A gun going off at a Texas courthouse raises eyebrows, even if a prosecutor is the one who may have been involved. According to the American Bar Association Journal, the Waco Tribune, and a local TV station, First Assistant District Attorney Michael Jarrett aimed a gun at an office window at the McLennan County courthouse complex and pulled the trigger, shattering a window and striking a brick wall of the county jail. The Waco Tribune quotes Jarrett as saying it was “just an unfortunate accident” and took place when he examined his colleague’s new Glock pistol, thinking it was not loaded. Jarrett did not return a call seeking comment. McLennan County District Attorney Abel Reyna says he was attending an event honoring first responders Nov.4 when an incident occurred, but he does not confirm any specifics. Reyna writes in a statement, “I am very relieved that no one was injured in this accident. With that said, I am extremely angry that this occurred. We are still in the process of trying to determine how exactly this occurred. I will implement whatever policy necessary or take whatever disciplinary action necessary to insure this does not happen again.” Referring to the shooting deaths of two prosecutors in Kaufman County in January and March, his statement continues, “In light of what happened in Kaufman County, I encourage my prosecutors to arm themselves but I also insist that they be responsible in doing so.” Reyna also says because it is a personnel matter, he will not comment further because he has not spoken to everyone involved.
Dueling Banjos
In a business-disparagement lawsuit, Buck Wild, a country western club in Webster, alleges that Big Texas Dance Hall & Saloon, also in Webster, created a website around the time of Buck Wild’s grand opening, with the “sole intent of injuring” Buck Wild’s reputation and business. In the Oct. 24 petition in Buck Wild v. Big Texas Dance Hall & Saloon, the plaintiff alleges that the defendant posted on that website images of two men having sex and advertised Buck Wild as a club frequented by homosexuals. Buck Wild, represented by Mark Lazarz, a partner in Houston’s Shellist Lazarz Slobin, seeks $5 million in damages. Lazarz did not return a call seeking comment. In the court’s online records, no answer was filed and no counsel was identified for the defendant. John Savage, the owner of Big Texas Dance Hall & Saloon, did not return a call seeking comment.
