Woman accused of shooting Newton Police Chief Will Jackson faces additional charges

Betty Jean Richards the suspect that was accused of firing two shots that hit Newton Police Chief Will Jackson in the back on Saturday is now charged with two more counts of the same crime and being held under a total of $3 million in bail. Newton County Sheriff Robert Burby says Richards was arraigned on Monday on two additional counts of Attempted Capital Murder of a Peace Officer, with bond set at $1 million each. She now has three such charges against her. However, her boyfriend L.C. Gosey Jr., who is also accused of at he officers, faces only one charge. Richards and Gosey were taken into custody on Saturday morning following the incident that occurred at a home where they were living in on Farm to Market Road 1004, near Call, which is southeast of Kirbyville. Both were originally each charged with one county of Attempted Murder of a Peace Officer and nlared under a total of Si million dollars bail as set by Newton County Precinct 1 justice of th Peace Connie Smith in connection with the alleged attempt to shoot Chief Jackson. When the incident went down, Jackson along with Newton County Precinct 1 Constable Colton Havard and Precinct 2 Constable Jeff McCoy went to serve an eviction notice at the home. Havard said Chief Jackson and Sgt, Blueitt went to serve as backup. Havard has since given a complete detail of what happened which is as follows: "I showed up with a writ of possession, signed by a judge, to evict them," said Constable Havard. "I tried to make contact with them for months. They refused to come to the door. Today was move out day. I was with the Precinct 2 Constable, a Newton Police Department officer and Newton Police Chief Will Jackson. The woman kept the door closed and was talking to me through the door. I identified myself as a constable and said I was there to serve a writ. She told me I was criminal trespassing. We made forced entry and she opened fire with a handgun that she aimed directly at us. Fortunately, it missed all of us and hit the sheetrock. The man shot twice and one bullet was able break the skin on Chief Jackson's back. His ballistic vest prevented serious injury. We arrested the man and woman and they were taken to the Newton County Jail." Even though Jackson was shot twice, he was saved by a bulletproof vest that he was wearing at the time. However, Jackson was taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont where he was checked out and later reported to be ok. Newton County Sheriff Robert Burby who came to the scene after he learned of the shooting later said he knew the couple and was instrumental in talking to them and persuading them to put their guns down. Burby said that dealing with such situations is one of the most dangerous scenarios that officers face and that it is a real time of danger. "They're one of the most dangerous situations," said Sheriff Burby. "All levels of police work are dangerous these days." From Sheriff Robert Burby: On January 14, 2023, at approximately 0934 hours, Newton County Dispatch Center received a call that an execution of a force eviction was being conducted at 3152 FM, Call, Texas. At 0942, one of the Officers on scene called in advised that shots fired. One of the Officers on the scene was hit, and all emergency responders where requested. I contacted Jasper County Sheriff Mitchel Newman and asked for assistance of their SWAT Team. Sheriff Newman replied, we are in route. Newton County and Jasper County Deputies, Jasper County Sheriff's Office SWAT, Newton PD responded to scene along with Texas Fish and Wildlife Officers, DPS, Orange County Sheriff's Office Deputies and SWAT, Trout Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Kirbyville PD, and the Texas Rangers. Upon my arrival, I was briefed on the scene that Chief Jackson was shot and the other Officers on the scene was fired at as well. Chief Jackson was checked on the scene and was transported to St. Elizabeth Hospital in for treatment. Chief Jackson's wound did not appear to be life-threatening, but all precautions were taken to ensure that he recovers well. Preliminary investigations on the scene revealed the Constable Havard, Chief Jackson, Sgt Bluiett, and Constable McCoy was executing a forced eviction. The residents refused and fired shots at the Officers hitting Chief Jackson. Officers arrived on the scene and staged in tactical locations take cover. Once I arrived on the scene and was briefed on what occurred and who the suspects were, I was able to make contact with them using a loudspeaker on Chief Jackson's vehicle. I went inside the residence and contacted the suspects. I disarmed the male suspect and convinced both to come out. The suspects were taken into custody and transported to the Newton County Jail. The investigation was turned over the Texas Rangers because it involved attempted Capitol Murder of a Peace Officer. The suspects will be arraigned this morning and their names and booking photographs will be available. This is an outgoing investigation by the Texas Rangers, and additional charges are expected. Anytime a Brother or Sister in Blue is hurt or injured it affects us personally because we are the thin blue line between what is right and total chaos. Prayers up to all the Officers on the scene and we hope Chief Jackson is home soon. Jackson was released from the hospital on Sunday.