Man sentenced to 40 years after fatal shooting in 2022

AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — A man was sentenced to 40 years in prison after being found guilty of murder by a jury, according to the Acting District Attorney for the 47th District of Texas, Jason Herring.

According to the DA’s office, 64-year-old Ronald Austin was found guilty on Tuesday of murder stemming from an incident in Potter County back in March 2022 at an area motel.

According to previous reports by MyHighPlains.com, Austin was originally indicted on a murder charge in July 2022 after the Amarillo Police Department was called to the scene on an aggravated assault call. Officers found 57-year-old Gerald Chisolm shot. He later died from his injuries at the scene.

The DA’s office said Austin admitted to APD Homicide detectives that Chisolm had not threatened him and did not have a weapon. At the trial, Austin claimed Chisolm had threatened him and had been known to carry a weapon. No weapon was found on the scene.

The jury found Austin guilty of murder after a short deliberation, and he was sentenced to 40 years in the Texas Department of Corrections.

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