Fort Worth police officer arrested for off-duty shooting, faces aggravated assault charges

FORT WORTH — A Fort Worth police officer who shot and killed a man while off duty was arrested and booked into the Tarrant County Jail, police said Friday.

Officer William Martin has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. According to the Fort Worth Police Department, he will be assigned to duty pending the completion and review of the internal investigation.

Martin, who has been with the Fort Worth Police Department for 19 years, was off duty on Sept. 3 when he shot and killed a man who he said tried to ram him with his vehicle after a hit-and-run accident.

“The Fort Worth Police Department is filled with officers who do their jobs right every day,” police said in a news release. “Our police department will continue to hold accountable employees who do not meet the standards expected of a Fort Worth police officer, and in doing so, we will continue to be transparent and open with our community.”

Martin said the hit-and-run accident occurred on I-35W. He claimed the driver of the pickup truck that struck him did not stop. Martin followed the truck to Morningside Drive, about five miles away, where the driver allegedly attempted to ram him with his truck. Then, police say, Martin pulled out his gun and fired several shots. The driver was taken to a nearby hospital and is expected to be OK.

After the incident Some members of the Fort Worth community spoke at a recent city council meetingand expressed concern about Martin's status.

This was not the first incident to make headlines. In 2016, a video circulated of Martin throwing Jacqueline Craig to the ground and arresting her. Craig had called 911 to report that a neighbor had attacked her child.

Martin was suspended for 10 days but kept his job. Craig sued the city for excessive force, but a federal appeals court ultimately ruled that Martin had immunity. The case was settled and Craig received $150,000. She died in 2023.