Arrest Made in Murder of Texas Police Officer

Two people have been arrested in connection with the murder of Texas Police Officer Don Allen. The Abilene police officer was found dead in his home one week ago under circumstances described as “clearly suspicious.”

Phillip Walter, 29, and Violetta Walter, 30, were arrested on Friday and charged with the murder of the Abilene police officer, according to a report on KTXS. The husband and wife have been charged with first-degree felony murder and could face up to life in prison if convicted. Police Chief Stan Standridge told the local television station that additional charges could be brought against the couple as the investigation proceeds.

It appears the murder may have happened during a robbery or burglary of Allen’s home. “We were able to link the suspects to property taken from Don Allen’s residence,” Standridge told reporters. “Additionally, physical evidence recovered at the scene has linked the suspects to the crime. While I cannot discuss the specifics, we are confident that we have taken the correct people into custody. We do not believe there are any other suspects.”

The community raised funds to pay for Allen’s funeral and he was laid to rest on Friday, the same day Harris County Deputy Darren Goforth who was assassinated in uniform at a gas station in the Houston area was laid to rest.

After Goforth’s execution, Abilene officials were quick to reassure the community that Allen’s murder was not the same kind of crime and there was no general danger to the community. The Clyde Police Department, where Allen lived, put out a statement saying that “we have no reason to believe any members of the community are being targeted or are in any danger.”

“There are many rumors and theories circulating around the homicide investigation of Abilene Police Officer Don Allen,” the statement continued, “many of these are entirely untrue. We have no reason to believe at this time that Officer Allen was targeted because he was a police officer.”

Bob Price serves as senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas and a member of the original Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX.