Distraught Texas judge reveals appalling reason politicians asked her to play down her own son’s brutal murder

A Texas judge whose son was senselessly murdered has criticized local leaders who told her not to make a “big deal” of the killing, fearing it would impact tourism.

Lori Massey Brissette, a fourth-term judge on the San Antonio Court of Appeals, posted a statement on social media blasting the top brass in the Texas city, which has increasingly become known for violent crime.

“My son was murdered in March 2023, across the street from the Alamo,” she wrote. “One of our leaders told me not to make a ‘big deal’ out of it for fear it would impact tourism.”

Brissette’s son Justin was attacked, robbed and left for dead outside a bar near the Alamo in March of last year.

In her post, she strongly criticised local authorities for failing to take action to tackle crime in the city centre after three tourists were murdered in three months.

She said, “3 tourists murdered downtown in 3 months, and not a single city or county official has done or said anything. They’re not just silent. They’re absent.”

She urged her followers on social media to share her post and ask the question ‘where are our leaders’

She continued: ‘I was told it was a random act of violence. I was told that again when the 80-year-old grandmother was murdered in May.

‘I was told that although I had provided data showing that there had been 93 reports of assaults in one city centre block in the 12 months prior to my son’s murder, this was not the case.

‘In addition to a mental health worker and an 80-year-old grandmother, we also lost a coach and a businessman.

“How many ‘random acts of violence’ do we have to admit we have a problem – before our city and county leaders ADMIT we have a problem and commit to taking action?”

She urged her followers on social media to share her post and ask the question ‘where are our leaders’.

In May, a woman was killed by a stray bullet. In June, a woman in the city for a conference was shot dead while sitting in a bar, and another attack outside a hotel left a man dead.

Brissette’s son Justin, seen here, was attacked, robbed and left for dead outside a bar near the Alamo in March of last year

Heidi Silkworth, 80, was later identified by police as the woman killed by the stray bullet. Police said she was caught in the crossfire of a shooting.

Silkworth was from Euless, a suburb of Dallas-Fort Worth, and was in San Antonio for a graduation ceremony.

Also in May, Bryan Davis, a repeat offender, was arrested by police and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the death of Judge Brissette’s son.

Police investigating Justin’s death say he got into an argument with a group of men and two women.

At one point he was hit and knocked unconscious. While he was unconscious, the men allegedly stole his valuables and ran away.

He regained consciousness and was taken to a friend’s house, where he lost consciousness again and was rushed to hospital, where he died.

In May, Bryan Davis, a repeat offender, was arrested by police and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the death of her son.

Police investigating Justin’s death said he got into an altercation with a group of men and two women. A security breach of the incident is seen here, with the wanted suspects left out of focus

Brissette said KSAT: ‘It was hard because I felt like people were saying my son’s life didn’t matter.

“I have been trying for over a year and a half to get city and county officials to pay attention not just to my son, but to the larger problem.”

As she awaits justice for her son, she told the newspaper she would continue to speak out in his memory.

The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office released a statement.

“The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office typically fills the Riverwalk, as we have done in previous summers with our ‘Hats on the Riverwalk,’ due to the increase in tourism to the downtown area during the summer months,” the researchers said.

“Since June 24, Bexar County Sheriff’s deputies have been present along the riverwalk as a visual deterrent to crime. Should an incident occur, sheriff’s deputies can respond and provide assistance as needed.”