Current:Home > Contact-usOklahoma judge arrested in Austin, Texas, accused of shooting parked cars, rear-ending another-LoTradeCoin
Oklahoma judge arrested in Austin, Texas, accused of shooting parked cars, rear-ending another
View Date:2024-12-23 23:48:48
A longtime Oklahoma judge won't be hearing any cases after being accused of a shooting spree and reckless driving in Austin, Texas, earlier this month.
Brian Lovell, an associate district judge in Garfield County, Oklahoma, was arrested in a Sept. 11 incident during which at least five vehicles were shot at, and he is accused of intentionally striking another vehicle at a red light and nearly pushing it into cross traffic with the SUV he was driving.
He faces a misdemeanor reckless driving charge in the arrest, according to an Austin police affidavit filed with the Austin City Municipal Court. And could face a felony indictment for deadly conduct in discharging a weapon once a grand jury hears the evidence, according to Travis County District Court documents.
Police stopped Lovell's vehicle on Sept. 11 about two miles away from a report of shots fired from about 90 minutes earlier. Lovell told police he had two handguns in his car, but "he did not know why he would have shot his gun and he could not recall any part of the shooting incident," according to the court documents.
Lovell told police the other driver cut him off in traffic and he rear-ended her vehicle, the documents say. He also recalled rear-ending (the other) vehicle a second time, but did not admit the collisions were intentional, police said.
Lovell, 58, could not be reached Thursday for comment by The Oklahoman, which is part of the USA TODAY Network. He declined to speak to a reporter with Oklahoma City NBC affiliate KFOR who went to the judge's home Wednesday.
Fingers 'missing the flesh':Indiana baby suffers over 50 rat bites to face in squalid home
Videos showed accused judge's SUV rear-end car, according to affidavit
Police obtained spent shell casings – one from a struck vehicle – and observed video of the white SUV in the area where vehicles had been shot at, according to court documents. Police also obtained video evidence of Lovell's vehicle hitting the car at the red light, the documents say.
Lovell was jailed after the road rage and shooting incidents, then released on $10,000 bond and ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation. He faces a misdemeanor reckless driving charge and could face a felony indictment over the shooting incident once a grand jury hears evidence.
Lovell became an associate district judge in January after running for the position unopposed. He had been a special judge in Garfield County before that, since 2011.
Paul Woodward, the presiding administrative judge for the Garfield County district, said Lovell agreed to not preside over any cases until his own case is resolved. "He's been a good friend and colleague for years. It's hard for me to believe any of this."
Contributing: The Associated Press.
Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider.
What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day
veryGood! (68)
Related
- Beyoncé course coming to Yale University to examine her legacy
- More navigators are helping women travel to have abortions
- ‘Traitor': After bitter primary, DeSantis may struggle to win over Trump supporters if he runs again
- Ukraine has improved conditions for its Hungarian minority. It might not be enough for Viktor Orbán
- Why Officials Believe a Missing Kayaker Faked His Own Death and Ran Off to Europe
- Panthers new coach Dave Canales co-authored book about infidelity, addiction to alcohol, pornography
- Maine governor says that despite challenges the ‘state is getting stronger every day’
- Toyota says 50,000 U.S. vehicles are unsafe to drive due to defective air bags
- Pitchfork Music Festival to find new home after ending 19-year run in Chicago
- Who is Victoria Monét? Meet the songwriter-turned-star nominated for seven Grammys
Ranking
- Question of a lifetime: Families prepare to confront 9/11 masterminds
- Senators push for legalized sports gambling in Georgia without a constitutional amendment
- Rep. Cori Bush under investigation by Justice Department over security spending
- Ukraine has improved conditions for its Hungarian minority. It might not be enough for Viktor Orbán
- Taking stock of bonds: Does the 60/40 rule still have a role in retirement savings?
- How Jenna Bush Hager juggles 'Today' show, book club: Reading, 'designer coffee,' this ritual
- Candace Cameron Bure's Son Lev Is Married
- A Holocaust survivor identifies with the pain of both sides in the Israel-Hamas war
Recommendation
-
The Masked Singer's Ice King Might Be a Jonas Brother
-
LA woman jumps onto hood of car to stop dognapping as thieves steal her bulldog: Watch
-
Tom Brady merges 'TB12' and 'Brady' brands with sportswear company 'NoBull'
-
New British Virgin Islands governor faces heated debate over sovereignty and corruption
-
California researchers discover mysterious, gelatinous new sea slug
-
Florida man sentenced to 30 months for stealing sports camp tuition to pay for vacations, gambling
-
The IRS got $80B to help people and chase rich tax avoiders. Here's how it's going
-
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s “I Love You” Exchange on the Field Is Straight Out of Your Wildest Dreams