Cedar Park officers cleared in June shooting

CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN) - Thursday afternoon a grand jury said five Cedar Park Police officers were justified after they shot and killed a man in self-defense over the summer.

The five officers were called to a disturbance at 404 North Rainbow Bridge on June 28. The police department said they were greeted by 59-year-old Charles O’Hara, who had a shotgun and aimed it at the officers.

Police said O’Hara opened fire, forcing officers to defend themselves. The man was killed in the gunfire.

“This was a very unfortunate incident, and on behalf of the Cedar Park Police Department, I would like to offer my sincerest condolences to the family of Mr. O’Hara for their loss,” said Police Chief Henry Fluck in a statement. “Our officers responded promptly to quell the disturbance. Our officers were confronted with deadly force and they responded with deadly force. Mr. O’Hara forced the hand of our officers, and they acted in self-defense.”

The officers, Bobby Vernengo, James Quinn, Coy Brown, Kristy Britt and Robert Harris had been placed on administrative duty pending the grand jury's decision.

Jurors heard from District Attorney John Bradley, and testimony from Texas Ranger Marcus Hilton, Cedar Park Police Detective Ricky Pando and Travis County Medical  Examiner Dr. Leisha Wood.

In a statement, Cedar Park Police said their policy is “a peace officer is justified in using deadly force against a person when and to the degree the officer reasonably believes the deadly force is immediately necessary to protect himself or a third person against the other’s unlawful use or attempted use of deadly force.”