Trooper Chad M. Walker

Officer: Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol, Trooper Chad Walker

Date: 3/31/2021          Location: Mexia, TX              FACTORS (1,4,7,8,13,15,19)

Perpetrator(s) Involved: Dearthur Pinson Jr.

Criminal Activity History/Involved: Yes, Pinson had convictions and served time for separate incidents involving armed robbery and criminal trespass./Yes, Pinson illegally possessed a firearm when his vehicle was reported disabled.

Mental Illness: None stated, however Pinson committed suicide which is an indicator.

Substance Abuse History/Involved: Unknown./None stated.

Race/Sex/Age: Black/Male/36

What prompted the initial contact with the killer? During the evening of March 26, 2021, “Texas Highway Patrol Trooper Chad Walker responded to a report of a disabled vehicle on the side of a road. Upon spotting the vehicle, occupied by Dearthur Pinson Jr., Trooper Walker pulled his patrol vehicle behind it.”

Actions taken by subject toward police: Before Trooper Walker even had a chance to exit his patrol car; Pinson got out of his disabled car and shot his handgun several times through the front of Walker’s windshield, striking him in the head and stomach. Pinson left the Trooper dying in his patrol car as he fled the scene on foot.

Reactions by the police: Responding officers searched for Pinson who was found the next day to have killed himself.

How murdered? Trooper Walker was ambushed upon responding to a disabled motorist. The ambush left the trooper brain dead. He was kept alive so his organs could be donated and died five days later.

What could have been done differently for the officer to still be alive? While officers are told to always be ready to act, Trooper Walker would have had to pull up with his gun in hand ready for a shoot-out in order to have had a chance to survive that ambush.

Would the officer have been justified to use deadly force before being murdered? Trooper Walker would have been justified to use deadly force as soon as he saw Pinson exit his vehicle and bring his shooting hand up towards him in an aggressive manner.

Outcome for the cop-killer: Pinson died from a "self-inflicted gunshot wound" while hiding out from the police.