UPDATE: Justin Westerman has since been apprehended by Hood County Sheriff’s Office.

On Tuesday, September 19^th around 3PM, Hood County Sheriff’s deputies were at the 300 block of Cockatoo Road in the Whippoorwill Bay neighborhood off of Weatherford Highway to serve 4 active warrants on a 24 year old male subject. The subject, Justin Westerman, fled on foot. A foot pursuit was initiated and Westerman disappeared during the chase.

Deputies searched the neighborhood, including yards, sheds, and other structures for over an hour.

As mentioned in a report from HCSO’s CID Lt. Johnny Rose, deputies then located an open door at a home near the 300 block of Whippoorwill Drive and proceeded to search the home. During the search of the home, a deputy was searching a closet when his fire arm unintentionally discharged, hitting some personal belongings of the home’s occupants and coming to a stop in the wall of the closet. No one was home during the incident and fortunately, no one was injured.

The residents of the home where the gun was unintentionally discharged have been contacted by a Hood County Sheriff’s Office Investigator. Any items damaged during the incident have been noted and proper reimbursement for these items will be discussed with the residents.

Westerman was not apprehended. He is still wanted on 4 active warrants including an Involvement in a motor vehicle accident resulting in serious bodily injury, a felony.

Disclaimer: This story contains information from a press release issued by Hood County Sheriff’s Office. It also contains eye witness accounts and information from the incident.