KINGSLAND, Texas — The last moments of a Llano County man’s life – caught on body camera video newly obtained by the KVUE Defenders – have prompted a lawsuit about whether deputies should have used lethal force.
The family of the 40-year-old man who died says he was suffering a mental health break and allege deputies escalated the situation.
Body camera video from the morning of Oct. 22, 2022, shows Llano County deputies opened fire on Justin Harrod soon after he told them, “I’m having the worst night of my life, and y’all just want to [expletive] shoot somebody?”
Moments later, the deputies opened fire.
Harrod’s wife, Jillian, had called for help minutes earlier.
According to a newly filed lawsuit, she told a 911 operator that she believed her husband, who had a gun, was suffering from a mental health crisis – in part because it was the “one-year anniversary of his father’s death” and she believed he could hurt himself.
“Jillian called the police to save her husband’s life and they took it,” Austin attorney Austin Kaplan, who represents the family, said.
The Llano County Sheriff’s Office did not return a phone call seeking comment. A representative from the county attorney’s office referred calls to Austin attorney Eric Magee, who represents the county. He did not respond to an email seeking comment.
The lawsuit says five deputies arrived at the Harrods' Kingsland home, woke Justin Harrod up as he was sleeping outside and the situation quickly escalated.
“People are scared to call the police and to call for help when they are suffering a mental health crisis, and cases like this are exactly why,” Kaplan said. “This case just shows what a disaster it can be when police are not property trained and they don’t do the right thing.”
The suit claims Justin Harrod laid on top of his gun, but because of his position, it would have been difficult for him to reach. It says he remained “lying down prone” throughout the encounter and “never once moved his weapon or even his arms in any way toward the deputies.”
According to his family, Justin Harrod was a heavy equipment operator most of his life but had recently enjoyed a career with the Lower Colorado River Authority as a surveyor. He enjoyed playing the banjo and piano and was the father of two children.
The suit does not seek specific damages, but Kaplan said the family wants justice for Justin Harrod – and has a broader mission in bringing the case.
“We, hopefully, want to make a positive change so residents of Central Texas can feel safe when they reach out for help in a mental health crisis,” he said.