Lee Dixon, a 54-year-old white male, was the Chief of Police in Little River-Academy, Texas. On June 19, 2014, he responded to a call about a man with a gun at a residence. Upon arrival, Dixon spoke with the suspect, David Risner, a 56-year-old former police officer. The situation escalated when Dixon attempted to cite Risner for a class C misdemeanor.
Risner retrieved a shotgun and shot Dixon, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Risner was arrested and charged with capital murder of a police officer. During the trial, it was revealed that Risner suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and a traumatic brain injury, which he sustained while working as a security supervisor in Iraq. Despite these mitigating factors, Risner was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The case drew significant attention due to the brutal nature of the crime and the fact that Dixon had only been serving as police chief for one month before his death. The trial included emotional testimonies from Dixon's family, who expressed their grief and inability to forgive Risner for his actions.
The investigation into Dixon's death was thorough, with prosecutors presenting dashcam footage and autopsy photos as evidence. The footage captured Dixon's final moments, including his desperate pleas for Risner to show his hands before the fatal shots were fired.
