Troubled past: Details emerge on man killed in Abilene's second police shooting

In the second police shooting this year, Abilene officers killed John Kenney Dutton, 70, of Abilene on May 6 at a local United Supermarket after he allegedly drew a knife, according to police.

Dutton has spent time in prison for assaulting a public servant and was indicted on a charge of assault of a peace officer related to a separate incident in 2022.

At the time of the shooting, he was out on a $19,000 bond in connection with charges of assault on a peace officer, resisting arrest and criminal trespass.

This marks the second police shooting in 2024 in Abilene, and three officers were placed on "paid administrative leave as per departmental policy" in connection with both incidents, according to the Abilene Police Department

Acquittal by reason of insanity

Dutton has a history of trouble with the law.

He was indicted on a third-degree felony charge assault of a public servant on Jan. 17, 2008, according to court records. On April 4, 2008, however, he was acquitted by reason of insanity.

In 2015, he pleaded guilty to that same charge, third-degree felony assault of a public servant, for a new incident, according to court documents. Dutton was subsequently sentenced to five years in a correctional facility.

He was released on June 5, 2019.

On Sept. 6, 2022, Abilene police officer Eric Heinz responded to a disturbance call at a local Domino's Pizza, according to court documents.

After Heinz informed Dutton that he had been criminally trespassing, he refused to leave, according to allegations in court documents. Heinz attempted to arrest Dutton, but he "punched Officer Heinz three times in his chest."

Dutton was subsequently arrested and placed in the back of a police car.

On Jan. 19, 2023, he was indicted on a second-degree felony charge of assault of a peace officer in addition to criminal trespassing and resisting arrest in connection with the incident at Domino's.

Judge Thomas Wheeler of the 350th District Court recently ordered a psychiatric evaluation for Dutton to see if he would be competent to stand trial. Its unclear if that evaluation ever took place.

'Deployed a taser'

On May 6, Abilene police officers were called to the United Supermarket at 920 North Willis Street after an attempted burglary, according to a police press release.

Store employees "called to report a male subject threatening employees and customers with a bladed weapon," according to allegations in the police press release.

When officers arrived on scene, they encountered Dutton outside the store, "still holding the weapon," according to allegations in the police press release. He would not comply with several police commands to surrender his weapon.

A police officer deployed a Taser, but it did not have an effect on Dutton. Officers then shot and killed him.

Dutton was pronounced dead at the scene by a justice of the peace. No other injuries were reported on scene.

Abilene police and the Texas Rangers are concurrently investigating the incident, according to police.

Dutton's death comes on the heels of a police shooting on April 30.

Abilene SWAT team members shot and killed Angela Jaques after she allegedly fired on police officers after an hours-long standoff, according to police.

More on the original press release Abilene police say man killed by officers was wielding 'bladed weapon'

1st officer-involved shooting this year UPDATED: New details emerge, police release name of woman killed by APD in standoff

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Troubled past: Details emerge on man killed in Abilene's second police shooting