Inmate Convicted of Killing Former San Angelo Police Officer Found Dead in Jail

LIVINGSTON, TX – The man responsible for the murder of former San Angelo Police Officer Jaime Padron was found dead in his prison cell on Saturday morning.

According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, on Oct. 30 at around 4:25 a.m., guards at the TDCJ Polunsky Unit discovered Brandon Daniel, 33, dead.

A TDCJ spokesperson stated that the guards found him "unresponsive on his bunk. Officers entered the cell and determined that he was not breathing."

The body has been taken for an autopsy and the Office of the Inspector General is investigating the death. As of now no foul play is suspected.

Daniel was on death row for the murder of former San Angelo and Austin Police Officer Jamie Padron. Padron was killed in a Walmart by Daniel after he was called to the location for an intoxicated person.

As he arrived on scene Officer Padron spotted Daniel and a chase ensued. When Padron caught up to him the two began wrestling over a .380 pistol that Daniel had.

During the struggle Daniel was able to shoot Padron in the neck. Bystanders then helped the officers and subdued the man. But before he dropped the gun, Daniel was able to shoot Padron another time in the chest.

Daniel was sentenced to the death in Feb. 2014 and was denied his appeal in 2018.