Bryan/College Station Eagle - Video chronicles fatal police shooting

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Published Thursday, June 19, 2008 4:02 PM

Video chronicles fatal police shooting

Eagle Staff Report

Note to readers:

A 30-minute video of a police chase and ensuing shootout taken from a camera mounted in a Caldwell police car has been shortened by Eagle staff to eliminate some graphic content.

The video contains images that some may find offensive and parents should consider reviewing the content before allowing children to watch it.

Robbery Timeline

Surveillance Videos: Office 1, Office 2, Office Window, Entrance

Caldwell authorities on Thursday released to the media a video that shows a robbery suspect shooting an officer and the rookie officer firing fatal return shots.

Fifteen shots were fired in the June 10 gunbattle that included Caldwell Chief Paul Lilly, police said.

A Burleson County grand jury saw the same footage Wednesday before deciding that Caldwell police Officer Cougan Hignight was justified in shooting Louis William Avrin after a brief chase that ended in a field near Texas 21 after the Avrin slammed into a tree.

Surveillance Videos: Office 1, Office 2, Office Window, Entrance

The 30-minute video, shot from Hignight's dash-mounted camera, shows Avrin raising his gun and shooting at Hignight -- who was trying to exit his patrol car that was parked facing the driver's side of Avrin's vehicle. The officer later said he was trying to get out of the line of fire when he was struck in the right shoulder by a bullet from Avrin's 9 mm pistol, which was reported stolen from Bryan.

The officer, who started with the department eight months ago, got out of his patrol unit crouching down and took cover at the back of the patrol car, according to a narrative released by the department. The movements of the officer are off camera then, as well as when he returns fire at the robber, police said.

"I've been shot," Hignight said at one point into his radio. "I've been hit, sir, I've been shot."

Chief Lilly also was in pursuit of the suspect and had approached Arvin's car on the right side as both Hignight and Lilly opened fire on Avrin with their 40-caliber Glock handguns. Authorities said Lilly fired four shots at the robber while Hignight fired 10 shots. It was unclear which bullets came from which gun, according to an officer's report that states the officers were carrying the same department-issued ammunition.

Caldwell Deputy Chief Daniel McElroy released the video, along with a 17-minute audio recording from dispatch. He told The Eagle that they wanted the public to see and hear what transpired.

"We're not trying to keep anything back," McElroy said.

Hignight, who was released from the hospital several hours after the shooting, was responding to a robbery at Brookshire Brothers grocery store on Texas 36 about 5:15 p.m. Police said Avrin stole $5,000 in cash after pointing his gun at several employees and forcing his way into the cash office.

He told the employees that he had 16 bullets and would use them all if they didn't cooperate with him, authorities said Thursday.

For more on this story, read tomorrow's Eagle.

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16 comment(s) found!

Posted by: caldwell resident On: 8/5/2008

Comment Title: who shot who
did chief lilly shoot his own officer ,

Posted by: On: 6/20/2008

Comment Title:
Perhaps the people here who think the officer could have handled the situation differently should apply for a position with their local police department (since they are such experts on how to handle a dangerous situation).

Posted by: On: 6/20/2008

Comment Title: Question
Do you think Officer Hignight had time to watch the clip falling out in slow motion? Come on people! I heard they couldn't find the clip so I watched the video several times. I never saw it fall out until they pointed it out on KBTX last night. He was too busy getting shot to notice that the clip fell out. Get real people! Plus who's to say he didn't have more ammo on him? He did the right thing. Good job Caldwell PD for doing your job and protecting us.

Posted by: On: 6/20/2008

Comment Title:
A sane person firing potential death at another must expect some form of retaliation, of at least that equal in magnitude. Consequently, the subject initiated his own fate, if, in fact, he was sane. If not sane and not high, you can blame his creator or no one. For, you cannot expect a sane cop to wait for a subject to finish reloading and potentially fire true, because the subject might have mental problems. Obviously, the subject reasoned, although selfishly and without empathy, somewhat well. Although he robbed a store at gun-point (for money) and stole a vehicle, he reasoned well enough to wear clothes, knew to get away, had a semi-automatic pistol and bullets, knew who to shoot at – and shot with reasoned accuracy, provoking the inherent consequences that led to his own death. However, although justified, I’d shy away from praising the cop. The only time killing is an option is when it’s the only option. Thus, it never merits praise, only that it was justified. Many may disagree, but had you been the subject; had his childhood, his education, his experiences, and, thus, his mind and were in his shoes, you would have reasoned the same actions that he did, and it would have led you to your death.

