A person of interest in the Jim Short homicide. (Travis County Sheriff’s Department photo)
An Austin, Texas defense attorney found dead in his home was “targeted” and murdered, police say.
The Travis County Sheriff’s Department has released photos of a person of interest in the death of 74-year-old defense attorney, James “Jim” Short.
According to KVUE-TV, authorities say they believe Short’s death was a homicide.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Short Was Found Deceased Inside His Home
A picture of the vehicle police are seeking in the case. (Travis County Sheriff)
Authorities have released very few details about how Short died, but they have told the news media that his death was suspicious. They have released no indication of what they suspect the motive to be.
TWC News reported that authorities were called to Short’s home and found his body, then sought a warrant to search the house.
The body was found April 7 in rural Travis County, Texas.
2. Authorities Released Photos of a ‘Person of Interest’ in the Case
The person of interest in the Short homicide. (Travis Co. Sheriff)
The Travis County Sheriff’s Department has released information about a man it says is a person of interest in the case. According to KVUE-TV, the person of interest may “be driving a 1999 tan Chevrolet Suburban with Texas License Plate DRW-3438.”
Authorities have not said what led them to the man.
3. Short Was Remembered as a ‘True Gentleman’ & ‘Honest’
Austin defense attorney found dead in home t.co/sMsSIJWbgo
Legal colleagues of Short in Austin, Texas remembered the defense attorney as honest, professional and a “true gentleman,” according to The Austin-American Statesman.
The newspaper reported that Randall Slagle, Travis County Justice of the Peace, said of Short: “Jim was always very friendly, honest and professional. I never heard him speak ill of anyone. He loved to tell stories to anyone who would listen. He would give frequent updates about his adventures at his ranch.”
Charlie Baird, a defense attorney and former judge, told The Statesman that Short “was a true gentleman and respected member of the bar.”
4. Short Studied Farsi in Iran & Was Single
Travis County Sheriff’s Department
The Texas Bar Association says that Short received his law degree in 1984 from Texas Southern University. He had no disciplinary history and had practiced law in Texas since 1988.
He had a solo law practice in Austin, and was admitted to practice in bankruptcy court, tax court, and district court, the Bar Association says.
Short’s Facebook page says he also “studied Farsi at University of Tehran,” and studied management at the University of Dallas and business management at Texas State University.
His page says he lived in Austin, was from Austin, and was single.
5. The Top Post on Short’s Facebook Page Was on the Fort Hood Massacre
.@TravisCoSheriff identified the man found dead on Friday as attorney Jim Short: t.co/auyU0oZIT5
Short did not have many public posts on social media or much of an online presence. His top public post on Facebook dates to 2012 and was a commentary on the Fort Hood massacre suspect.
“As a prior service member and an attorney, this whole matter has been a disgraceful affair in the handling of this murderer and criminal and it is simply because he is a Muslim,” he wrote. “I wonder as a citizen of this country why the government under Obama is so scarred to try this individual. I lived in Iran during the overthrow of their government and I cannot understand why it has taken three years to try this person and he is not crazy. Had I done this in Iran to a Shite, I would have been dead many, many months ago since it was just cold murder of innocent service members.”
In 2011, he weighed in on immigration, writing, “I do not care whose feathers I ruffle, we have an immigration policy and it should be enforced. It is the law of the land and it is not being enforced. When I travel to foreign countries, I must have a passport.” He also wrote, “I do believe under another president we gave millions of illegals from south of the border a method to get citizenship and it was stated we would enforce immigration. It was another lie to the American people.”