'Person of interest' questioned in judge's shooting
AUSTIN — Officials in Houston are questioning a "person of interest" in connection with the shooting of a Texas judge outside of her Austin home last week.
In a brief statement, Austin police said they are aware of "the arrest in Houston of a person of interest in the shooting of the Honorable Judge Julie Kocurek. The arrest was for unrelated charges and we will not make any further comments at this time due to our ongoing investigation."
Police said, Kocurek, the top presiding judge in Travis County, Texas, was hit with shrapnel and glass when a shooter opened fire Friday night in the Tarrytown area of West Austin.
She was listed in serious condition at University Medical Center-Brackenridge, but is expected to recover. A manhunt was underway Saturday for the suspected shooter.
Police said the shooting happened as Kocurek and her family arrived home. No one else was injured.
On Sunday, investigators said they think the gunman was trying to kill the judge. Police and Kocurek's staff are going through thousands of court cases for possible suspects, as well as combing her neighborhood to see whether any homes have security cameras.
A representative for the Kocurek family released the following statement Monday:
“The Kocurek family is grateful to everyone for their thoughts, prayers and support; the outpouring has been a tremendous source of encouragement. Judge Kocurek is receiving great care from a wonderful team of doctors and nurses. Their efforts, along with Judge Kocurek’s faith, are helping her improve everyday.”
Kocurek is a former prosecutor, and has served as the presiding judge of the 390th District Court since January 1999 after being appointed by then-governor George W. Bush. She became the only Republican elected to a state district judgeship in Travis County. In 2006, she switched parties and became a Democrat.
She has been involved with several high-profile cases, including her limited involvement in the murder case of Samantha Dean, in which she signed warrants for evidence. Former Austin police Officer VonTrey Clark is accused of killing Dean. The victim services counselor for the Kyle Police Department was pregnant when she was found shot to death in Bastrop County in February.
Kocurek is presiding over the 1988 murder case of Debra Baker, who according to the Austin American-Statesman was found beaten to death with a piece of wood in her Austin home. Mark Norwood is scheduled to go to trial this month. Investigators used DNA to link Norwood to the case. He's already incarcerated for the 1986 murder of another woman.
Kocurek also would have presided over the criminal case of former Texas governor Rick Perry, but she recused herself.