Sources: Slain couple’s revolver with shell casings recovered at scene of botched Pecan Park raid

The revolver – the same weapon officials originally said Dennis Tuttle fired at police – had multiple spent casings, the sources confirmed. The find could help confirm some aspects of the Houston Police Department’s version of events called into question by the outside forensics investigators hired by the families of Tuttle and his wife, Rhogena Nicholas.

Mike Doyle, the attorney representing the Nicholas family, did not dispute the claim, but pointed out that it may not prove Tuttle fired a shot, and also highlighted some of his team’s other findings – namely, a trove of uncollected evidence, including bullets and teeth.

“We’re not saying they didn’t collect any evidence, all we’re saying is that there’s a substantial amount of really important evidence that was not collected,” Doyle said. “It’s certainly possible that at some point in the chain of events something other than a police weapon was fired, but when, who did it and where remains to be seen.”

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Chief Art Acevedo could not be reached late Tuesday, and a Houston police spokesman declined to comment, citing the active investigation.

It’s still not clear what other evidence authorities may have that could back up the official narrative in a case that has blossomed into one of the department’s biggest scandals in decades.

The gunbattle began early on the evening of Jan. 28, when a narcotics case agent burst in the front door of 7815 Harding Street looking for a pair of suspected heroin dealers. A pit bull lunged at the officer, who opened fire and killed the animal, authorities said at the time.

Hearing the gunshot, Tuttle came running out from the back of the house and started shooting, striking the case agent who’d been the first man through the door, according to police. Though officials initially said the 59-year-old Pecan Park resident had wielded a .357 revolver, the gun wasn’t listed on the search warrant return officially released in the months since the raid.

After he was shot, the wounded lawman fell on the couch near Nicholas, who allegedly made a move for his weapon. A back-up officer opened fire and killed the 58-year-old woman.

The shoot-out continued, and in the end, Tuttle and Nicholas were killed and five officers injured — including four who were shot. Police maintain the officers were not shot by friendly fire.