A Nueces County, TX, jury acquitted a man who shot Corpus Christi police officers executing a raid on his home, saying a "botched" operation and contradicting testimony led to their decision, reports the Corpus Christi Caller-Times.
The jurors' verdict frees Ray Rosas, who had been jailed since the Feb. 19, 2015, shooting at his home in the 3000 block of Churchill Drive near Del Mar College.
"What did it for a lot of jurors, I think, is that the officers didn't seem credible. Their stories didn't match … and it kind of made us feel like if they're lying about this, what else are they lying about?" a female juror said.
Jurors referred to the officers' differing testimonies about what Rosas said and how he acted when police restrained him. Some officers described him as aggressive and directing profanity toward the police. Other officers said he was cooperative and told them he didn't know they were law enforcement.
Police were executing a drug related warrant on Rosas' nephew who lived in the family home at the time. They used a flash bang, a tool meant to distract officers' target, through Rosas' bedroom window before breaking into the house.
Rosas shot at officers, striking three. Officers Steven Ruebelmann, Steven Brown, and Andrew Jordan were hospitalized and survived. Rosas was indicted on three counts of attempted capital murder and four counts of the lesser charge of aggravated assault on a public servant.
Prosecutors dropped the attempted capital murder charges Monday after resting their case on Friday and another aggravated assault case naming another officer.
Rosas' defense lawyers – Canales, Lisa Greenberg and Terry Shamsie – spent the four-day trial arguing Rosas was hit by the device. Rosas, who did not take the stand, has said his hearing and vision were impacted by the flash bang and he didn't know the intruders were police.
Jurors agreed.
"I believe the distraction device distracted him from hearing the officers," a male juror said.