A Texas man who expressed support for the police force in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests was fatally shot by a Wolfe City police officer over the weekend while he was reportedly trying to break up a domestic violence incident at a gas station.
The October 3 shooting of Jonathan Price was confirmed by the City of Wolfe in a statement on Sunday. Though the officer involved in the shooting was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation, authorities have released little details on the incident, KHOU reports.
“On October 3, 2020 an Officer involved shooting occurred in Wolfe City,” the Facebook post read. “The Officer has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation of this matter by the Texas Rangers. No further information is available for release at this time.”
Relatives and friends of Price, who were interviewed by the news outlet, spoke highly of him and called for justice for the 31-year-old victim. Price’s mother, Marcella Louis, said she was at home when she was informed of what had happened to her son and quickly went to the gas station.
“And they wouldn’t let me get close to my baby. I just wanted to hold his hand and they wouldn’t let me do that,” she said. “I just wanted to crawl over there to him.”
According to witnesses, Price tried breaking up an argument between a man and woman prior to the arrival of the police. Price, who was also reportedly assaulted by the man, was rather tasered and fatally shot by the officer when they responded to the scene.
“That’s what he always did, tried to help others. I taught him that all the years,” Louis said about her son stepping in to break up the fight.
Price’s sister said her brother was loved by all. “Everybody loved Jonathan. Everybody. Black, white, Mexican, it don’t matter,” she said. Kyla Sanders, a friend of Price who was around the vicinity when the shooting occurred also told KHOU their community is saddened and shocked by the incident.
“We were all in shock. Why would a cop shoot somebody?” said Sanders. “We all love him and think so highly of him and just the nicest guy you could ever meet. We’re all devastated, shocked, we don’t really know what to do or where to go from here.”
Responding to the shooting in a Facebook post, civil rights attorney Lee Merritt said he was told Price “raised his hands and attempted to explain what was going on” when the officers arrived.
“Police fired tasers at him and when his body convulsed from the electrical current, they ‘perceived a threat’ and shot him to death,” Merritt added.
Meanwhile, Merritt confirmed Tuesday the officer behind the shooting had been taken into custody.
“Shaun David Lucas is in custody for the murder of #JonathanPrice. His bond has been set at $1,000,000.00,” Merritt posted on Facebook. “This didn’t happen quickly. It should happened the day he murdered JP. John should still be here. This did happen because this family fought for their son from the beginning and people worked hard both behind the scenes and in the public eye to make it happen.
“This is step one. Let’s see it through to justice.”
Shaun David Lucas is in custody for the murder of #JonathanPrice. His bond has been set at $1,000,000.00 This didn’t…
Posted by Lee Merritt on Monday, October 5, 2020
“I’m on the same fence as Lil Wayne”
Price shared a Facebook post in June expressing support for the police in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests that were triggered by the death of George Floyd, KTXS ABC reports.
“With all the tension and animosity going on with race and the [Police] 1time . . I’m on the same fence as lil Wayne, with him saying a white cop saved his life, and hasn’t been too vocal based off EXPERIENCES,” he posted.
“There were times i should have been detained for speeding, outstanding citations, out dated registration, dozing off at a red light before making it to my garage downtown Dallas after a lonnng night out,” he added. “I’ve passed a sobriety test after leaving a bar in Wylie, Texas by 2 white cops and still let me drive to where I was headed, and by the way they consider Wylie, Texas to be VERY racist. I’ve never got that kind of ENERGY from the po-po.”
??With all the tension and animosity going on with race and the ?1time ᴿᴺ. . I’m on the same fence as lil Wayne, with…
Posted by Jonathan Price on Monday, June 15, 2020
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe account has been set up to help raise funds for his memorial and funeral.
