On June 20, 2024, Hays County Criminal District Attorney dismissed an indictment charging former officer Isaiah Garcia with deadly conduct.
Hays County Dismisses Case Against Former Corrections Officer in Deadly Conduct Incident
On June 20, 2024, the Hays County Criminal District Attorney, Kelly Higgins, has announced the dismissal of an indictment charging former Hays County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Officer Isaiah Garcia with a third-degree felony offense of deadly conduct. The case involved events occurring on December 12, 2022, when Garcia shot and killed 36-year old Joshua Wright while assigned to guard him at Seton Hays Hospital in Kyle, Texas.
Wright, was an inmate at the Hays County jail, had been transported to the hospital after complaining of a medical problem. Upon preparing to transport Wright back to jail, Garcia attempted to replace the handcuffs removed from Wright. A struggle ensued, during which Wright forcefully shoved Garcia and attempted to escape. In response, Garcia shot and killed Wright as he attempted to flee through the crowded emergency room.
The subsequent investigation led to a review by a Hays County Grand Jury in April 2023. The grand jury declined to return an indictment for murder or manslaughter, citing Texas law which justifies the use of force, including deadly force, to prevent the escape of a person in custody. However, the grand jury did return an indictment charging Garcia with the third-degree felony offense of deadly conduct.
Soon after the indictment, the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, through its Facebook page, released a statement indicating that Garcia was no longer employed with the Hays County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office expressed its deepest sympathies to the Wright family and highlighted the importance of fostering peace in the community.
Isaiah Garcia, 27, was anticipated to go to trial and face a third-degree felony for deadly conduct, with penalties ranging from two to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000, as per the Texas Penal Code for Deadly Conduct. Garcia, after his indictment, was released on a $25,000 personal recognizance bond from Comal County. He had worked as a correction officer with the the Hays County Sheriff’s Department since 2018.
In a statement, Higgins emphasized the communication between the District Attorney’s Office and the family of Joshua Wright throughout the investigation and prosecution of the case. Despite the disappointment expressed by the Wright family and the community regarding the grand jury’s decision, the District Attorney’s Office made the decision to dismiss the case against Isaiah Garcia. Prior to the dismissal, Garcia agreed to a permanent surrender of his corrections officer license and relinquished any future pursuit of licenses or certifications in similar fields of work.
“During the investigation and prosecution of the case, the District Attorney’s Office has been communicating with the family of Joshua Wright. This includes allowing members of the Wright family to see the body-worn camera footage of the shooting,” said Higgins. “We are aware that the Wright family, as well as many in the community, was deeply disappointed in the grand jury’s decision not to indict Garcia for murder or manslaughter.”
“This case was dismissed at the request of the Wright family. They communicated their wishes to have the case dismissed after consulting with their legal representatives. After subsequently viewing the body cam footage of the shooting, the family persisted in requesting the dismissal. The reasons offered by the family for their request were carefully considered and, ultimately, found to be persuasive,” said Higgins. “We have chosen to respect the family’s privacy and will offer no additional discussion of those reasons. We encourage others to also respect their privacy.”
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