Texas Judge Shot, Wounded Outside Home, Officials Say She Was Targeted
Investigators believe a Texas judge was targeted in a shooting that occurred outside her Austin home Friday night.
The incident occurred at approximately 10:15 p.m. CST on Friday as Travis County District Judge Julie Kocurek of Tarrytown was driving home from a high school football game, according to The New York Daily News. Officials believe that she was sitting in the passenger side when her son, who was driving, noticed a garbage bag in their drive way, reports KXAN. When he stepped out of the car to move it, the suspect opened fire into the driver's side window. Although the 51-year-old judge was not hit by a bullet, she suffered from glass injuries on the left side of her face, shoulder and left arm.
At a news conference late Friday night, Austin police Commander Mark Spangler said she was hit with "flying glass and shrapnel," and no one else was injured. She was listed in stable condition on Saturday morning, reports CNN.
"This injury, although extremely serious, does not appear to be life-threatening at this time," said Spangler.
Investigators are now searching for the shooter and a motive as she recovers, however they believe that she was the intended target. Law enforcement officials also announced Sunday that they think the shooting was related to her profession.
Sources told the American Statesman that Kocurek, who presides over tough criminal cases, had received multiple threats, which were all reported to authorities.
She was first appointed to the court in 1999 by then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush. She later became a registered Democrat in 2006. She also served as the administrative presiding judge of all criminal courts in the county for three years, from 2011 to 2014.
"Judge Kocurek is a wonderful woman," District Judge David Wahlberg said. "It's unfathomable to think that anyone would be angry with her. We are all praying for her."
"I think it's terribly tragic and absolutely senseless," added the victim's friend, August Harris. "I think it shows that she was willing to serve the people of Travis County and the people of Texas as a presiding judge in criminal cases, which has an inherent risk in it. And she was willing to take that risk to serve."
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