'I Felt Scared, So I Shot Him': Former Cop Explains Road Rage Incident in Court

In a shocking turn of events that absolutely no one saw coming, a former Austin police officer—who just so happened to accidentally shoot an unarmed man during a road rage incident—has taken the stand to explain why he’s actually the real victim here. Gabriel Gutierrez, now employed by the Seguin Police Department (because nothing says 'fresh start' like a lateral move to a smaller town), testified that he was simply 'trying not to get shot'—a phrase that, coincidentally, also doubles as the unofficial motto of every Texan who’s ever driven on I-35.

Gutierrez, who left APD to be 'closer to his girlfriend' (and, presumably, farther from pesky lawsuits), insists that his actions were justified because he felt like he was in danger. And let’s be honest, folks, isn’t that the American Dream? The right to shoot first and ask questions later, as long as you feel scared enough? The prosecution, in a bold move, pointed out that Gutierrez’s story kept changing—first, he saw a gun outside the car, then he didn’t, then he might have, but only if you squint and tilt your head just right. But hey, who needs consistency when you’ve got a badge and a taxpayer-funded legal defense?

In a truly groundbreaking legal strategy, Gutierrez’s attorney argued that some deception is just part of the job—like telling a suspect they’re not in trouble when they very much are, or saying 'shots fired' without clarifying that you’re the one doing the shooting. It’s all just part of the delicate art of 'de-escalation,' which, in this case, involved escalating straight to lethal force.

Meanwhile, the city of Austin—ever the generous benefactor—has graciously agreed to foot the bill if the jury decides Gutierrez was a little too trigger-happy. Because nothing says 'accountability' like making the taxpayers pay for an officer’s alleged mistakes. The trial continues, but let’s be real: the real winner here is the Seguin PD, who just got themselves a guy with real-world experience in high-stakes traffic disputes. Welcome to Texas, y’all.