Video: Drunk Texas deputy cries in parking lot after firing gun at church, avoids charges The Ellis County District Attorney said he believes the deputy is being shown favoritism.

An ex-Somervell County Sheriff's deputy who drunkenly fired several shots in a church parking lot, striking the church at least three times, last month will not face charges. William Cox, 27, was arrested last month in relation to the incident, however, the church's pastor and the arresting agency who he formerly worked for declined to press charges. less An ex-Somervell County Sheriff's deputy who drunkenly fired several shots in a church parking lot, striking the church at least three times, last month will not face charges. William Cox, 27, was arrested last ... more Photo: FOX 4 Photo: FOX 4 Image 1 of / 9 Caption Close Video: Drunk Texas deputy cries in parking lot after firing gun at church, avoids charges 1 / 9 Back to Gallery

Video of a visibly drunk and sobbing Somervell County Sheriff's deputy who opened fire on an empty Central Texas church, hitting it at least three times, released by a Dallas-area news agency last Friday has prompted an investigation into whether he was given special treatment.

William Cox, 27, was arrested in Ovilla, about 20 miles south of downtown Dallas, by the Ellis County Sheriff's Office on July 13 after he drunkenly opened fire on the Shiloh Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Ellis County, FOX 4 reported.

Despite the arrest, Cox has not been charged, which has angered many in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including the Ellis County District Attorney, Patrick Wilson.

Wilson said he believes the Ellis County Sheriff's department, one of two responding agencies, showed favoritism to Cox because he was a law enforcement officer and had previously worked for the agency, FOX 4 reported.

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Cox, who was fired from his job with the Somervell County Sheriff's Department after word of the incident spread, told responding officers that he was upset over the July 7 ambush and killing of five Dallas Police officers, according to FOX 4.

Cox, who was with the Somervell County Sheriff's Department since 2011 after working for the Ellis County Sheriff's Department, is heard telling police he was upset because "my boys are getting killed in Dallas," according to body cam and dash cam footage of Cox published by FOX 4.

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Upon his arrest, a shirtless, sobbing Cox tells authorities from the back of a squad car that he "shot (his) weapon irresponsibly."

A pastor for the church where Cox fired his weapon decided not to file charges against Cox and told FOX 4 his decision was "all about forgiveness."

Despite the pastor's decision to not file charges, FOX 4 noted that the discretion is left with the arresting agency, which, in this case, is the Ellis County Sheriff's Office.

According to FOX 4, Cox was formerly employed as a jailer in Ellis County and Wilson told the Dallas broadcast group that the facts follow a "narrative of favoritism."

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In addition to not being charged for firing his gun in a residential area, FOX 4 reportedly received a photo of a brick wall in place of Cox's booking photo after filing an open records request with the Ellis County Sheriff's Office, indicating Cox did not have a mugshot.

Wilson told FOX 4 his office will be investigating the matter, noting officers from other areas had booking photos in the Ellis County Sheriff's Office system.

"The criticism that's being lobbed against law enforcement and the criminal justice system in general in our community and our society today — the foundation of that criticism is what's illustrated in this case and that is favoritism," Wilson said. "That some people in the criminal justice system get treated differently and how can I dispel that narrative when these facts completely support that?"

MMedina@mySA.com



Twitter: @MariahMedinaaa