San Marcos police officers not indicted in June shooting that killed 25-year-old

A Hays County grand jury chose not to indict two San Marcos Police Department officers who shot and killed 25-year-old Thomas Anthony Hawkins III in June.

Hays County Criminal District Attorney Kelly Higgins’ office said Hawkins had a knife in his hand and lunged at one of the officers before they shot him multiple times.

Three officers responded to the Mission Trail @ El Camino Real apartment complex on June 26, prosecutors said, after police were told Hawkins was inside one of the units. Hawkins was wanted on active warrants for violent offenses from three counties, including a charge out of Hays County.

Two of the officers went to the third-floor apartment, while the third watched the balcony from below. The district attorney’s office said that after the officers knocked, the residents, including Hawkins’ brother and another person, came out and spoke with them.

The officers were told there were weapons inside, and prosecutors said the brother offered to go back in and try to get Hawkins to come out peacefully.

While waiting outside, the officers heard voices and a possible struggle inside the apartment, according to the district attorney’s office. The door then opened, and the brother was seen pushing Hawkins out.

Hawkins had a knife in his right hand and immediately turned and lunged at one of the officers, prosecutors said. Both officers fired, and Hawkins was hit multiple times.

The Texas Rangers investigated the shooting with assistance from the San Marcos Police Department. The district attorney’s office said the grand jury reviewed body camera footage from both officers along with the results of the Rangers’ investigation before concluding that no charges should be filed.

Read more:

• 2 officers shoot, kill man who police say lunged at them with knife in San Marcos