Overview
- William Martin entered a guilty plea in May 2026 to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and faces a judge in August who can sentence him to between two and 20 years in prison and levy a fine up to $10,000.
- The charge stems from a Sept. 3, 2024 incident in which Martin, off duty and in his personal car, said a red Ford F‑150 hit his vehicle, followed the truck on I‑35W, then drew his gun and fired multiple shots at the other driver.
- Officers found the other driver, identified as Samuel Christopher, shot multiple times on the I‑35W service road; Christopher received on‑scene medical care, was hospitalized, and survived.
- After his Sept. 2024 arrest Martin was placed on restricted duty, then detached duty, and the Fort Worth Police Department fired him following an internal review that concluded his use of force was unjustified.
- Martin’s long record, including a 2016 arrest that led to a city settlement, was expected to be raised by prosecutors had the case gone to trial, and the coming pre‑sentence report will shape how the court weighs his past conduct at the August hearing.