Fort Worth could pay $825,000 to family of man killed in his home by rookie cop in 2013
The family of a Woodhaven man killed in May 2013 when Fort Worth police showed up to the wrong house may be getting a payout from the city of Fort Worth.
The City Council will vote Tuesday on whether to approve a $825,000 settlement with the family of Jerry Waller, who was fatally shot multiple times after allegedly pointing a gun at police.
Officers were responding to a burglary alarm call at 409 Havenwood Lane when they mistakenly began to search Waller’s house across the street, according to police reports at the time.
Waller suspected a prowler was outside his home and went to investigate. Police documents at the time said Waller was shot after refusing to comply with police commands to drop his gun and pointing it at then-rookie Officer Richard Hoeppner.
Family members retorted that officers were shining flashlights in the 72-year-old’s face, and argued Waller was just trying to defend his home.
Art Brender, an attorney for the family, argued in a 2021 interview with the Star-Telegram that the autopsy report contradicts the narrative that Waller pointed his gun at Hoeppner.
A Tarrant County grand jury declined to indict Hoeppner in January 2014.
Waller’s death came roughly three months before the Fort Worth Police Department purchased its first body cameras. A police spokesperson as the time admitted body worn cameras would have been helpful in the investigation of Waller’s death.
Hoeppner is now a corporal in the department, according to city documents.
This is one of three settlements the City Council will consider Tuesday. In addition to the $9.6 million settlement with former police chief Joel Fitzgerald and two former IT workers, the council will also consider a $145,000 settlement related to a 2021 collision involving a police car.
“The City has reached what it believes to be a fair settlement in this case. We hope the resolution of this lawsuit will bring some measure of peace to the family of Mr. Waller,” a police spokesperson said in an email to the Star-Telegram.
The council will vote at its 6 p.m. meeting at the city hall building at 200 Texas St.
This story was originally published August 12, 2024 at 3:19 PM.
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