Newly-released dashcam video shows fatal Rusk County officer-involved shooting
WARNING: This story and the attached video contain graphic content, discretion is advised.
RUSK COUNTY, Texas (KETK) – Newly-released dashcam footage of a Rusk County officer-involved shooting is shedding light on the 2022 death of Timothy Michael Randall.
Randall, 29, was pulled over on CR 4125 near SH 64 near Turnertown on September 14, 2022 and fatally shot at the scene of the traffic stop.
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CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT
A report from the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office stated that a deputy pulled him over for a traffic violation before patting him down. During the pat-down, officials claim Randall “attempted to conceal contraband in his waistband and made furtive movements to his waistband.”
The attorney for Rusk County said that the deputy believed Randall was attempting to hide a small gun down the front of his pants, but said it was later found to be a pipe in an eyeglasses case.
A death report submitted by RCSO to the office of the Attorney General stated that Randall “would not follow the lawful orders of the deputy, resisted the deputy’s attempts to handcuff him and a struggle ensued. At one point the deputy and the decedent struggled on the ground. The decedent broke free and stood up while the deputy was in a tactically-compromised position on the ground.”
The deputy then fired once, hitting Randall in the front left of his torso. Randall died at the scene.
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WHAT HAPPENED NEXT
The report states that Randall would have been charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting arrest/detention.
The deputy was no-billed by a grand jury in November, meaning a jury decided there was not enough evidence to indict the deputy on criminal charges related to the shooting.
Last October, Randall’s family filed a civil lawsuit where they claimed excessive force was used, and the arrest and subsequent death were wrongful. The Randall family attorney, Joseph Oxman, called the shooting “one of the most egregious acts of police misconduct and quite frankly, murder by a police officer in U.S. history.”
The attorney for Rusk County, Robert Davis, said “the officer reacted believing his life was in danger from an armed subject, and fired his weapon. If you slow it down sufficiently, you can observe all that on the video tape.”
WHAT’S NEW
After a legal back-and-forth in the court, dashcam footage of the incident was unsealed in late June 2024. It shows the incident unfolding in its entirety.
The deputy introduces himself as Sgt. Iverson.
“The reason I pulled you over, is you blew that stop sign back there,” the sergeant is heard saying.
“No I didn’t,” Randall countered. “I came to a complete stop at that stop sign.”
“No you didn’t,” the sergeant is heard saying.
“What do you mean?” Randall asks.
The deputy then tells Randall to step out of the car. Randall responds by saying, “I mean, can you show me–” and the deputy repeats his request for Randall to get out of the car.
The footage shows the pat-down of Randall, then the deputy attempting to arrest him.
“Put your hands behind your back,” the officer instructs as he attempts to hold Randall’s arms.
“I don’t have anything on me, officer,” Randall responds.
They argue and struggle back and forth, the officer repeating his commands and Randall insisting he does not have anything on him.
“Officer, please, can you tell me what I’m under arrest for?” Randall asks. Randall looks to be facing the car, hands up with his palms out when the footage shows the deputy tackle him to the ground. It appears Randall tries to get back on his feet as the officer tries to restrain him, and is again tackled by the officer, who appears to push him down and across the small county road.
The officer then pulls out his duty weapon and fires one shot.
Watch the video above to see the footage.
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