GALVESTON, Texas – A Southeast Texas police officer will not face charges in the 2014 fatal shooting of an armed man during a fight outside a bar.
A Galveston County grand jury on Thursday declined to indict Texas City Officer Christopher Ham.
Authorities say Ham fatally shot Carlton Smith Jr. on Dec. 26 outside a Texas City nightclub as the bar closed and a fight broke out in the parking lot. Investigators say a woman had a gun and fired into the air. Smith then obtained the weapon from her.
Surveillance video shows Ham, who was the first officer on the scene, twice ordered Smith to drop the gun before the suspect fired into the nearby crowd.
Ham then opened fire, fatally shooting Smith.
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