On April 27, 1998, 19-year old Anthony Melton snuck away from the Brown Schools Rehabilitation Center, a private hospital for brain injury patients where he was a permanent resident, and wandered into the South Austin night. APD officers responded to a call from the manager of Popeye's Chicken on West William Cannon and South Congress, near the Brown Schools Center, reporting a break-in. According to police reports, officers found Melton inside the restaurant holding a crowbar. Available records do not reveal how many cops were present at the time. Police affidavits say the police asked the 120-lb. Melton to drop the crowbar, but he instead walked slowly toward them, still holding the crowbar. Officer Steve Ramsey shot Melton in the stomach from about 10 feet away.

Melton's lawyer described Melton as "not a threatening individual," and said he spent between two and three weeks in the hospital being treated for the gunshot wound.

Melton was charged with burglary and sentenced to nine months in state jail. According to his lawyer, the judge considered a probation sentence but ordered jail time instead because Melton, coming from Kentucky, was considered "high risk" for probation violation.

By Theresa Gorman, July 1998

Sources: Austin American Statesman, interview with Melton's attorney, court records

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