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Travis County DA Seeks Death Penalty for Accused Cop Killer

Austin Police Dept.; Motorcade photo by Jeff Heimsath for KUT News

Brandon Daniel may be facing the death penalty for allegedly killing of Austin Police Officer Jaime Padron.

The Austin American-Statesman quotes District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg as saying seeking the death penalty for Daniel “is the right thing to do.”

Daniel was charged with capital murder in April of this year for the killing of Officer Padron at an area Wal-Mart.

Early in the morning of April 6, police responded to a call about a possibly intoxicated person at a Wal-Mart on Parmer Lane and I-35.  When Padron arrived, police say he made contact with the suspect and the man immediately began to fight with the officer. Police say the suspect then pulled out a semi-automatic pistol and shot the officer at point blank range in the neck.

Wal-Mart employees were able to subdue Daniel until more officers arrived; the employees were subsequently recognized for their response.

A memorial for Padron was held later in April, before he was buried in San Angelo. 

Wells has been a part of KUT News since 2012, when he was hired as the station's first online reporter. He's currently the social media host and producer for Texas Standard, KUT's flagship news program. In between those gigs, he served as online editor for KUT, covering news in Austin, Central Texas and beyond.
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