LCSO deputies face lawsuit over shooting death

LCSO deputies face lawsuit over shooting death Subhead '[D]eputies killed him while he was laying down in his own front Connie Swinney Associate Editor Fri, 04/19/2024 - 02:41 Image

• Justin Harrod's widow has filed a federal lawsuit alleging 'excessive use of force.' File Photo

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The Llano County Sheriff's Office faces a federal lawsuit in connec- tion with an officer-in volved shooting of a Kingsland man at his home.

On April 11, 2024, Ka- plan Law Firm filed a fed eral civil rights lawsuit on behalf of the victim’s widow Jillian Harrod.

On her behalf, lawyers characterized the death of 40-year-old Justin Harrod, stemming from a “mental health call that ended in shooting death of man in distress.”

The suit alleges “excessive use of force against the Llano County Sheriff's Office (LCSO), Llano County, Texas, Sheriff Bill Blackburn, Deputy Byron Cervantez, and Deputy Randy ‘Ty’

lawn.'

— Kaplan Law Firm Civil Rights Lawyers Shaw," according to a statement from the firm.

On Oct. 23, 2022, Llano County Sheriff's Department deputies shot and killed Harrod alleging he "refused to drop the gun." According to a state - ment by the agency, the incident unfolded at approximately 5:50 a.m. that Sunday morn - ing when deputies were called to residence on Eula Lane.

Dispatchers stated the 911 caller referred to "a man with a gun, who had already fired a sin - gle shot." Once on the scene, deputies then ap - proached Harrod in the yard.

"Deputies observed Harrod with a gun, and began talking to Harrod in an attempt to get him to drop the gun," the LCSO statement read. "After several minutes, Harrod refused to drop the gun and the situation escalated.

"Fearing for their safety, deputies dis - charged their firearms striking Harrod …" the statement continued.

Authorities called for EMS and attempted to apply aid to the gun - shot victim, according to the sheriff's office statement.

Harrod was trans - ported to the Kingsland Community Center by ambulance where med - ical personnel were re - portedly prepping to air - lift him to an Austin area emergency room.

"Harrod succumbed to his injuries while in the ambulance," the sheriff's office statement continued.

Texas Rangers and 33rd/424th Judicial District Attorney's of - fice were notified and are continuing the investigation.

Lawyers for the plaintiff painted a differ - ent story.

"Llano County Sher - iff's Deputies arrived at the front stoop of the home of Justin Harrod – a Christian, music-lov - ing, baseball coaching, cheer and pageant dad, father-of-two, and exe - cuted him, shooting him in the head while he was laying face down on the ground in front of his own house," the lawsuit statement read.

The lawsuit contends deputies tasered Har - rod and then shot him, even though he alleged - ly "made no dangerous movement before he was shot." Kaplan Law Firm Attorney Ryan O. Estes stated: "Jillian Harrod called 9-1-1 because she was worried her husband was going to take his own life. Instead of sav - ing her husband, Llano County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) deputies killed him while he was laying down in his own front lawn and presenting no threat to the officers." Since 2015, Kaplan Law Firm has a histo - ry of bringing lawsuits against Llano Coun - ty agencies, includ - ing past legal action against the Llano Police Department.