Grand Jury declines indictments on SMPD officers involved in fatal shooting

Editor’s Note: The video above aired on KXAN on June 27, 2026.

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Hays County Grand Jury cleared the San Marcos police officers involved in a fatal shooting that occurred at an apartment complex in June after it determined the shooting was justified.

According to the Hays County District Attorney’s Office, officers responded to an apartment complex to detain 25-year-old Thomas Anthony Hawkins III, who had active warrants for violent offenses from three different counties.

Officers knocked on the apartment and spoke with Hawkins’ brother and another person.

“The officers were informed that there were weapons inside the home, but the brother offered to go inside and try to get Hawkins to come out peacefully,” the DA’s office said.

While officers waited, the DA’s office said they heard voices and a possible struggle inside before the door opened and the brother pushed Hawkins out of the apartment.

“Hawkins had a knife in his right hand and immediately turned and lunged at one of the officers with the knife,” the DA’s office said. “[Two] officers discharged their weapons during the interaction and Hawkins was hit multiple times.”

Hawkins was then handcuffed and treated by medics before being taken to the hospital, where he later died.