Harris County Grand Jury Indicts Sheriff’s Deputy, Husband For Murder

HOUSTON, TX — A Harris County Grand Jury has indicted Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Chauna Thompson, and her husband Terry Thompson for the murder of 24-year old John Hernandez.

Hernandez died on June 1 from injuries he suffered during a fight outside a Denny's restaurant in the 17700 block of Crosby Freeway with Terry Thompson three days earlier. (Want to get daily updates about traffic news and other events going on in your area? Sign up for the free Houston Patch morning newsletter.)

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said even though Terry and Chauna Thompson have been indicted for murder, the case is still being built.

"We are still in the midst of an investigation," she said. "Although the indictments have come down and the grand jury has found probable cause, our work goes on."

The case will be tried in the 178th District Court with Judge Kelly Johnson presiding, Ogg added.

The case has taken a winding path since Hernandez and Thompson came face-to-face in the parking lot on May 28.

Initially, Harris County Sheriff's deputies and EMS were called to the Denny's restaurant for an assault, not a homicide.

Investigators were told that Terry Thompson was pulling into the parking lot with his children at about 11:40 p.m. when he saw Hernandez urinating in front of the restaurant.

Read Also: Man Dies After Fight With Harris County Deputy's Husband [UPDATE]

Thompson confronted Hernandez, which quickly became a physical fight.

During the melee, Chauna Thompson, who was off-duty, drove into the parking lot and saw the fight and ran to help restrain Hernandez, who was being held in a choke hold by her husband.

She realized that Hernandez had stopped moving and wasn't breathing.

She called sheriff’s deputies and EMS, and performed CPR on Hernandez until EMS arrived to take him to LBJ Hospital.

Deputies questioned Terry Thompson about the incident, and he was released afterward and allowed to go home.

Hernandez never regained consciousness, and died on June 1.

Read Also: Sheriff Asks DOJ, Texas Rangers To Investigate Man’s Beating Death

The next day, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez announced that he was asking the Department of Justice and the Texas Rangers to investigate the case, and promised there would be no special treatment.

The investigation progressed over several days, and on June 5 new evidence was released to the public.

There were no cameras outside the restaurant when the fight happened, but bystanders recorded the incident and turned the footage over to attorneys representing Hernandez’s family.

Read Also: Video From Fatal Denny’s Brawl Is Released

The footage showed the final moments of Hernandez’s life.

Melissa Trammel, who saw the fight, told KHOU that she pleaded with Thompson to let Hernandez go during the fight.

“It's wrong, you know they shouldn't have killed the man. Nobody's life is worth taking for a mistake. We all make mistakes,” she told KHOU 11 News. “Me and my manager we begged this man. He was turning purple we told him to stop but he did not stop."

On June 6, the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Hernandez’s death a homicide as a result of anoxic encephalopathy due to strangulation with chest compression.

The grand jury received the case Thursday morning, and after hearing testimony believed there was enough probable cause for an indictment.

Several hours after news of the indictment broke, the Thompson's walked into the Harris County Jail and surrendered to authorities.

They were released on bond early Friday.

If they are convicted, they Thompsons could spend beween five to 99 years in prison.

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