On a summer evening in the small town of Theresa, New York, the life of 27-year-old Nichole Walters came to a tragic and violent end. On July 9, 2017, Nichole was shot and killed by her husband, Justin Walters, who was an active-duty Army staff sergeant stationed at the nearby Fort Drum. The incident, which stemmed from a history of domestic issues, also resulted in the death of a state trooper and the injury of a family friend.
That evening, authorities received reports of shots fired
at the Walters' residence on County Route 46. New York State Trooper Joel Davis, 36, was the first to respond to the call. As he approached the home, he was fatally shot by Justin Walters. Inside the residence, Nichole Walters was found dead, having been shot more than a dozen times. A second woman who was living on the property was also shot and wounded but survived her injuries.
Justin Walters, who was 32 years old at the time, surrendered to law enforcement at the scene. He was subsequently arrested and charged with first-degree murder for the death of Trooper Davis and second-degree murder for the death of his wife, Nichole. During his arraignment, Walters appeared in court wearing only shorts and reportedly told the judge he did not know why he was there.
The investigation into the killings revealed a troubled relationship between Nichole and Justin Walters. Text messages presented during the trial indicated that Nichole had repeatedly urged her husband to control his drinking and expressed fear over his erratic behavior. During the trial, Walters' defense team argued that he was not responsible for his actions due to his mental state, citing a history of post-traumatic stress disorder and alcoholism. Walters had served two tours in Afghanistan.
In March 2019, a jury found Justin Walters guilty on 52 counts, including two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of his wife and Trooper Davis, and three counts of attempted murder. The following month, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. At the sentencing, the judge handed down two consecutive life sentences for the murders, along with additional time for the other charges. The mothers of both Nichole Walters and Trooper Davis spoke at the sentencing, describing the profound loss their families have endured.
