning Jackson concerning why he identified himself to bank employees as a different bank customer and requested access to the account, Jackson ran. Kleinert chased Jackson, enlisted the aid of a passing motorist, and followed on foot under a bridge where a struggle took place.
Kleinert's weapon unintentionally discharged striking Jackson in the back of the neck.
Kleinert reported that the shooting was accidental. Jackson did not have a weapon on him but had not been searched before running.
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Aftermath
After the incident, Kleinert retired from the police force. He was indicted for manslaughter in May 2014. The Austin City Council approved a $1.25 million settlement to Jackson's children in August 2014. Austin Attorney Bobby Taylor represented the children of Larry Jackson. In October 2015, after being removed to federal court a federal judge ruled that Kleinert, a member of an FBI task force, was acting in his capacity as a federal officer. The judge dismissed the case with prejudice asserting the Supremacy Clause applied.
See also
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References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jackson, Larry
2013 in Texas
African Americans shot dead by law enforcement officers in Texas
Black Lives Matter
History of Austin, Texas
Law enforcement in Texas
July 2013 in the United States