Houston police fatally shot black man early Saturday; video shows his hands were up
The police say he pointed a gun at him. Surveillance video from a nearby gas station shows otherwise.
Appears to have his hands up right before being shot 10 times by the Houston Police late Friday night.https://t.co/rzi6azCAPv
— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) July 10, 2016
Click here for reuse options!Houston Police said Alva Braziel was waving a gun around and pointed it at them when they opened fire. But surveillance footage from a nearby gas station suggests otherwise.
The video, which began circulating Saturday night on Twitter, shows Braziel walk out toward an intersection. When the squad car arrives, he appears to put his hands in the air and turn around, standing still for a few seconds before police shoot him.
Both officers involved reportedly had body cameras on them, but the footage has not yet been released.
Fury over Braziel’s death has erupted in the wake of two other citizen-recorded videos capturing police shooting black men in Minnesota and Louisiana. The deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile have triggered nationwide protests this week. In the midst of the outcry over those killings, a dozen officers in Dallas were attacked by a sniper while protecting one such protest. Five officers were killed.
It’s not yet clear whether or not Braziel had a gun or if he threatened police. Police protocol in most U.S. cities encourages officers to use lethal force if they feel someone is threatening them, but there are often many other tools and opportunities to de-escalate a situation.
Copyright 2016 Liberaland
63 responses to Houston police fatally shot black man early Saturday; video shows his hands were up
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Snick1946 July 10th, 2016 at 12:23
And, of course they shot to kill, not to disable. God forbid they shoot him in the leg, shoulder or some part of his anatomy less lethal.
I am not naive- I know cops have to deal with a lot of scumbags. It just astounds me that they continue to d this sort of thing and then expect public acclaim for it. I must be missing something.
fredoandme July 10th, 2016 at 12:25
and that shooting him, even just once, is the FIRST resort.
when did THAT become standard procedure?
The Original Just Me July 10th, 2016 at 13:52
IF, the shoot first and ask questions later methods were applied to Human relations, We would have sex first and small talk later. Hummmm, thinking about that now. LOL :+)
granpa.usthai July 10th, 2016 at 21:01
I would highly recommend sex first, small talk later.
goats can be the most impatient at the worst possible time.
Larry Schmitt July 10th, 2016 at 12:37
I don’t think they can shoot well enough to wound. Their goal is just to hit something.
The Original Just Me July 10th, 2016 at 13:42
Just build a Wall of Lead. Something is bound to do damage.
Larry Schmitt July 10th, 2016 at 13:47
Who’s going to pay for it?
The Original Just Me July 10th, 2016 at 13:50
Trump solution, make the dead guys pay for it.
granpa.usthai July 10th, 2016 at 20:56
well, it won’t be the radiation of a Nuclear Arm, which you have the written constitutional right to keep and bear, so that’s another plus for Nuclear over conventional firearms.
1. nuclear arms are infinitely safer than conventional fire arms.
2. you ARE safe from radiation behind a lead wall, but alas, heat melts lead, so if you’re planning on being guaranteed safe or double your money back from a Nuclear arm blast within a hundred yard radius, you definitely need to purchase granpa’s invisible nuclear proof protection suit. All you will need to do if you are dissatisfied with it’s claimed benefits is return the merchandize with the receipt and geed a DOUBLE YOUR MONEY BACK guarantee! Proof that you were indeed within 100 yards of the center of the detonation and I’ll even let you keep the invisible suit as a souvenir. SEND you checks, MO or for faster delivery service CASH and within 10 seconds of receipt, your invisible suit will be immediately at your front doorsteps!
since 1945! you can’t name one single person killed on the streets of america by a Nuclear ARM.
that’s 70 years and counting for a perfectly safe ARMS to legally bear under your 2nd amendment right!
The Original Just Me July 11th, 2016 at 00:23
Do you have one in Invisible Pink ?
William July 10th, 2016 at 12:51
There is no such thing as shoot to kill, or disable. The goal is to stop the person from doing whatever they are doing. Police officers are trained to aim for center body mass as it is the most easily acquired target. . In recent years and the adoption of body armor by suspects, police are also trained two to center body mass, and one to the head. I am not condoning, or condemning anything in regards to this tragedy. I’m withholding any opinion until the body camera footage and preliminary report is released.
Mike July 10th, 2016 at 12:55
Attempting to wound would be dangerous…a miss or ricochet could find an unintended target.
