KLBK CBS 13 News (Texas)
A Lubbock police officer is free of wrongdoing after shooting an armed suspect to death. Officers say Pablo Paul Ponciano, 41, advanced officer Kyle King with knives during a standoff last month. In return, the officer opened fire. Neighbors in the area say King fired at least three rounds. On the night of October 25, officer King was called out to Ponicano`s north Lubbock home. The caller said Ponciano was threatening him with a knife. King was the first on the scene, but he couldn`t get the suspect to put down his weapons.
“Unfortunately, as he continued to approach the officer again with three knives, officer King was forced to fire,” says Lubbock Police Lieutenant Ray Bassett.
Those who were there that night recall the sound of gunfire ringing through their homes.
“I heard my husband saying (that) he just heard three shots,” says Epifania Martinez, a resident who lived in the area.
It was those three shots that claimed Ponciano`s life and began a series of standard legal procedures for King, including paid leave and a hearing before a grand jury.
“That is going to be refered to a grand jury so that a non- biased group can look at all the facts and decide if they warrant filing charges or it was a justified shooting,” says Lieutenant Bassett.
In King`s case, the jury decided lethal force was justified.
“He pretty much had no choice in this situation,” says Bassett.
Officer King`s administrative leave only lasted for a few days. He`s been back on the Lubbock police force for several weeks now.