Texas authorities arrested two suspects Thursday evening in connection with the death of an off-duty Abilene police officer.
Violetta Walter, 30, and Phillip Walter, 29, have been arrested on suspicion of first-degree felony murder. Each is being held on $500,000 bond.
Officer Don Allen was found dead Monday inside his home in Clyde.
“We were able to link the suspects to property taken from Don Allen’s residence,” a statement from the Abilene Police Department said. “We are confident that we have taken the correct people into custody. We do not believe there are any other suspects.”
Investigators have released few details in the case, but have described Allen’s death as “clearly suspicious.”
Allen was the only person inside the residence when found by family members, police Chief Stan Standridge said Tuesday.
The officer’s death comes days after the shooting death of a deputy in Harris County, Texas, which has sparked allegations that targeting of law enforcement officers could be on the rise.
But after Allen’s death, Standridge stressed that there was no “indication right now that random law enforcement personnel are being targeted.”
Still, he said, officers were shaken.
“The initial reaction was fear. Why was Officer Allen chosen? That speaks volumes as it relates to how vulnerable are we. … We look like we’re prepared for anything,” he said.
“But the reality is, we’re just like you. We go to the same schools in this community. We attend the same churches. We eat at the same restaurants. We are just like you.”
Standridge described Allen as a “great man and great peace officer” who loved his job and always did it with a smile.
