A first-time offender is facing five years in prison for assault at a Midlothian assisted living center.
Jakobi Romone Walker, a Venus resident, was sentenced on January 15 to five years in prison for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon at a Midlothian assisted living center, according to a press release from the Ellis County District Attorney’s Office.
Midlothian Police Officer Rudy Hille arrested Walker.
“This case is a shining example of the bravery law enforcement officers have to exhibit on a daily basis,” said Assistant District Attorney Garett Smith in the release.
Walker asked the jury for probation, citing his previous clean record. Instead, the jury sentenced him to 5 years.
“The jury considered the danger he placed innocent civilians in, including vulnerable elderly residents of the facility, and the fact that Walker had refused to take medication for his mental illness,” the release reads.
‘Threatened To Shoot Everyone’
Walker allegedly walked into an assisted living facility in Midlothian on March 2, around 9:30 p.m., brandishing a gun at workers while they changed out for the graveyard shift.
“While pointing the firearm at the assisted living facility’s staff, Walker threatened to shoot everyone at the facility,” the release reads.
Hille responded within 2 minutes, and he confronted Walker in the lobby. The officer swiftly disarmed and arrested him.
“Without hesitation and with no other officers present, Officer Hille ran into a facility occupied by the most vulnerable in our society and confronted an armed individual before he had an opportunity to act on his threats,” Smith said. “We are blessed to only speculate what would have happened had Officer Hille not acted so quickly.”
All residents were asleep at the time, and no staff members were injured.
Investigators later learned Walker was dating an employee. Earlier that day, another employee told his girlfriend he was trying to cheat on her with one of her coworkers.
Walker reportedly went to the facility to confront the coworker who told his girlfriend about the cheating claims.
Smith and Assistant District Attorney Sherry Roeder prosecuted the case, while investigators Edwin Gibson and Lena Aguayo helped.
