No Indictment for Cop Involved in January Shooting

A Travis County grand jury decided not indict a city police officer involved in a fatal South Austin shooting in January.

Officer Daniel Hannah was cleared of wrongdoing Thursday after the jury spent seven hours reviewing evidence, which included testimony from four witnesses to the Jan 23 shooting of Robert Mesch, reported KXAN.

Hannah, who has served on the police force for two years, was placed on administrative leave after the shooting, reported the Austin American-Statesman in January.

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On the day of the shooting, Mesch’s wife called police at 3:27. She told police that she though Mesch was going to kill her and that he was suicidal, reported the Satesman.

Police Chief Art Acevedo said in a press conference that Mesch had punched his wife that night, knocking out one of her teeth. Mesch left his home on Hess Drive in a pick-up truck before being stopped by police near a Walgreens at Congress Avenue and Slaughter Lane, reported the newspaper.

Mesch got out of his vehicle and pointed a gun at police. After refusing Officer Hannah’s commands to put the gun down, Hannah fired three bullets, hitting Mesch twice and killing him, reported KXAN.

Chief Acevedo said he considered the incident a case of “suicide by cop,” in January.

[Photo courtesy of the Texas Department of Public Safety]