Austin Officers Cleared In Shooting Of Civilian

AUSTIN, TEXAS — The Travis County district attorney on Wednesday said her office won't pursue charges against two police officers involved in the shooting of a resident over the summer.

Following a review of the incident, DA Margaret Moore said in a prepared statement that her office has declined to prosecute officers Douglas Trahan and Kendric Witt for their use of force in the incident dating to Aug. 3. The two officers — both on the force five years while assigned to Central West patrol duties — fired on Craig Carter during a confrontation last summer.

Moore said she would not present the case to a grand jury for possible indictment, viewing the officers' actions as justified.

Related story: Man Shot By Police During North Austin Shootout Identified

For his part, Carter has been charged with attempted capital murder of a peace officer and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon arising from the incident. Both charges are now pending in a Travis County district court.

Carter was critically injured after being shot by police after leading officers in a ten-minute chase that led to a shootout in August. His shooting followed an incident along the 4700 block of Chiappero Train in North Austin just past 7:35 a.m. sparked by his mother's outcry to police that he had allegedly assaulted her. Police said Carter had fled the scene before their arrival but not before slashing the tires of his mother's car. After a brief chase, Carter is said to have exchanged gunfire with police.

At that point, Carter became the seventh civilian this year to be either injured or killed in an officer-involved shooting involving Austin police.

Carter originally was charged with Attempted Capital Murder, a first-degree Felony and Aggravated Assault/family violence, a 2nd Degree Felony. Bond was set at $450,000 for the first offense and $50,000 for the latter, for a total of $500,000 collective bond.