Testimony in the trial of Dabrett Montreal Black, who stands accused of shooting Trooper Damon Allen, began on Monday morning, February 28, 2022 at the Brazos County Courthouse in Bryan, Texas.
The change of venue was granted the Spring of 2019 on two grounds: that a smaller population could lead to less impartiality during jury selection, and pervasive local media coverage could lead to a prejudicial jury.
The capital murder trial was initially set to start in August of 2020.
According to Freestone County Attorney Brian Evans, the trial will start with multiple days of testimony from witnesses for the State, followed by defense witnesses.
Twelve jurors and two alternates were selected last week to serve. The jury is made up of eight males and six females.
“The jury selection process was smooth and we are satisfied with the results,” said County Attorney Evans. “I am confident the selected individuals will follow the law and instructions during the trail.”
Trial is scheduled to take one to two weeks to complete.
On Thanksgiving Day 2017, Trooper Allen had pulled Black over in a routine traffic stop at the 194 mile marker in the southbound lane of Interstate 45 near Dew.
According to news reports, when Trooper Allen returned to his patrol unit, Black followed him with a rifle and opened fire through the patrol unit window. As Trooper Allen opened his door to return fire, he was struck in the head by a bullet and died on the scene.
Black fled the scene, and a massive manhunt reportedly ensued throughout Central Texas.
After being spotted in Waller County, Black again fired at law enforcement, according to reports.
K-9 Officer Odin was called in with partner, Deputy Andrew Blauser, to assist in the search for Black. Later that night, Black was successfully apprehended and taken to Brazos County Jail.
A week later, Black was transferred to Freestone County custody, and has been housed at Limestone County Detention Center during his pre-trial proceedings.
During his arraignment on March 1, 2018, Black entered a “not guilty” plea.
This was not Black’s first run in with law enforcement.
In July 2017, just four months prior to the fatal shooting of Trooper Allen, Dabrett Black was jailed in Smith County following a car chase with deputies that ended when he struck a patrol vehicle.
Both he and the deputy were transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Black was charged with evading arrest and aggravated assault on a public servant, and reckless driving; but was released out on at $15,000 bail bond.
The circumstances of the fatal shooting of Trooper Allen inspired the passage of Senate Bill 6, the Damon Allen Act, into law on Monday, September 13, 2021.
The new law prohibits the release on personal bond of defendants charged with a violent offense or who are charged while released on bail.
Kasey Allen, Trooper Damon Allen’s wife, was lauded as an instrumental role in the passage of the bill.
