Jury selection in Fort Worth for the trial of DeAujalae Evans, the driver accused of the drunk driving death of Sgt. Billy Randolph, ground to a halt yesterday after so many people were excused that there were not enough potential jurors left to keep going. The tone in the courtroom shifted when one woman on the panel said she had known Randolph for decades and broke down in tears. With the panel effectively emptied, the judge stopped the process, and court officials said there is still no date to restart jury selection.
Jurors sent home after emotional courtroom moment
More than 70 potential jurors were called into a Fort Worth courtroom Friday but were ultimately sent home when a wave of excusals left the court with too few people to continue, according to NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. During questioning, one woman reportedly whispered either "She killed him!" or "She killed my friend!" after seeing the defendant, then told Judge William Knight she had known Sgt. Randolph since 1997. The judge excused her from service.
The courtroom did not allow cameras, so descriptions of the scene came from the reporter inside, who characterized the atmosphere as emotional as the panel thinned out and, eventually, disappeared for the day.
What prosecutors say happened
Court documents reviewed by The Dallas Morning News state that Evans allegedly drove the wrong way up an I-35W exit ramp on August 12 and struck Sgt. Randolph as he worked to clear a tractor-trailer crash near Sycamore School Road. An affidavit the paper obtained says Evans later told detectives she had consumed roughly 10 alcoholic shots in the hours before the collision.
The affidavit further states that Evans continued driving for about a quarter-mile after the impact before stopping and attempting to flee. She is charged with intoxication manslaughter and causing the death of a peace officer.
Defendant's record and bond fight
Public records show Evans was on probation this year after pleading guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a circumstance local officials and residents have questioned in light of the fatal crash, according to Fox 4 Dallas-Fort Worth. She has remained in the Tarrant County Jail on a $750,000 bond while her attorneys have asked a judge to reduce that amount.
CBS News Texas reports that bond conditions in the case include a SCRAM alcohol monitor, an ignition interlock device and GPS with home confinement. Investigators also obtained a warrant to draw Evans’ blood for toxicology testing.
Community response and memorials
The death of Sgt. Randolph prompted large public displays of support, including candlelight vigils and the addition of his name to local memorials, as documented by The Dallas Morning News. Colleagues remembered Randolph as a nearly 30-year veteran of the Fort Worth Police Department and a U.S. Air Force veteran whose loss rippled across the city.
Department leaders and family members have continued to publicly acknowledge his service and sacrifice as the criminal case moves forward, even while the start of the trial itself remains on hold.
What’s next in court
With the initial jury panel exhausted, the judge ordered that jury selection would have to start over, and officials are now working to summon a new pool of potential jurors. There is currently no date set to restart the process, according to NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth.
Evans remained in custody at the time of the halted hearing. Prosecutors and defense attorneys are expected to return when a new panel is gathered, but for now the delay leaves the trial timetable up in the air.
