On Thursday, October 26, 2023, a Harris County grand jury indicted Deputy Garrett Hardin for first-degree murder over an incident that took place last year in north Harris County, Texas. The charge stems from a fatal shooting that occurred on July 8, 2022.

The incident began when an employee from a Dollar General store in Houston, Texas, called 911 to report a shoplifter. She alleged that the person had assaulted her during his departure from the store but did not believe he possessed a weapon.

Body-camera footage from the day reveals Deputy Hardin’s arrival on the scene, where he began a chase of the suspect, identified as 47-year-old Roderick Brooks. 

The video shows Hardin deploying his stun gun against Brooks, causing him to fall to the ground. Following this, there was a brief scuffle between the two, culminating in Hardin firing a shot near Brooks’ neck.

As a result of the incident, Hardin was placed on administrative duty while awaiting the case’s presentation before a grand jury, as noted by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. With the indictment, the office has confirmed that Hardin “will be relieved of duty” and is potentially facing additional disciplinary actions.

Speaking on the development, an attorney representing Brooks’ family said, “After waiting over a year for this case to go to a grand jury, the family is relieved that the journey for justice on behalf of Roderick Brooks has begun.” The attorney further criticized Hardin, labeling him a “rogue cop” who, under the color of law, utilized his badge and gun to take Brooks’ life.

Hardin has faced disciplinary actions several times with a service history spanning 20 years in the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. Records reveal that he has been suspended without pay on eight occasions since 2004. The reasons for these suspensions are varied, ranging from traffic infractions such as crashing his patrol car into another vehicle to more severe infractions like providing false statements to his superiors. Another notable transgression included making inappropriate and sexual remarks to subordinates.

In light of Hardin’s checkered past and the incident involving Brooks, the latter’s family began a wrongful death lawsuit in September of the previous year. The lawsuit explicitly highlights Hardin’s recurrent issues during his tenure in the department.

Brooks’ death and the subsequent indictment of Deputy Hardin come at a time when there is a nationwide call for police accountability and reform. This case is yet another in a series of incidents that underscore the tension between law enforcement agencies and communities, particularly communities of color.