Police Shooting
Houston officer kills double amputee in wheelchair
A Houston police officer shot and killed a one-armed, one-legged man in a wheelchair Saturday inside a group home after police say the double amputee threatened the officer and aggressively waved a metal object that turned out to be a pen.
Police spokeswoman Jodi Silva said the man cornered the officer in his wheelchair and was making threats while trying to stab the officer with the pen. At the time, the officer did not know what the metal object was that the man was waving, Silva said.
She said the man came “within inches to a foot” of the officer and did not follow instructions to calm down and remain still.
“Fearing for his partner’s safety and his own safety, he discharged his weapon,” Silva told The Associated Press.
Police did not immediately release the name of the man who was killed. They had been called to the home after a caretaker there called and reported that the man in wheelchair was causing a disturbance.
The owner of the group home, John Garcia, told the Houston Chronicle that the man had a history of mental illness and had been living at the house about 18 months. Garcia said the man had told him that he lost a leg above the knee and all of one arm when he was hit by a train.
“He sometimes would go off a bit, but you just ignore it,” Garcia told the newspaper.
Silva identified the officer as Matthew Jacob Marin, a five-year veteran of the department. He was immediately placed on three-day administrative leave, which is standard in all shootings involving officers.
Houston police records indicate that Marin also fatally shot a suspect in 2009. Investigators at the time said Marin came upon a man stabbing his neighbor to death at an apartment complex and opened fired when the suspect refused to drop the knife.
On Saturday, Marin and his partner arrived at the group home around 2:30 a.m. Silva said there were several people at the house at the time. The caretaker who called police waited on the porch while the officers went inside, she said.
“It was close quarters in the area of the house,” Silva said. “The officer was forced into an area where he had no way to get out.”
Police Shootings Attorney
Have you been the victim of a police shooting? Have you lost a loved one from a police shooting you believe was unjustified? If so, you need the help of the Law Offices of Gary A. Kessler. Contact us today for a free consultation regarding the specifics of your case. We have extensive practice in this area, and have a track record of recovering millions for victims of unjustified police shootings and their families. Unless a person shoots at officers or hurts others in the presence of the police, it is usually unnecessary for police to be shooting. Unlawful shootings by police are considered excessive force, and are a violation of rights.
Tensions are High
Whenever police are involved in a situation, tensions are automatically raised. In turn, individuals may panic and behave irrationally. The police are sworn to protect citizens, and trained in ways to calm intense circumstances and the people involved. If inadequately trained, there is the problem of excessive force being used by the police, often by the way of shootings, when not necessary. The police firearm should be used in only extreme situations, and every other method to calm the conflict should be used in exhaustion before firing, even when using non-lethal methods such as bean bag guns or tasers. Although non-lethal, these methods of control can still cause significant injury to the victim, and should not be used unless absolutely necessary. Recent victims of police shootings from bean bag shot guns have needed emergency surgery, and even died as a result of the wound. In many cases, this is due to a lack of training for the police officer.
The Next Step
If you have lost a loved one due to a police shooting you believe to be unjustified, or are yourself a victim of an unjustified police shooting, it is important for you to take action immediately. Although an investigation of all police shootings is done by the police department, that can hardly be considered an objective investigation, when it is obvious they will lean toward the shooting being justified if there is any question on how evidence can be construed. Our attorneys will be able to uncover any evidence necessary to find out what actually occurred to result in the shooting. Contact the Law Offices of Gary A. Kessler today to find out how we can help you.
Woman injured in deputy-involved shooting
SPRING VALLEY (CNS) – An investigation was underway Monday into a deputy-involved shooting in which a Spring Valley woman was shot in the arm by a deputy who was checking her backyard for a masked man.
Deputies were called to 8900 block of Leigh Avenue, shortly before 10:30 p.m. Sunday to investigate a suspicious man seen in the area wearing a ski mask, according to San Diego County sheriff’s homicide Lt. Larry Nesbit.
Deputies arrived and determined the man had left the area, walking away in an eastbound direction, Nesbit said in a statement.
While checking for the man one to two blocks away from Leigh Ave., deputies entered the backyard of a residence in the 200 block of Via Tapia, Nesbit said.
“At some point, while in the backyard of the residence, there was contact between the deputies, who had their weapons drawn, and a female resident of the home,” Nesbit said. “During that contact, one of the deputies fired from his service weapon. The female was struck in the arm by the round.”
Paramedics took the wounded woman to an area hospital, where she was listed in good condition and expected to be released today, Nesbit said.
Information about the deputy who shot the woman was not immediately released.
Police Shootings Attorney
Have you been the victim of a police shooting? Have you lost a loved one from a police shooting you believe was unjustified? If so, you need the help of the Law Offices of Gary A. Kessler. Contact us today for a free consultation regarding the specifics of your case. We have extensive practice in this area, and have a track record of recovering millions for victims of unjustified police shootings and their families. Unless a person shoots at officers or hurts others in the presence of the police, it is usually unnecessary for police to be shooting. Unlawful shootings by police are considered excessive force, and are a violation of rights.
Tensions are High
Whenever police are involved in a situation, tensions are automatically raised. In turn, individuals may panic and behave irrationally. The police are sworn to protect citizens, and trained in ways to calm intense circumstances and the people involved. If inadequately trained, there is the problem of excessive force being used by the police, often by the way of shootings, when not necessary. The police firearm should be used in only extreme situations, and every other method to calm the conflict should be used in exhaustion before firing, even when using non-lethal methods such as bean bag guns or tasers. Although non-lethal, these methods of control can still cause significant injury to the victim, and should not be used unless absolutely necessary. Recent victims of police shootings from bean bag shot guns have needed emergency surgery, and even died as a result of the wound. In many cases, this is due to a lack of training for the police officer.
The Next Step
If you have lost a loved one due to a police shooting you believe to be unjustified, or are yourself a victim of an unjustified police shooting, it is important for you to take action immediately. Although an investigation of all police shootings is done by the police department, that can hardly be considered an objective investigation, when it is obvious they will lean toward the shooting being justified if there is any question on how evidence can be construed. Our attorneys will be able to uncover any evidence necessary to find out what actually occurred to result in the shooting. Contact the Law Offices of Gary A. Kessler today to find out how we can help you.
