Man pleads guilty to shooting at Georgetown police officer in 2021
AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man was sentenced Oct. 10 after pleading guilty to aggravated assault of a public servant related to the shooting of a Georgetown police officer in May 2021.
According to the Williamson County District Attorney’s Office, 25-year-old Malcolm Watts, of Hutto, received a prison sentence of 30 years. Court documents showed a range of 5-30 years for the charge.
Toward his sentence, Watts received a jail credit of 1,245 days.
According to the DA’s office, around 5:45 a.m. May 15, 2021, Georgetown Police Officer Mark Boswell responded to a disturbance call where Watts later fired 16 rounds from a handgun toward Boswell.
“The first bullet entered through the windshield of Officer Boswell’s vehicle and struck within inches of his head, but miraculously, he suffered only minor injuries,” the DA’s office said.
Following the shooting, Georgetown police were able to arrest Watts.
The DA’s office said during a sentencing hearing, prosecutors presented evidence Watts threatened his girlfriend and her family with a firearm before the shooting.
“This was a terrifying incident that could have had a tragic outcome. It underscores the dangers of domestic violence situations and the risks that officers face in the line of duty,” stated Williamson County District Attorney Shawn Dick. “I commend the Georgetown Police Department for deescalating the situation and safely apprehending Mr. Watts.”