William July 10th, 2016 at 12:58
It’s not like TV or the movies, even fatal shots are not always immediately incapacitating. I do know an officer who was aiming at center body mass, and in a bizarre turn of events, his shot severed the suspects thumb and the suspect could no longer hold the revolver he was pointing. The officer almost convinced the shooting team that he did it on purpose, saying “hey I knew that you can’t hold a gun with no thumb, so that’s where I aimed”. Dark humor I suppose.
Larry Schmitt July 10th, 2016 at 13:03
Unfortunately a large segment of the public thinks real life is like a TV show, and that cops can always hit what they aim at.
Mensa Member July 10th, 2016 at 13:22
>> ..a miss or ricochet could find an unintended target.
Well, that’s not an issue.
Police officers already miss 82% of time, anyway.
http://nation.time.com/2013/09/16/ready-fire-aim-the-science-behind-police-shooting-bystanders/
William July 10th, 2016 at 15:12
You are correct to a point. In a shooting situation the adrenaline goes nuts, heartbeat and respiration are elevated and you experience tunnel vision. It’s similar in high speed chases. In almost all cases when officers are asked how many rounds they fired, they might say three or four, when it’s actually ten or more. Your perception of time is distorted, and you resort to muscle memory, IE your ingrained training takes over. Nobody hates a bad cop more than a good cop, but consider this. It sometimes takes weeks and months to evaluate the decision an officer must make in a split second. I’m going to go ahead and reserve judgement until the facts are in.
Just Axin July 10th, 2016 at 14:30
You’re asking people who have never and will never be in that situation to understand logic. They are unable to comprehend life.
Mensa Member July 10th, 2016 at 13:15
>> The goal is to stop the person from doing whatever they are doing.
Or what color they are.
Seriously — it seems like in a lot of these cases, “whatever they are doing” would not get them shot if they were white.
Just Axin July 10th, 2016 at 14:28
Had he been white and waving a gun around, he’d still be taken down. Nobody is impressed with your racial bs.
Comicus July 10th, 2016 at 19:38
Really?
http://www.rawstory.com/2016/07/here-are-8-white-people-who-pointed-guns-at-police-officers-and-didnt-get-killed/
No one is impressed with your racist BS since the facts are not on your side.
whatthe46 July 10th, 2016 at 19:51
i call b.s. because there’s proof that, that doesn’t happen. again this weekend a white man in houston was shooting and cops did not shoot back. he was apprehended and is still alive to talk about it.
Just Axin July 10th, 2016 at 22:47
We can find anecdotal evidence of whites and blacks being shot by police and being arrested peacefully, but try not to ignore the facts.
whatthe46 July 10th, 2016 at 22:55
what am i ignoring?
Mike July 10th, 2016 at 20:19
Crazy statement in lieu of the fact blacks are 20 times more likely to be shot than whites…that is the context of the discussion, not anecdotal observations we could both produce to further a specific narrative.
If you are unwilling to admit there is a disparity on how the police treat not just blacks, but minorities and poor people in general, you are simply in denial by choice…the stats tell a completely different story.
Who knows what happened here…the vid is too grainy and shot from too great a distance to make any conclusive judgement…maybe I’m wrong, but you seem to be using the old…”well it happens to whites too” argument…
I’m disturbed when anyone is shot by the police simply because they are our employees…they are acting in our name…we have little control over the rest of the crazies, what with 300 million guns out there…they’re gonna shoot each other no matter what we do.
Whites are also shot by the police without provocation…but there would be a world-wide hissyfit if it were happening at a rate consistent with blacks…
Just Axin July 10th, 2016 at 22:56
Stats? Cops killed nearly twice as many whites as blacks in 2015. According to data compiled by The Washington Post, 50 percent of the victims of fatal police shootings were white, while 26 percent were black.
And you may want to seek professional help if you are “disturbed” every time a person is shot by police. Yes police are our employees. They have a difficult job and most of them perform admirably. If some break the law than they should be prosecuted. But try to check your facts outside of what your pals at BLM are feeding you.
whatthe46 July 10th, 2016 at 23:08
how many were shot while not threatening anyone? i only know of 2 incidents. compare those two to the 100’s of black people who have been executed for no reason at all. racist idiot.
