Man pleads guilty to shooting Georgetown police officer in 2021

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man was sentenced Oct. 10 after pleading guilty to aggravated assault of a public servant related to the shooting of a Georgetown police officer in May 2021.

Malcolm Watts, 25, of Hutto, was sentenced to 30 years in prison, according to the Williamson County Prosecutor’s Office. Court documents showed a range of 5 to 30 years for the charge.

For his sentence, Watts received prison credit of 1,245 days.

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According to the DA’s Office, at approximately 5:45 a.m. on May 15, 2021, Georgetown Police Officer Mark Boswell responded to a disturbance call during which Watts then fired 16 shots from a handgun in the direction of Boswell.

“The first bullet passed through the windshield of Officer Boswell’s vehicle and struck within inches of his head, but miraculously, he suffered only minor injuries,” the prosecutor’s office said.

After the shooting, Georgetown police were able to arrest Watts.

The prosecutor’s office said that during a sentencing hearing, prosecutors presented evidence that Watts threatened his girlfriend and her family with a gun before the shooting.

“This was a terrifying incident that could have had a tragic outcome. This highlights the dangers of domestic violence situations and the risks officers face in the line of duty,” said Williamson County Prosecutor Shawn Dick. “I commend the Georgetown Police Department for calming the situation and safely apprehending Mr. Watts.”

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