COLLIN COUNTY (1080 KRLD)- The former Wolf City police officer who is under arrest for shooting an unarmed Black man last year will have to stay in jail, an appeals court has ruled.
Shaun Lucas, 23, remains in the Collin County jail on $1 million for the October 2, 2020 shooting death of Wolfe City community leader Jonathan Price.
Lucas had sought to have the bond lowered, contending he did not have access to that kind of money. His step-father said he could probably raise $20,000, far less than the $100,000 needed to secure a $1 million bond.
The Sixth Court of Appeals, however, ruled the judge was within his discretion in setting the high bond
“Based on this record, we find that Lucas has not carried his burden to establish that the bail amount was excessive.” The court wrote. “Further, while the bail amount may be on the outer edges of what would constitute an appropriate amount of bail, we cannot say that the trial court did not consider the relevant statutory and common law factors and set the bail amount accordingly. As a result, we cannot find in this record that the trial court abused its discretion when it set Lucas’s bail at $1,000,000.00 in this murder case.”
Witnesses who saw the shooting outside a Wolfe City convenience store say Price was trying to keep peace with Lucas arrived. Price made several attempts to shake Lucas’s hand and asked if he was “doing good” several times, according to court papers
Lucas told the investigating Texas Ranger that he believed Price was intoxicated, and when Lucas tried to detain him, Price told him, “I can’t be detained.” the court of appeals ruling says. As Price began to walk away Lucas fired his Taser at Price. This “was not fully effective,” and “Price appeared to reach out and grab the end of Officer Lucas’ taser.” Lucas then shot Price four times with his sidearm. Price was pronounced dead at a local hospital, the documents say.
Price died at a local hospital. The Rangers’ report found the use of deadly force unwarranted. Lucas was indicted for murder.
As a former employee of the Hunt County jail, a judge ordered Lucas moved to the detention center in Collin County where he remains.