Just Axin July 11th, 2016 at 12:31
Considering you only know of 2 incidents, did you ever think you really don’t know much? Here’s one article to refer to: “Cops shoot white guy in Fresno; Nobody pays attention”. And save the name calling. It dumbs down your point of view (not that it needs any help).
whatthe46 July 11th, 2016 at 12:41
Maybe you should have spoke up. And go to hell.
Mike July 11th, 2016 at 06:51
Twice as many…isn’t more…whites outnumber blacks 77% to 12.7%…c’mon didn’t you read a thing I said….blacks are killed at a rate 20 times as great as whites…those are the facts.
If the death of anyone is not disturbing to you, I might suggest it is you who might need help
Just Axin July 11th, 2016 at 12:40
Actually, whites make up 62% of the population (you lumped in Hispanics) and the actual percentage of black males is about 3%. You would probably argue that there must be racist treatment of blacks as they (the criminals) only make up 3%, yet Bureau of Justice Statistics reveal that blacks were charged with 62 percent of robberies, 57 percent of murders and 45 percent of assaults in the 75 biggest counties in the country. From author Heather McDonald: “Such a concentration of criminal violence in minority communities means that officers will be disproportionately confronting armed and often resisting suspects in those communities, raising officers’ own risk of using lethal force”.
Mike July 11th, 2016 at 14:09
White Americans are the racial majority. African Americans are the largest racial minority, amounting to 13.2% of the population. Hispanic and Latino Americans amount to 17% of the population, making up the largest ethnic minority. The total White population (including White Hispanics and Latinos) being 77%.[6]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_and_ethnicity_in_the_United_States
FBI table 43 say your numbers are a farce…look for your self.
https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2014/crime-in-the-u.s.-2014/tables/table-43
What else ya got sparky…????
Hirightnow July 11th, 2016 at 08:48
Ahem…
William July 10th, 2016 at 15:05
I can assure you, white people get shot to. I am as compelled to reserve judgement on this one until the facts are in.
The Original Just Me July 10th, 2016 at 13:39
I like your comments. Wait for Proof, YES!
William July 10th, 2016 at 15:02
I’m almost reluctant to mention it, but when I reviewed the film it seemed that the deceased reached for something near his waistband. Like I said, I want to see the body cameras, and a detailed analysis of the video.
The Original Just Me July 10th, 2016 at 15:09
Time and Truth will tell, but don’t wait for the Police on the truth thing.
William July 10th, 2016 at 15:15
I think the nobody cameras will tell us more. I hope they were working at the time.
Mike July 10th, 2016 at 16:00
Let’s hope so…I have watched the video repeatedly and I’m not fully convinced he did not have a weapon in his hand…certainly it appears he has his hands up. It happened so fast the officer didn’t put the car in park….it was still moving after the the man was down…and there is a gun on the ground when this is all over… I didn’t see the cop plant it but I also didn’t see the suspect drop it….
Body cams should be able to answer some of those questions.
The Original Just Me July 10th, 2016 at 20:19
I am beginning to think those body cameras have a disable button on them.
The Original Just Me July 10th, 2016 at 13:38
: Stop or we will shoot. ” Old time words you only hear in the movies. Now, all you hear is Bang, Bang, Bang, Damn that felt GOOD !
jybarz July 10th, 2016 at 13:12
Well, it seems like if you’re black, you’re as good as a target practice whether you’re armed or unarmed and with or without cause…it just keeps happening regardless of public outcry.
Imagine how many more such incidents / police-on-black crimes happened or continue to happen that are not captured by a video?
The Original Just Me July 10th, 2016 at 13:35
So, it looks like he had his hands in the air and was facing away from the murders in Blue. Well, now more Good Cops are going to be gunned down because of these Neo-NAZI Assassins . CLEAN UP THE RANKS and the killings will stop.
Mensa Member July 10th, 2016 at 13:50
Bomb-throwing rhetoric isn’t helpful.
Let me make your case in a reasonable way:
“It looks like this poor fellow had his hands in the air and was facing away from the police officer. If so, there is something wrong with the cop or with police procedures. Or both. This case and the many other shootings of black men is a huge problem that demands full-scale reform.”
The Original Just Me July 10th, 2016 at 13:54
Agreed !
Mensa Member July 10th, 2016 at 14:13
Thanks.
I just added “urgently” which I think you would also agree with.
My sense is that we are at a crisis point on this issue and it will escalate until real reform happens.
