A Waco man is now facing federal charges after a grand jury indictment for his involvement in a violent confrontation that resulted in a police K9 being shot. The incident unfolded on May 28, stemming from a response to a civil disturbance by Waco Police officers, where Darrin King allegedly opened fire with a modified weapon, hitting the service animal multiple times.
King allegedly engaged in a flight from law enforcement, leading to a pursuit involving a police K9. According to the indictment, during this escape, the K9 was shot twice in the neck and once in the chest by a firearm that included a machinegun conversion device. Despite the severity of its wounds, it was reported by the Department of Justice that the K9 survived, though it will be retired from service due to the injuries sustained.
The weapon in question was equipped with a "Glock switch," enabling it to fire automatically. Such modifications fall under the definition of a machinegun according to the National Firearms Act, demanding registration, which King's firearm lacked. The indictment charges King with one count of possession of an unregistered firearm, a charge that could lead to up to 10 years in prison if convicted, notes the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
U.S. Attorney Justin Simmons for the Western District of Texas proclaimed the charges, emphasizing that while an indictment alleges a crime, it is the principle of justice that every defendant is considered innocent until proven otherwise. King's fate now lies with a federal district court judge, who, after the appraisal of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines among other factors, will render his sentence.
The interagency collaboration between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Waco Police Department was critical in bringing this case forward. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Blanton is assigned to the prosecution of the case against King.