Posted by: A man trying to please God. On: 6/19/2008

Comment Title: Only The Begining
If someone with a mine like this robs a store just think what someone will do when times get really bad.Police have a job to do and we all need to get behind them.This thing is just getting started.

Posted by: Roger Sims (former Dallas Police Officer) On: 6/19/2008

Comment Title: Settle down
OK. I think we can all agree that the officer - whatever his past situations - did the right thing. end of story. It must be nice to come watch this video and then second guess the officer's actions. The suspect could have killed plenty of people. I don't understand how someone who is not an officer is judging this law officer?

Posted by: Pam K. On: 6/19/2008

Comment Title: facts
and what does that have to do with what happened last week? just curious? so you think he should have taken a bullet and died? so did you file a complaint when he pulled his gun on you or your friend? if you didn't, why are you just now speaking out. great times we live in when someone like you defends a person who pulled a gun on employees at a grocery store, stole money, stole a car, then shot a cop. you're a winner.

Posted by: On: 6/19/2008

Comment Title:
Oh yeah Pam. Also forgot to mention Hignight is not such a great guy. I know he's your hero and all, but he was fired as a Houston cop and Caldwell took him in. The guy goes around town giving people a hard time for no reason and has even drawn his gun on an unarmed person.

Posted by: On: 6/19/2008

Comment Title: watch the video again Pam
Pam, You're an angry lady. Don't know why you have to take it out on me, but I have no idea what texags is. I posted a comment here because it's obvious that something just isn't right. Anyone that watches the video can see that the clip fell out of the gun. I'm not saying that the officers weren't justified in firing on the suspect. All I was saying is that it was excessive. They waited seven seconds before firing on him after he shot at the officer and Hignight started saying he was hit a full eleven seconds after the guy shot once. I know that he was a bad guy, but I'm just saying that the cops shouldn't have been in each others line of fire and that maybe the guy's shot did miss. It just doesn't all add up. The news edited the video and made it look different than this video. All I'm saying is that maybe you should watch it again and also keep your rude comments to yourself. You don't know anything about me and have no reason to insult me.

Posted by: Pam Kennedy On: 6/19/2008

Comment Title: defense
A shot in the arm? Be fired? Spoken like someone who only reads texags and hides behind a cowardly anonymous forum like this. give me a break. This cop did the right thing. The grand jury saw all the evidence and thought so too. It's just like a jackass to come on here and criticize something he/she knows nothing about. Thank you Officer Hignight. Hopefully all the cops in this community are like you. You're a hero to all of us.

Posted by: On: 6/19/2008

Comment Title:
i am happy that their was some one like highnight to even protect caldwell who knows he could have killed some one and as for the shottig the robber shot first he was just protecting his self in the lien of duty good job

Posted by: On: 6/19/2008

Comment Title:
Put yourself in this officers situation. I believe that everyone, in this situation, would do the same thing and the grand jury has acquitted him of any charges. Good job officer.

Posted by: On: 6/19/2008

Comment Title:
way to go fellas. keep up the good work and do it again if needed. that guy got what he deserved.

Posted by: On: 6/19/2008

Comment Title:
could you imagine if this was your child? Seeing him die on television, it's a shame that this tape got released. Excessive gunshots by the CPD, unreal!

Posted by: On: 6/19/2008

Comment Title:
a bullet wound to the arm and he starts screaming like a little girl. This guy should be fired. Also if the cops would have been paying a little more attention this guy might have lived to be locked up in a mental institution where he probably should have been in the first place. One shot fired, clip falls out, open fire guys. Real smart. I hope I never get pulled over for speeding. I might take a few rounds myself.

Posted by: On: 6/19/2008

Comment Title: Way To Go!
Way to Go Caldwell Police!!! Thank you for your dedication and for protecting us! God Bless You!!!!