Fort Worth Police Invade Wrong House. Kill 72-Year-Old Homeowner

Friday, July 26, 2013
Jerry Waller

Police officers in Fort Worth, Texas, shot and killed an elderly resident at his home after mistakenly going to the wrong address on a burglary call.

 

About an hour after midnight on May 28, police received word of a burglar alarm going off at 409 Havenwood Lane. Officers B.B. Hanlon and R.P. Hoeppner responded, but showed up at 404 Havenwood. The officers said poor lighting caused them to visit the wrong home.

 

A search warrant affidavit released this week says the officers “approached the west side of the house near the garage that is located on the southwest corner of the home with the knowledge that there was a possible burglary in progress. There is no lighting around the home and the officers had only the use of their flashlights.”

 

At 404 Havenwood, the officers encountered homeowner Jerry Waller, 72, who was holding a handgun “near the corner of the home,” according to the affidavit.

 

The officers claim they identified themselves and ordered Waller to drop the gun, but he pointed it at the officers, prompting Hoeppner to shoot Waller.

 

Waller’s son, Chris Waller, disputed the officers’ account following the shooting, and accused police of “misrepresenting details of the incident.”

 

“My father never stepped outside of his garage,” Chris Waller told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram the day after the shooting. “He was shot multiple times in the chest only a few steps away from the doorway to his kitchen.”

 

Former Councilwoman Becky Haskin, who lives two doors down, said the entire neighborhood has been seeking answers about what happened that night, including why Hoeppner fired six times at Waller.

 

Police are still investigating the shooting.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

To Learn More:

Affidavit: Police Went to Wrong House because of Poor Lighting (by Lee Williams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

Woodhaven Resident Shot by Police was Pronounced Dead inside his garage (by Bill Hanna, Bill Miller and Deanna Boyd, Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

Indiana First State to Allow Citizens to Shoot Law Enforcement Officers (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)

Comments

Lt Phil Dill 11 years ago
This shooting needs outside investigators...read about other bad shootings online...whenlawmenlie...put that in your search bar..
yarply 11 years ago
Police are still investigating the shooting. Translation; The police are still covering up any facts and will come out shortly saying the officers were fully justified in protecting themselves because they felt their lives were in danger,,, and everyone knows a cop is more important than a hundred regular people...... So they come on your property without a warrant. just hope your not home because the cops will kill you if they feel in danger.
David 11 years ago
This happens at least once a week and the Police States of America Enforcement Squads are getting away with it. I read a quote from a mean ass "cop" who stated" I have to go home at night. I have a family." He showed no remorse about killing innocent Americans and their pets. A child was killed earlier this year in a wrong house raid, a woman was nearly killed in another, many dogs are brutally killed every day while just doing dog things like living and barking where they are supposed be, AT HOME! This is just getting worse and as long as all Americans keep saying or thinking " At least it's not me or mine" it will only get much much worse. Welcome one and all to The Police States of America, where you Will die if you act like you have any Rights. Sad days in America folks......

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