He Shot a Police Officer During Late-Night Raid at His Home — Why a Jury Just Found Him Not Guilty on All Counts

When the San Antonio Police Department’s Tactical Response Unit busted through his front door, 52-year-old Adrian Perryman says he opened fire because he believed a home invasion was underway. He wounded a police officer, but claims he tossed his firearm once he saw they were cops and not criminals.

KSAT-TV

It took a jury in San Antonio, Texas, nine hours of deliberation to find Perryman not guilty on four counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer earlier this week. The raid occurred at Perryman’s home back in October 26, 2010.

Police officers testified that they shouted, “Police! Police!” as they broke down the door and then again when they were inside the home, KSAT-TV reports.

That was the big disagreement in the trial as Perryman’s attorney, Tony Jimenez, told the jury his client did not hear the police identify themselves or make it known that they had a search warrant. Perryman reportedly fired four rounds at police.

“The door goes down – he shoots,” Jimenez said, according to KSAT-TV. “Was it in the direction of police? Did he know they were police?”

The defense attorney also told jurors that Perryman was protecting his house, girlfriend and family. His 3-year-old granddaughter, Savannah, was reportedly in the house on the night of the raid.

“He was protecting his house, he was protecting Ms. Flores and he was protecting Savannah,” Jimenez said.

Prosecutor Steve Spier argued it’s implausible that trained police officers would risk their lives and “have no regard for themselves” by failing to loudly proclaim who they are.

"Though jurors never heard about the reasons for or results of the search warrant, police at the time reported finding methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and firearms in the home," MySanAntonio.com reports.

(H/T: Opposing Views)