Two arrested in homicide of Abilene police officer Don Allen, found dead in home

Brett T. | 10:37 PM on September 03, 2015

The Abilene Police Department is announcing tonight that it has arrested two suspects in connection with a police officer who was found dead in his home under suspicious circumstances August 31.

CAPTURED- 2 in connection to Homicide of APD Officer Don Allen. http://t.co/y8ClVTBBKC pic.twitter.com/whDNwSp95e

— Abilene Police Dept (@abilenepd) September 4, 2015

The department’s public information officer writes in a statement tonight:

Good evening. It has been a really long day, and an even longer week.

It is with bittersweet emotion that I am announcing two arrests in connection to the murder of Officer Don Allen.

Shortly after 6p.m., the Texas Rangers and Officers of the Abilene Police Department arrested Violetta Walter age 30 and Phillip Walter age 29. They were taken into custody at a south side apartment complex in the 1000 block of South Clack in Abilene under arrest warrants obtained by the Texas Rangers. They have been arrested for 1st degree felony Murder, which in the State of Texas carries confinement ranging from 5 to 99 years, or life. Their bond is set at $500,000 each.

The body of Officer Allen was discovered in his home by family members Monday night, just days after the execution-style killing of Harris County deputy Darren Goforth. Chief Stan Standridge said he did not believe law enforcement officers were being targeted, but he did tell reporters that inside the police department, “the initial reaction was fear. Why was Officer Allen chosen? That speaks volumes as it relates to how vulnerable we are.”