It’s such a shame — black people have been talking about this problem for decades. If their cries had been heeded years ago, so many lives could have been spared. Mostly black lives, of course, but also police lives.
The Original Just Me July 10th, 2016 at 14:21
It is True that Black Colored People are the focus of this but the problem actually is effecting all members of the lower end of Society also.
FightingFromTheLeft July 10th, 2016 at 17:23
Yay! Mensa is here to not only blindly support HRC, but to retroactively solve racism!!
I’d be more impressed if you started looking into this phenomenon after Trayvon Martin’s killer was acquitted.
Or when Mike Brown’s was never charged.
Or Eric Garner’s gang of participants stood by and watched him get murdered.
Or Laquan McDonald footage while he turns away from a cop and gets shot. And they all lied in their reports about what happened and to my knowledge, they’re still on patrol.
Sad you needed more motivation to begin to look at the problem.
I can’t wait to see what you post when you begin to look into HRC after you vote for her…
robert July 10th, 2016 at 14:19
There is one thing all have in common Can you guess what it is? I can’t remember since Ferguson the last cop who was shot at first Let the sarcasm continue…..
Mensa Member July 10th, 2016 at 14:24
I’ve been using this terrible week as motivation to better educate myself on the subject of police and race.
A word of caution — there is a debunked story that shows up all over conservative media, claiming that blacks are pretty-much making this up.
But here is an excellent story:
Deadly Force, in Black and White
https://www.propublica.org/article/deadly-force-in-black-and-white
FightingFromTheLeft July 10th, 2016 at 17:30
Not trying to poke anyone in the eye….it’s been a long week.
But
As American citizens, we still have rights.
I encourage you to check out videos on Youtube where people conduct 1st and 4th amendment audits.
Jimmy Justice walked around NYC for a while with a camera busting out cops breaking minor traffic laws and ultimately it’s the principle.
No one here – politician, police officer, President – should be above the law.
Some of us who aren’t members of Mensa already know this.
One person I suggest in particular is in Baltimore and goes by the name CitizenJoeHoe.
I’ll admit first that he can be obnoxious.
But it’s not illegal to be an a-hole.
It is illegal to violate someone’s rights simply because they don’t know about them.
Mike July 10th, 2016 at 19:54
Bold MtherFker…he certainly knows his rights…I still kinda question his sanity…
Great vids
amersham1046 July 10th, 2016 at 18:56
When will this madness end
whatthe46 July 10th, 2016 at 19:28
his hands are up. that is clear!
Jim July 10th, 2016 at 20:21
Hard to tell what is going on especially with the camra moving around. It does look as he drops his hands and steps forward at .36 seconds.
Morgan Morris July 10th, 2016 at 21:06
He’s still spinning around showing them he’s unarmed when they shoot him. What the actual hell.
CHOCOL8MILK July 10th, 2016 at 21:16
Lets see what the blue wall of silence conjures up regarding this; the officer was afraid for his life so he fired? Thank goodness there is video, otherwise, (as always in these situations) investigators have to take the police officer at his/her word. I’m interested in seeing the dash cam footage. Perhaps that will shed light on this whole thing?
whatthe46 July 10th, 2016 at 21:39
we will hear that the dash cam video malfunctioned.
Gina Bousquet July 11th, 2016 at 01:10
To a third world citizen this kind of police action looks like the MO of execution squads in poor neighborhoods
whatthe46 July 11th, 2016 at 01:25
you hit the nail on the head!!!!!
Gina Bousquet July 11th, 2016 at 01:28
It’s so much alike I couldn’t help noticing.
whatthe46 July 11th, 2016 at 01:56
it’s actually quite clear to everyone. unfortunately, those with the power to make changes, prefers to keep it this way. even if it means alienating the rest of the world, they would rather fk this country before admitting they are wrong. prime example, tRump being a nominee. they know he isn’t only not qualified, but that he’s dumb as a bucket of rocks, he’s a racist and pig. but if it means not letting another democrat into office, they will vote against the best interest of our country. damn shame. now what does that tell you about the repuking party?
Gina Bousquet July 11th, 2016 at 13:43
Republicans are now such an extremist Party they are flirting with fascism. But this kind of police MO calls for action from both Parties, it’s serious enough to demand structural change.
robert July 11th, 2016 at 02:19
With pre-paid legal help ( just in case they F****d up ) or as they often say…used poor judgement