Autopsy: Longview Man Killed by Officer Shot Four Times
Posted/updated on: October 30, 2014 at 12:02 pm
LONGVIEW — An autopsy report released Tuesday of a man killed in August by a Longview police officer showed he died of four gunshot wounds one to the back, one to the back shoulder, and two to the left arm. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report Regan Marshall Wagner, 23, of Longview was killed Aug. 7 after being pulled over near Akin Park in Longview for an expired inspection sticker. Longview police initially said Wagner was killed during an exchange of gunfire, but last week said Wagner did not fire any shots. Longview police spokeswoman Kristie Brian said Wagner showed a gun, but could not confirm whether it was loaded.
Wagner was shot in the left upper arm, in the left forearm, in the back left shoulder and in the left lower back, the autopsy showed. Three of the four bullets were recovered from Wagners body and given to Texas Ranger Jim Hicks, according to the autopsy. Wagners toxicology results were negative for alcohol and drugs, the autopsy showed. The cause of death listed by the medical examiner is gunshot wounds of the trunk and left upper extremity. The manner of death is listed as a homicide, according to the autopsy. His heart, liver and lungs were damaged as a result of the gunshots, the report showed.
Wagners mother, Hope Fountain, said this past week that she thought her son had been shot three times after viewing Officer Johnny Lyons dash-cam video. I watched the video, and it didnt have to happen, Fountain said. It was excessive. I just think thats out of control. He (the officer) could have used his stun gun or any other means unless someone was literally pointing a gun at him. Longview Police on Tuesday denied a News-Journal request for the release of video from the patrol car and audio from radio traffic exchanged during the shooting. Police said the request had been forwarded to the state attorney generals office, and the attorney generals office had agreed with not releasing the information.
Trooper Jean Dark, a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Public Safety, did not return calls late last week for comment regarding details of the investigation being conducted by Texas Rangers. The investigation is expected to conclude this week, and the case sent to a Gregg County grand jury next month, Fountain said.
