Fort Worth Police Officer William Martin, badge #3572, has been arrested and booked into the Tarrant County Jail following his involvement in an off-duty shooting incident on Tuesday, September 3, 2024. The shooting occurred during a confrontation with another driver, identified as Samuel Christopher, on Interstate Highway 35 (IH35).
According to Martin, the altercation began when Christopher struck his Honda Accord and fled the scene. Martin alleges that after the collision, Christopher's truck rammed his vehicle again and began to move toward him, prompting him to open fire. However, an affidavit indicates that 14 witnesses present at the scene did not believe Martin was in any immediate danger at the time of the shooting.
The Major Case Unit launched an investigation into the incident, placing Officer Martin on restricted duty pending the outcome. Upon completion of the investigation, authorities found probable cause to charge him with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. An arrest warrant was prepared and signed by a judge, leading to Martin's arrest.
Following his arrest, Martin will be placed on detached duty while an Internal Affairs investigation is conducted. The Fort Worth Police Department reaffirmed its commitment to accountability, stating, "Our department will continue to hold employees accountable who do not meet the standards expected of a Fort Worth police officer and, in doing so, we will continue to be transparent and open with our community."
Officer Martin has been with the Fort Worth Police Department for 19 years and was assigned to the Support Bureau at the time of the incident.
