DECEMBER 14, 2022 WATERLEAF FALLS RESIDENTS TO RECEIVE DIFFERENT FENCING
ANNUAL HCISD GALA RAISES MORE THAN $90K
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Hays Free Press
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HaysFreePress.com
Vol. 128 • No. 40
Serving Hays County, TX
Inmate dies in officer-involved shooting County judge: 'The people of Hays County deserve urgent answers' to in-custody death By Natalie Frels natalie@haysfreepress.com
KYLE — An officer-involved shooting occurred on Monday afternoon at Ascension Seton Hays Hospital, according to a press release issued by the Hays
County Sheriff’s Office. The incident occurred as a Hays County corrections officer was guarding the door of a pretrial detainee, later identified as 36-year-old Joshua Leon Wright. Allegedly, in an attempt to escape, Wright assaulted the
officer and ran on foot, the release stated. The officer then discharged his firearm and shot the inmate. Though life-saving measures were initiated by hospital staff, Wright succumbed to his injuries. Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson Sgt. Deon
Cockrell told the Hays Free Press that use of force may have been justified in regards to a pretrial defendant, particularly if the incident involves a felon or someone charged with a violent crime. “I don’t know if he was a felon or a violent felon or if he just had
misdemeanor charges,” Cockrell said. “If he was a violent felon, it may be justified. If he’s not … I just don’t have enough details to tell you that.” According to HCSO, Wright was being held in the county jail See SHOOTING, Page 4
No threat found at Wallace Heiser wins Middle School dance RUNOFF ELECTION
By Amira Van Leeuwen and Megan Wehring KYLE — An investigation conducted by Kyle PD, with assistance from Hays CISD, found that there was no immediate risk or threat to students at the Wallace Middle School dance on Friday, Dec. 9. Around 10 p.m. that night, Kyle PD posted on Facebook that the threat occurred near the end of the scheduled dance, with a School Resource Officer (SRO) and several school officials providing security. The dance started at 5 p.m. and was scheduled to end at 7 p.m. At 3:43 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 13, Hays CISD emailed a review of the incident and response to families. This provided a timeline of the events that occurred on Friday. • 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Wallace Middle School hosted an after school dance. Nine campus adults were on-campus supervising the event; the campus SRO was on-campus; all students were required to present and wear their campus ID; and all students’ belongings (backs and backpacks) were locked in the office. • 6:12 p.m.: Student reported to administrator that a friend at the dance told him that he heard someone say they were going to shoot up the school. The reporting student advised that they did not know who made the original
comment or what exactly was heard. That reporting student provided the name of their friend who reported the information to them. • 6:13 p.m.: Administrator met with SRO and the reporting student about what was heard. The campus team began the process of locating any students or information to obtain specific information. • 6:13-6:45 p.m.: Campus team met with several students and contacted several adults. No specific information, threats, weapons, photographs or postings were located. • 6:45 p.m.: Dance participants were told that the dance was concluded. The lights were flashed on and off and told to start moving towards the exits after picking up their belongings. This is the normal procedure and time that this type of event is announced and ended. Students began to exit the building to meet their rides. • 6:49 p.m.: Hays County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) receives a call on their administrative line (not 911) in which a mother of a WMS student reported that there was a shooting at WMS. She indicated that she received this information from her student who was at the dance. • 6:50 p.m.: HCSO dispatched units to WMS to respond to an active shooter incident 6:51 p.m.
Kyle PD also responds to WMS. • 6:51 p.m. A second administrative call is received via law enforcement dispatch (not 911) in which parent of WMS student reports that they are shutting down the dance because of a shooting outside. • 6:54 p.m. Kyle PD arrives on scene and meets with SRO who advises that there are no issues on campus. • 6:55 p.m.: Responding law enforcement units are advised there is no incident at WMS that requires law enforcement response • 6:57 p.m.: Additional law enforcement units are cancelled. • 7:06 p.m.: Kyle PD Criminal Investigations Division is called to the scene to investigate the incident “The police department received third or fourth-hand information into our dispatch center from a parent who was not on scene and did not have direct knowledge or information of anything specific,” said Kyle PD Chief Jeff Barnett. “They called into the dispatch center concerned that they had received a message from their student that there was some concern of a shooting incident at the school that was actively taking place.” Kyle PD and Hays CISD See THREAT, Page 4
Kyle City Council seat Heiser claims victory for District 1 seat By Brittany Anderson
brittany@haysfreepress.com
KYLE — The race for Kyle City Council’s District 1 seat is officially over, with Bear Heiser claiming victory over Amanda Stark pending unofficial results as of press time. The District 1 seat has been vacant since council member Dex Ellison’s resignation in August 2022. During the Bill Heiser Nov. 8 election, Heiser and Stark ran against six other candidates and received the highest number of votes (2,220 and 3,128, respectively), thus calling for a runoff election as neither garnered more than 50% of the vote to be declared the sole winner. During the Dec. 13 runoff election, Heiser won with 760 votes, or 71.70% of the vote. Stark garnered 300 votes, or 28.30%. Along with election day votes, Heiser also maintained a lead with absentee and early votes. Results will remain unofficial until canvassed and certified.
NEW DEVELOPMENT
Buda workshops potential mixed-use site By Brittany Anderson BUDA — Another development for Buda is on the horizon, but city council members remain optimistic that this one is on the right track to being something beneficial for the community. During the Dec. 6 Buda City Council meeting, council members received a presentation on and discussed a potential upcoming development on the city’s west side. Börekçi Group, a real estate, construction, tourism, food/beverage
and trade group headquartered in Ankara, Turkey, who are placing roots in the Austin area, proposed a roughly 43-acre mixeduse development off FM 1626 and the future Cole Springs Road extension. The development is slated to span 17 acres of commercial (retail, entertainment and local business) space, 7 acres (250 units) of multifamily homes, 14.6 acres (129 units) of singlefamily homes, cottages and townhomes, 6 acres of public open space See BUDA, Page 2
RESIDENTS AND P&Z VOICE CONCERNS
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The Hays Free Press Barton Publications, Inc. The Hays Free Press (USPS 361-430) published weekly by Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610. Periodicals postage paid at Buda, TX 78610 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610. ISSN#1087-9323