State of Texas v. Garrett Hardin

In July 2022, Harris County Sheriff’s Sergeant Garrett Hardin responded to a shoplifting call at a Dollar General on FM 1960 that ended in a fatal shooting. The bodycam video ran on every station in Houston. A grand jury indicted a working law enforcement officer for murder — a first-degree felony carrying up to life in prison — and much of the coverage had already made up its mind.

Justin Keiter led the defense. From the beginning, the defense team said the video itself — watched carefully, frame by frame — told a different story than the headlines: a suspect fighting on the ground who grabbed control of the sergeant’s Taser. “If you look carefully at that video, you will see the suspect is starting to turn and grab the Taser,” the defense argued. Justin’s background prosecuting officer-involved cases and training officers on use-of-force law meant the defense could meet the State’s experts head on.

On November 4, 2024, after a trial in the 262nd District Court, a Harris County jury found Sgt. Hardin not guilty of murder.

This is why the Harris County Deputies Organization keeps Justin on call. When the people who know the criminal justice system best are the ones in trouble, this is who they hire.

As covered by the press

• KHOU 11 — Jurors find former Harris County sergeant Garrett Hardin not guilty
• KPRC 2 — Former Harris Co. sergeant found not guilty of murder
• ABC13 — Sgt. Garrett Hardin found not guilty
• FOX 26 — Former HCSO Sgt. Garrett Hardin found not guilty

Every case is different. Past results do not guarantee, warrant, or predict a similar outcome in your case.