Larry Hostetter, a 41-year-old male of unspecified ethnicity, was a deputy with the Montague County Sheriff's Office in Nocona, TX. On February 9, 2015, he was shot and killed by a Nocona police officer who responded to a disturbance call at Hostetter's home. Hostetter was not on duty at the time of the incident. The exact nature of the disturbance was not disclosed, but it was reported that Hostetter was suicidal.
During the incident, Hostetter allegedly pulled a gun on the responding officer, although this information has not been confirmed by law enforcement officials.
The Texas Rangers took over the investigation, which is standard procedure when officers are involved in shootings. The Nocona police officer involved was placed on administrative leave but was not injured. Hostetter was pronounced dead at Nocona General Hospital about an hour after the shooting. Sheriff Paul Cunningham described Hostetter as a dedicated officer who had been with the sheriff's department since 2013 and had been in law enforcement since 2000. He was a married father of three children.
The investigation by the Texas Rangers aimed to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting and whether the use of force was justified. The findings of the investigation were to be presented to the district attorney for review. The incident was the first officer-involved shooting in Nocona since Chief Kent Holcomb took over the police department 15 years prior.
In summary, Larry Hostetter's death was a tragic incident involving a domestic disturbance call that led to a fatal shooting by a Nocona police officer. The investigation by the Texas Rangers sought to uncover the details and determine the appropriate course of action.
