Investigators Scouring for Leads in Search for Kaufman ADA's Killers

Reward in ADA's slaying increased to $71,000

In a news conference Friday morning, the Kaufman Police Department said investigators are exploring all avenues in their search for the killer(s) of Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse and that a reward for information is now up to $71,000.

Hasse was gunned down Thursday morning in what appears to be a targeted attack, police said. The prosecutor was shot multiple times while walking from the parking lot toward the county courthouse at about 8 a.m., officials said. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died.

When asked if Hasse appeared to have been targeted by his attacker, Kaufman County Sheriff David Byrnes said: "I would say from all appearances it is, but we have no concrete information on that. We're pursuing every avenue right now."

Chris Aulbaugh, the Kaufman chief of police, said no official arrests have been made in connection with the shooting. Police are following up on several leads, including multiple witness reports from various angles around the crime scene, he said.

Aulbaugh said Friday morning that varying accounts from witnesses on the facial and body features of the shooter(s) and how they were covered has made getting a reliable description difficult.

Police said witnesses have reported two shooters wearing all black, one or both of them possibly wearing a tactical-type vest, and driving an older, silver Ford Taurus. Aulbaugh said they have not yet confirmed that there were two people involved in the shooting and if the shooter(s) were wearing a tactical jacket as described.

Multiple agencies are working with the Kaufman police, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, FBI, the Texas Rangers and state troopers from the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Aulbaugh said investigators are analyzing every piece of recorded video that they can find, including surveillance video, traffic cameras, dashcam videos and other sources, to try to learn more about what happened after Hasse was shot.

A reward of $71,000 from Kaufman County Crime Stoppers and other sources is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the gunman.

Anyone with information is asked to call Kaufman County Crime Stoppers at 1-877-TIPS-KCC. As always, tipsters may remain anonymous.

NBC 5's Frank Heinz contributed to this report.

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