Black Man Shot and Killed by Police in Texas Remembered as 'Hometown Hero'

31-year-old Jonathan Price was shot and killed by police in Wolfe City, Texas over the weekend. According to family, he was trying to break up a fight.

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UPDATE 10/6, 12:15 a.m. ET:  Shaun David Lucas has been identified as the Wolfe City officer who shot and killed Jonathan Price. Lucas was arrested and charged with murder but was soon released after posting his bond, which was set at $1 million, CBSDFW reports.

"The preliminary investigation indicates that the actions of Officer Lucas were not objectionably reasonable," The Texas Rangers, who are investigating the fatal shooting, said in a statement. "The Texas Rangers have charged Officer Lucas with the offense of Murder and booked him into the Hunt County Jail. This investigation is being conducted by the Texas Rangers, with the cooperation of the Wolfe City Police Department and the Hunt County District Attorney’s Office. No additional information is being released at this time."

See original story below. 

Police shot and killed a man in Texas over the weekend after, per family and civil rights attorney Lee Merritt, he had attempted to break up a fight.

In a statement shared to Facebook on Sunday, Merritt called 31-year-old Jonathan Price a "hometown hero" who was loved "by so many" in the Wolfe City community.

"Yesterday he noticed a man assaulting a woman and he intervened," Merritt said. "When police arrived, I'm told, he raised his hands and attempted to explain what was going on. Police fired tasers at him and when his body convulsed from the electrical current, they 'perceived a threat' and shot him to death."

Marcella Louis' son is dead and she wants to know why.

A Wolfe City Officer shot and killed him last night. Police only say the officer is on paid admin. leave. Texas Rangers are investigating.

Witnesses say Jonathan Price was breaking up a DV incident when he shot and killed. pic.twitter.com/zgdOgTL6A7

— Alex Rozier (@AlexNBCLA) October 5, 2020

Price, according to a report from regional outlet WFAA, was killed at a Kwik Check gas station on Saturday night. A brief statement from the city of Wolfe City on Sunday morning said only that "an officer-involved shooting" had occurred that resulted in the officer being placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by the Texas Rangers.

"No further information is available for release at this time," the rep said.

A GoFundMe titled "Justice for Jonathan" has been widely shared, including by Merritt. At the time of this writing, the fundraiser—which is stated as going toward "helping out a family in need" and funeral expenses—had raised nearly $49,000 of its original $50,000 goal.

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