Posted 10:41 pm Friday, January 25, 2013
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Authorities identify Alto man, 48, fatally shot by police after robbery
Staff Reports
The man fatally shot Wednesday evening by a police officer has been identified by authorities as 48-year-old James Eric Griffin, of Alto.
The Alto Police Department responded to an aggravated robbery at the Pick N Go, 100 S. Marcus St., around 4:30 p.m., Capt. John Raffield with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday.
Following the incident, Griffin was fatally shot by Officer Brandon Michael Smith, according to a news release from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Raffield said the officer shot Griffin on U.S. Highway 69, which is Marcus Street in town, about three blocks south of the Texas Highway 21 intersection, he said. That is near where the Pick N Go is located.
The officer was placed on administrative leave with pay based on the department’s standard operating procedures, the release states.
At the request of the Alto Police Department, the Texas Rangers will investigate the incident, the release states.
The Alto Police Department responded to an aggravated robbery at the Pick N Go, 100 S. Marcus St., around 4:30 p.m., Capt. John Raffield with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday.
Following the incident, Griffin was fatally shot by Officer Brandon Michael Smith, according to a news release from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Raffield said the officer shot Griffin on U.S. Highway 69, which is Marcus Street in town, about three blocks south of the Texas Highway 21 intersection, he said. That is near where the Pick N Go is located.
The officer was placed on administrative leave with pay based on the department’s standard operating procedures, the release states.
At the request of the Alto Police Department, the Texas Rangers will investigate the incident, the release states.
