This is the horrific moment an inmate is fatally shot after attacking an officer and escaping at a Texas hospital.
Newly released footage shows Joshua Wright, 36, attacking a corrections officer in an attempt to escape while receiving undisclosed treatment at Seton Hospital in Kyle, Texas, on December 12, 2022.
Wright, who was jailed on a number of misdemeanor charges, can be seen pushing the officer before running down a hallway in the emergency department.
The corrections officer, identified as Isaiah Garcia, 29, fired his weapon and wounded Wright after the inmate appeared to bend down to pick up an unidentified object, according to the Hays County Sheriff’s Office.
Wright died from his injuries. The felony deadly conduct charge against Garcia was dismissed last month and the Sheriff’s Office has now released video of the incident, more than a year and a half after Wright was killed.
Newly released footage shows Joshua Wright, 36, attacking a corrections officer in an attempt to escape while receiving undisclosed treatment at Seton Hospital in Kyle, Texas on December 12, 2022. The image above is the moment Wright exits the bathroom.
Wright can be seen pushing the officer before running down a hallway in the emergency department.
Wright (pictured) was booked into jail on misdemeanor charges including unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, bail jumping, reckless driving, property damage and evading arrest.
A felony deadly conduct charge against Isaiah Garcia (pictured) was dropped last month and the Sheriff’s Office has now released video of the incident, more than a year and a half after Wright was killed.
Wright was booked into jail on misdemeanor charges including unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, bail jumping, reckless driving, criminal mischief and evading arrest.
Last month, Hays County Criminal District Attorney Kelly Higgins announced that her office dismissed the indictment charging former correctional officer Garcia with third-degree felony deadly conduct.
In a news release, the Hays County District Attorney’s Office said: ‘On December 12, 2022, Garcia shot and killed Joshua Wright, 36, while working as a Hays County Correctional Officer.
Wright was in the Hays County Jail and had been transported to Seton Hays Hospital in Kyle the night before after complaining of a medical issue.
‘Garcia was assigned to guard Wright at the hospital and was preparing to transport Wright back to jail when the shooting occurred.
‘When Wright emerged from the bathroom, Garcia attempted to replace the handcuffs that had been removed.
Wright forcefully pushed Garcia and attempted to escape by running through the emergency room toward the public exit. Garcia shot and killed Wright during that escape attempt.
The District Attorney’s Office said a grand jury in April 2023 considered possible murder and manslaughter charges in connection with the shooting.
“Under Texas law, a correctional officer or peace officer may be justified in using force, including deadly force, if he or she reasonably believes it is immediately necessary to prevent the escape of a person in custody,” the office’s news release stated.
After hearing the evidence and the relevant law, the grand jury declined to return an indictment on any of those charges.
But he did file an indictment charging Garcia with the third-degree felony offense of deadly conduct.
The indictment alleges that Garcia fired a firearm at or in the direction of one or more persons, shooting Joshua Wright at a medical facility when patients and staff were present.
While the indictment did not charge Garcia with a crime directly related to Wright’s death, it did charge him with deadly conduct for the circumstances in which he fired his gun in a crowded emergency room.
The District Attorney’s Office had shown the now-released body camera footage to Wright’s family.
The footage shows Wright running from the bathroom through the hallways of the emergency room in an attempt to escape.
Wright can then be seen bending down to grab an unidentified object, after which the officer fired his gun.
Wright died from his injuries after being shot by Corrections Officer Garcia (pictured above, immediately after the shooting).
Higgins said: ‘We are aware that the Wright family, as well as many in the community, were deeply disappointed by the grand jury’s decision not to indict Garcia for murder or manslaughter.
‘The wishes of the victim or their family are always taken into account, but there are other factors that must be taken into account, such as public safety and fundamental fairness.’
Weighing those factors, the State moved to dismiss the case against Isaías García last week and the court dismissed the case.
Prior to his termination, Garcia had agreed to permanently surrender his correctional officer license and further agreed not to apply for any future licenses or certifications to work as a peace officer, correctional officer or armed security guard.
Higgins said the Wright family had also requested that the case be dismissed after consulting with their legal representatives and viewing body camera footage.
“The reasons given by the family for their application were carefully considered and ultimately found to be persuasive,” Higgins said.
“We have chosen to respect the family’s privacy and will not be providing any further details on those reasons. We encourage others to respect their privacy as well.”
