BEAUMONT, Texas — A Jefferson County grand jury has cleared the officers involved in the fatal shooting of a Beaumont woman who was killed after firing shots at police serving warrants.
Victoria Meza, 43, of Beaumont, died at her south Beaumont home during the morning of August 30 after exchanging gunfire with Beaumont Police officers serving a search and arrest warrant.
The case was presented to a grand jury Wednesday morning and it was ruled that the officers' actions were justified.
"After four reviews, the grand jury declined to take any action on the grounds of justified shooting, said Intake Chief Corey Kneeland. "I hate to see anybody lose their life, but it was a very, extremely dangerous situation that was just, unfortunately, shots were fired by a person who was in return fired by the police."
Her death, which was investigated by Texas Rangers and the Beaumont Police Department, is the fourth fatal officer-involved shooting in Beaumont this year.
Beaumont Police narcotics investigators were being assisted by a SWAT team when they served the search and arrest warrant at about 9:45 a.m. in the 700 block of Palm St. that morning, according to police.
Meza, who was the target of the warrant, fired multiple shots at officers as they served the warrant, according to a news release from Beaumont Police.
In response, officers fired their weapons at Meza, who was pronounced dead at the scene by Beaumont EMS medics, according to the release.
One officer received a minor injury when the ballistic shield they were carrying was struck by gunfire.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.