Suspect shot by officer 'preyed on the community'

[TexKan]

This ain't local but I think it's what's goin on around the country...........

Suspect shot by officer 'preyed on the community' | TOP STORIES | KHOU.com | News for Houston, Texas


A week ago Saturday, Houston police shot and killed a 22-year-old robbery suspect originally identified as Hegnor Irias.

Now HPD officers say the man’s name is actually Alex Rivera, and they’re sounding off on what exactly happened that day. (It took em a week to figger that out cause of all his aliases)

Through analysis of apartment surveillance video, police have been able to piece together the events that led to another HPD officer-involved shooting.

Surveillance video shows an officer-involved shooting in Houston The department held a press conference after a meeting between Chief Harold Hurtt and members of LULAC who wanted answers about the confrontation in the 6200 block of West Bellfort.

Outrage almost immediately followed Rivera’s death, and witnesses questioned whether he was truly armed and dangerous.

On Saturday, police had a definitive answer: Yes.

“The weapon was found within 12 inches of Mr. Rivera following the shooting,” Hurtt said.

Hurtt said the tape showed that Rivera appeared to have “a black object” in his hand, and that Officer Barnes fired his weapon to protect himself and others.

Police said outrage among some witnesses has become so intense that the women who claimed they were robbed by Rivera have been receiving death threats and were forced to move.

Hurtt said they have evidence that Rivera “preyed on the community at large.”

Rivera’s criminal history included convictions for weapons offenses, drug possession and burglary of a vehicle, all dating back to 2005.



Surveillance video shows an officer-involved shooting at an apartment complex.
Police allege Rivera was also a member of a gang called La Tercera Crips and went by the street name “Hard Core.”

But even after Hurtt’s detailed presentation, some of the anger surrounding Rivera’s death continued to simmer in the community.

“(Officer Barnes) made a decision to shoot a person in the back while that person was running away,” Randall Kallinen of the American Rights Association said.

Activists with LULAC have also been critical of the shooting, but are vowing to work with police. The group said it was pleased with the thoroughness of Hurtt’s presentation but still wanted to see the evidence go to a grand jury


(There's a video on the story at the link - below an additional good link. the video is awsome.)

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