Ex-Copperas Cove Cop Charged After Crazy Road Rage Led to Shooting

In May, an off-duty officer shot at a woman multiple times during an incident of suspected road rage, and he has now been indicted by a Coryell County grand jury.

According to a report from the Killeen Daily Herald, the former Copperas Cove Police Officer Eric Anthony Stoneburner, 45, was indicted for a second-degree felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

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The incident took place on May 23, when a woman named Lacresha Murray was on her way to the hospital after she suddenly became ill. Murray performed a U-turn in the street to head towards AdventHealth-Central Texas Hospital in Killeen. After the U-turn, Murray stated that Stoneburner whipped in front of her, and then proceeded to drive very slowly.

Murray passed Stoneburner, but then he began to tailgate her vehicle. Murray attempted to create distance between herself and Stoneburner, but he continued to follow close behind. Murray then decided to stop and exit her vehicle to explain her situation to the Stoneburner, who she did not know was an officer at the time.

Immediately when approached, Stoneburner discharged his weapon and shot Murray six times in the arm as she attempted to get back into her vehicle. Murray has stated that Stoneburner only identified himself as an officer of the law after he began firing his weapon.

KWTX reports that at the time of the shooting, Stoneburner had his 4-year-old grand-daughter in the vehicle with him. Stoneburner turned his self in on May 27 at the Coryell County Jail.

On May 28th, the Copperas Cove Police Chief Eddie Wilson made the following statement:

“As a department, we cannot support Mr. Stoneburner’s decision to use deadly force in the moment and manner in which he did."

Murray is said to believe that the aggravated assault charge is not enough after the ordeal she experienced.