Grand Jury Clears San Angelo Officers Involved in Fatal Shooting

The two San Angelo police officers who opened fire on an armed suspect in front of an apartment complex on Sept. 11 last year have been cleared by a Tom Green County grand jury.

The officers were among the respondents to a domestic violence call at approximately 1:35 p.m., during which a woman complained that her estranged husband had come to her office at Re/Max, assaulted her and pointed a gun at her head.

The officers made sure that the woman’s children were safe, monitored the area and looked for the attacker to make sure he could not return to harm the victim or her co-workers. 

When the man began circling the area around 3:41 p.m., the officers attempted a high-risk felony stop on the vehicle as the man was armed and dangerous. The suspect, later identified as 54-year-old Gerald Cole, evaded the officers. He eventually stopped his vehicle in the 2500 block of Sweetbriar and exited with his handgun ready to fire at the officers.

Two officers fired at the suspect to prevent him from killing or seriously injuring themselves as well as the other officers and pedestrians in the immediate area. Cole was hit during the gunfire and died in the hospital on Sept. 18.

Both officers were represented by CLEAT Regional Attorney Kirk Hawkins on the day of the incident. Hawkins quickly responded to the scene. Staff Attorney Nadia Stewart represented both officers for the remainder of the investigation and they fully cooperated with the investigation handled by the Texas Rangers and provided written and verbal statements with Stewart present.

Both officers were cleared by a Tom Green County grand jury on June 1.