In a trial about police transparency and accountability in lethal officer-involved shootings, a jury of eight found ex-APD Officer Gabriel Gutierrez not liable for the death of Alex Gonzales Jr., who he shot in 2021. The decision comes after more than four years of investigations and legal battles over the killing by off-duty officer Gutierrez and on-duty officer Luis Serrato.
Over the nine-day trial, jurors heard evidence and testimony from various perspectives that wove together the events of the early morning of January 5, 2021, and the Austin Police Department’s subsequent investigation into Gonzales’ death.
The trial began with both Gutierrez and the city of Austin as defendants. The plaintiffs allege that APD, represented by the city, inadequately investigated what happened and failed to discipline Gutierrez, contributing to a “culture of impunity,” said expert witness Jeff Noble. Partway through the trial, though, presiding Judge Robert Pitman dismissed the suit against the city due to the plaintiff’s failure to demonstrate a connection between Gutierrez’s actions and APD policy…