Officer
  • Honoring The Fallen
  • Publications
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Forums
  • Contact Us
  • Vehicles & Fleet
  • Tactical
  • Training & Careers
  • On The Street
  • Investigations
  • Command/HQ
  • Technology
  • Virtual Academy
  • Stations
  • Podcasts
  • Product Guide
  • Topics
    Vehicles & FleetTacticalTraining & CareersOn The StreetInvestigationsCommand/HQTechnologyProduct Guide
    Resources
    ForumsProduct GuideHonoring The FallenBy ContributorsExpert InsightsPublicationsWhitepapersWebinarsOriginal ContentJobs
    User Tools
    SubscribeAdvertiseContact UsPrivacy PolicyTerms & Conditions
    https://www.facebook.com/officercom
    https://www.linkedin.com/company/officer-com
    https://twitter.com/officercom
    1. Investigations

    Man Gets 99 Years for Shooting at Texas Officer

    Oct. 21, 2011
    Despite his pleas during testimony, the jury did not agree with Wesley Dale Knight's contention that he accidentally pulled the trigger on a gun aimed at a police officer June 8, 2010.

    ODESSA, Texas -- Despite his pleas during testimony, the jury did not agree with Wesley Dale Knight's contention that he accidentally pulled the trigger on a gun aimed at a police officer June 8, 2010.

    The jury convicted Knight in about an hour on one count of attempted capital murder of a peace officer, one count of aggravated assault and one count of felon in possession of a firearm, to which he already pleaded guilty.

    He was sentenced to 99 years each for attempted capital murder of a peace officer and aggravated assault and 20 years for felon in possession of a firearm. He was also fined $20,000.

    He was accused of shooting at Odessa police officers Kolby Kea and Stephen Merrill during a drug search after he was kicked out of a motel because of suspicious activity at his room.

    Knight took the stand Thursday afternoon and admitted to many past bad acts, including misdemeanor and felony convictions involving theft and drug charges.

    He also said he knew he was going to jail and had no reason to shoot at officers, despite admitting he made a mistake in not telling officers of the gun in the first place.

    "All of it happened so fast; in my mind it was a jumbled mess. I reached in my waistband and took my gun out, holster and all," Knight said. "I had no explanation at the time and I still don't know today why I did those things.

    "What wasn't going through my mind was to kill an officer or to harm anyone in any way."

    Prosecutor Brooke Hendricks pointed out during her cross-examination and in closing arguments of the punishment phase his troubled past, including dealing methamphetamine the day of the incident.

    She confirmed with Knight that he did not put the gun in any of his bags when he was told to leave the motel, and instead kept it in his front waistband.

    Throughout the trial, defense attorney John Cliff and Knight asserted that Knight fired the gun accidentally and wasn't aiming at the police officers when the gun fired.

    His bags were being searched for drugs by a canine with OPD a few minutes before the confrontation.

    When Merrill and Kea approached Knight to search him for a key to one of the bags, Knight backed up and pulled the gun from his waistband.

    Kea ran the other way, in footage shown in court, while Merrill grabbed Knight and forced him to the ground. The shot was fired sometime between when Merrill made contact with Knight and when they hit the ground.

    Copyright 2011 - Odessa American, Texas

    McClatchy-Tribune News Service

    Continue Reading

    Man Convicted of Killing Ala. Police Officer Sentenced to Death

    Video: Capital Murder Suspect Fires Over 15 Shots at Dallas Police

    Sponsored Recommendations

    Whitepaper: A New Paradigm in Digital Investigations

    July 28, 2023
    Modernize your agency’s approach to get ahead of the digital evidence challenge

    A New Paradigm in Digital Investigations

    June 6, 2023
    Modernize your agency’s approach to get ahead of the digital evidence challenge.

    Listen to Real-Time Emergency 911 Calls in the Field

    Feb. 8, 2023
    Discover advanced technology that allows officers in the field to listen to emergency calls from their vehicles in real time and immediately identify the precise location of the...

    2022 Transparency and Trust Report - Public Safety & Community Relationships

    Nov. 16, 2022
    Veritone releases its 2022 Law Enforcement Transparency and Trust Report delivering Five Key Findings of Community Sentiment on Policing

    Voice your opinion!

    To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Officer, create an account today!

    I already have an account

    Latest in Investigations

    Video Cameras

    i-PRO Announces Revolutionary New AI On-site Learning Camera Line that Adds AI to Non-AI Cameras

    i-PRO Americas Inc.
    Nov. 21, 2023
    Alexandru Cuznetov | Dreamstime.com
    Firearms

    Ala. Police Officer Shot in Leg When Standoff Turns into Shootout

    Nov. 21, 2023
    Minnesota Department of Corrections
    Investigations

    U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Ex-Mpls. Police Officer Derek Chauvin's Appeal

    Nov. 21, 2023

    Most Read

    Deadline Extended for 2023 OFFICER Station Design Awards Nominations

    Baltimore County Police Train in 'Green Lab' to Spot Pot Impairment

    Man with Rifle Shot after Following Calif. Police Officer Near Station

    Sponsored

    Listen to Real-Time Emergency 911 Calls in the Field

    Officer
    https://www.facebook.com/officercom
    https://www.linkedin.com/company/officer-com
    https://twitter.com/officercom
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Do Not Sell or Share
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    © 2023 Endeavor Business Media, LLC. All rights reserved.
    Endeavor Business Media Logo