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No trial for TABC agents involved in shooting
11/24/2009 10:06 PM
By: Bob Robuck

An internal investigation of the incident could result in TABC policy changes.  
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission agents John Altum and Michael Cronin will not go to trial for the shooting death of 25-year-old Steven Lunt last August.

The Travis County grand jurors made the decision Tuesday afternoon.

The agents were on-duty on Sixth Street when the Austin Police Department put out a warning to look out for Lunt.

Altum and Cronin picked up Lunt's trail in East Austin and followed him to Longhorn Landing Apartments on Wickersham Drive.

A computer re-enactment provided by the DA's office showed Lunt backing up his car and apparently trying to run over the agents, which is when the agents pulled their guns.

Altum fired a total of 16 shots and Cronin fired three times after the pair cornered Lunt's truck.

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More Information
No trial

News 8’s Bob Robuck has more on the grand jury's decision not to send two TABC agents to trial for the shooting death of a 25-year-old man last August.



"The deceased was struck three times in the head. All three bullets that struck him were fired from agent Altum's handgun," Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg said. "As in any investigation of this nature, questions surfaced regarding policy and operation procedures that should be addressed by TABC supervisors."

One of the questions addressed about the incident was whether or not the agents acted under TABC policy.

"Our primary is on the premises, on the licensed premises, regulate as a regulatory agency. So, again, our function is on the licensed premises," TABC Chief of Field Operations Joel Moreno said.

But Moreno said Altum and Cronin are also certified peace officers and acted within the law when they shot Lunt.

Other issues included whether or not the agents should have waited for APD officers to arrive--and if the agents were properly equipped to deal with the situation.

Altum and Cronin wore no distinctly recognizable uniforms.

A computer re-enactment showed Lunt trying run over the TABC agents.  
"It's still under administrative review. So some of those issues will probably, at a later time, will be discussed," Moreno said.

The internal investigation could result in some policy changes as well as possible disciplinary action against the agents.



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