Marvin Guy

Marvin Louis Guy (born October 27, 1964) is an American man who was convicted of murder in the death of Bell County, Texas police officer Charles Dinwiddie. In 2014, Dinwiddie died after a no-knock raid had been executed on Guy's house after gunfire erupted, including Guy shooting, stating that he believed the policemen were intruders.

Guy was charged with capital murder in the death of Charles Dinwiddie. Nine years later, his case went to trial and a jury found him guilty on the lesser offense of non-capital murder. Guy's case became notable due to debate over the extent of the castle doctrine, whether Guy's actions were self-defense, and whether Guy was truly the one who shot Dinwiddie.

Raid and death of Charles Dinwiddie

Police stated that they believed Guy was in possession of cocaine and asked a judge to sign a no-knock warrant to search his apartment. The warrant stated, "The informant has reported that Guy is frequently armed with a handgun." Around 5:45 a.m. on May 9, 2014, a SWAT team ignited a flash-bang grenade, broke Guy's bedroom window and used a battering ram on his front door.

Killeen police banned no-knock warrants in drug cases in 2022.

Legal proceedings

The district attorney charged Marvin Guy with capital murder in Dinwiddie's death and attempted capital murder for wounding of three other officers. At the time of the incident, Bell County prosecutors sought the death penalty for Guy.

The Washington Post reported that Guy claims he is innocent and he said police accidentally shot detective Dinwiddie, not him.

In September 2022, four months after The Washington Post’s "Broken Doors" podcast about Marvin Guy's case, prosecutors reversed course and dropped their pursuit of the death penalty. Guy believed The Washington Post’s podcast, plus pressure from local politicians and others, led to the death penalty being taken off the table. A succession of defense attorneys and many legal motions also contributed to delays. Several defense lawyers were fired or quit. Marvin Guy had two defense attorneys, Michael White and Russell Hunt, before Carlos Garcia took the role in September 2015. In 2021, Guy's family was in the process of hiring another attorney.

In 2019, Guy sought a medical continuance because he needed back surgery for a degenerative condition. In 2021, COVID-19 precautions delayed all jury trials in Bell County's district courts.

In December 2021, Guy's defense attorneys debated over evidence and trial dates with Assistant District Attorney Fred Burns and Judge John Gauntt. Joseph Caleb, the defense attorney, requested Marvin Guy's jail phone calls and the medical examiner's file. Defense attorney Mike Ware argued, "We don't have the entire medical examiner's file, including photos." Judge Gauntt ordered that the medical examiner's file, including photos be produced.

Controversy Marvin Guy's case garnered national attention when it was covered by Mother Jones magazine, which compared it to a remarkably similar no-knock raid. Five months earlier, 100 miles away, a SWAT officer was shot during a no-knock raid on another house. In that case, police also threw a flash-bang grenade and tried to enter a residence in the predawn hours. The resident, Henry "Hank" Magee, fired his semi-automatic .308 rifle killing one of the officers.

Mother Jones pointed out differences in the cases. Magee is white and Marvin Guy is black. Magee was found to have acted in self-defense and Guy was charged with capital murder. Both Guy and Magee had prior records. However, only Magee was found with drugs. The following January members of the Elmer Geronimo Pratt Pistol and Rifle Club held an event in Killeen. They gathered for a community patrol and circulated petitions including one seeking justice for Marvin Guy.