Kermit Police Involved Shooting Leaves Man In Critical Condition
By: Katiera Winfrey
Updated: January 25, 2013
KERMIT--Texas Rangers are investigating an officer involved shooting that took place Thursday. It left one man, 31-year-old Nicholas Chad Weaver in critical and left an officer treating bruises.
In Kermit, at the corner of Robinson and Halley, Officer Donnie Jower pulled over Weaver for a traffic violation. Sometime during the exchange, Weaver was ultimately shot by Jower, according to Texas Rangers.
A witness that requested to remain nameless said the shooting was uncalled for and that the officer acted unjustly in the shooting.
"He had his service weapon, possibly his asp, pepper spray and possibly a taser. Out of four weapons you chose the most lethal."
He said, the officer ignored Weavers concern with finding his dog, in addition to that he said the officer failed to call backup before the situation escalated.
"He made a series of very ignorant very green very rookie mistakes that led up to what happened."
Texas Rangers were asked to work the case by Winkler county law enforcement in an effort to provide an un-bias investigation.
Near the scene of the accident, blood stains are still visible on the concrete where Weaver was shot, despite the blood, witnesses said there is more to the story that police won't admit.
Officials said the shooting was warranted. They said that during the confrontation Weaver tried to grab the officer's weapon, that is when officer Jower turned the gun on Weaver and pulled the trigger.
However, the alleged eye witness said Weaver never went for the gun and as a matter of fact he was on the ground in a "unthreatening" position when he was shot.
The final result of the investigation is still ongoing. Officer Jower is doctoring a head injuring and facial bruising, while Weaver is in critical condition.
