Grand jury declines to indict CCPD Officer Jose Hasette

A grand jury Thursday did not indict Corpus Christi Police Department Officer Jose Hasette in the fatal shooting of Dewboy Lister.

Lister, 55, was killed after struggling with Hasette following a traffic stop in October.

First Assistant District Attorney Matt Manning said Thursday evening there was a thorough investigation ahead of the grand jury's verdict.

"We presented it to the grand jury to see if they believed there was criminal responsibility," Manning said. "They determined there was not, and we stand firmly on that decision as we would if they had returned a different decision.

"We stand committed to being transparent to the community and to being open with not only our investigations but, reviewing investigations," he said. "We stand committed to justice, whatever justice may be, but we also stand committed to honoring the grand jury as the instrument for determining whether criminal responsibility should be found against any one person."

Lister was driving home from work at a local refinery about 9 p.m. Oct. 19 when Hasette pulled him over. He was stopped near North Port Avenue and Winnebago Street.

A short pursuit followed, then there was a scuffle, during which the officer feared for his life and shot Lister in the torso, said Police Chief Mike Markle. He died early the next day at a local hospital.

CCPD Officer Gena Pena confirmed Hasette has been released for full duty. District Attorney Mark Gonzalez and Manning confirmed the case is closed, pending new evidence.