Danny Ray Thomas Police Shooting

**kellyhound** · #11 ● 03-29-2018, 03:05 AM

A US police officer shot dead an unarmed man walking in traffic with his trousers down, and his family says it looks like "premeditated murder".

Police dashcam video shows Danny Ray Thomas, 34, walking towards the officer on a road in Houston, Texas, last Thursday before a gunshot rings out.

Deputy Cameron Brewer repeatedly shouts "get down on the ground" before firing. Both the officer and victim are black.

Mr Thomas' family say he suffered from depression after his children died.

His sister, Kita Thomas-Smith, attended a Houston City Council meeting on Tuesday where she tearfully urged politicians do to something about "police brutality".

Mayor Sylvester Turner told her: "I certainly feel your pain. We are certainly sorry for any life that is taken."

Outside city hall, Ms Thomas-Smith told the Houston Chronicle of the dashcam video. "It feels like premeditated murder.

"He was clearly walking, not running, toward the deputy not trying to hurt or harm him."

Deputy Brewer, who had a Taser with him, has been placed on administrative leave as police investigate the shooting.

Houston Police Department said in a statement last week that Mr Thomas was found "walking in the middle of the intersection" of a busy road in the city.

Deputy Brewer noticed him with "his pants around his ankles, talking to himself and hitting vehicles as they passed by".

"Thomas then struck a white vehicle, and the driver exited and engaged in a physical altercation with the suspect," Houston police said.

The Harris County Sheriff's deputy saw the fracas and stopped his car to intervene.

"Fearing for his safety, the deputy discharged his duty weapon, striking Thomas once in the chest," said Houston police, which is leading the investigation.

In a different video taken by a bystander and published by the Chronicle last week, onlookers at a bus stop are heard laughing as they predict the officer will use a stun gun on the jaywalker.

"He's about to get tased," says Kaaryn Young as she films.

Gunfire rings out.

She is heard asking in disbelief: "He shot that man?

"He should have gotten tased!

"He shouldn't have shot that man in the street."

According to relatives, Mr Thomas' partner murdered his two children in 2016.

She is awaiting trial for the deaths, which happened while Mr Thomas was in prison serving a three-year drug-related sentence.

Qberth · #12 ● 03-29-2018, 06:57 AM

He came too close. The cop didn't have much time to do anything else. But in general it's very possible to shoot suspects in the leg. That's the standard procedure here in Finland if nothing else works. Or are the American cops so much worse shooters than ours?

rhubarb_king · #13 ● 03-29-2018, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by Qberth ↗

He came too close. The cop didn't have much time to do anything else. But in general it's very possible to shoot suspects in the leg. That's the standard procedure here in Finland if nothing else works. Or are the American cops so much worse shooters than ours?

I'm guessing Finland doesn't have crack heads everywhere wondering the streets with their pants down, threatening police.

melissacraft79 · #14 ● 03-29-2018, 02:13 PM

I live here. This part of town is very crime ridden but I do feel that this would've ended very different if it was in another part of town. Greenspoint is known as Guns point.

KansasKid · #15 ● 03-29-2018, 03:38 PM

You mean a black cop shot a black man, almost unheard of...

Azimuth · #16 ● 03-29-2018, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by kellyhound ↗

Mr Thomas' family say he suffered from depression after his children died.

Originally Posted by kellyhound ↗

Deputy Brewer noticed him with "his pants around his ankles, talking to himself and hitting vehicles as they passed by".

Originally Posted by kellyhound ↗

According to relatives, Mr Thomas' partner murdered his two children in 2016.

And he had been in prison when she murdered his kids.

Assuming he felt guilty over all that, it seems like he was out to commit suicide, and the cop shooting him was convenient.

No sympathy for suicide by cop, if that's the case. Except for the cop, and bystanders.