A former Hays County Sheriff's Office corrections officer, Isaiah Garcia, who faced a deadly conduct charge following the shooting of 36-year-old Joshua Wright, has had the case against him dismissed, as confirmed by the Hays County Criminal District Attorney's Office. On December 12, 2022, an altercation ensued at Seton Hays Hospital in Kyle where Garcia was guarding Wright, who had been in police custody, the incident culminating in Wright's death as he reportedly attempted to flee the facility, according to Hays County, Texas.
After a comprehensive review, a Hays County Grand Jury in April 2023 did not indict Garcia on potential murder or manslaughter charges, despite considering these possibilities, but instead charged him with the third-degree felony of deadly conduct, as reported by FOX 7 Austin. Following negotiations, Garcia agreed to permanently relinquish his corrections officer license without the opportunity to return to any similar role in the future, this course of action comes ahead of the eventual dismissal of the case.
As detailed by Hays County, Texas, the decision to dismiss centered heavily on the wishes of the Wright family, who, after a series of consultations and reviewing body cam footage, remained firm in their desire to see the case closed. "This case was dismissed at the request of the Wright family. They communicated their wishes to have the case dismissed after consulting with their legal representatives. After subsequently viewing the body cam footage of the shooting, the family persisted in requesting the dismissal," said Higgins. "The reasons offered by the family for their request were carefully considered and, ultimately, found to be persuasive," he added.
