TEXAS – The Houston Police Department released graphic body camera footage from an officer-involved shooting on July 6 on its YouTube Channel on Wednesday, showing the moment a scuffle broke out between officers and a suspect.<\/p>\n
HPD Officer A. Garza, who discharged his duty weapon, suffered a cut to his nose and was treated at the scene.\u00a0 Officer Garza is assigned to the Southeast Patrol Division and was sworn in as an officer in December 2018.<\/em><\/p>\n HPD Special Investigations Unit Sergeant P. Buttitta and Detectives J. Moreno, B. Bertrand, C. Walker and N. Arellano reported:<\/em><\/p>\n HPD patrol officers responded to a family disturbance at an apartment complex at the above address.\u00a0 Officers spoke with a female in an\u00a0apartment, who stated the suspect\u00a0choked her.\u00a0 Officers attempted to speak with the suspect, but he was uncooperative.\u00a0 As officers attempted to detain the suspect, he actively resisted and a physical altercation ensued.<\/em><\/p>\n A second male in the apartment intervened by pulling officers\u2019 hands away from the suspect.\u00a0 At that time, the suspect\u00a0attempted to disarm an officer by\u00a0removing his duty weapon from his holster.\u00a0 The officer yelled that the suspect\u00a0had possession of the weapon\u00a0and it discharged.\u00a0 Fearing for his and the other officer\u2019s safety, Officer Garza discharged his duty weapon at the suspect\u00a0and struck him.\u00a0 The suspect\u00a0was pronounced deceased\u00a0at the scene.<\/em><\/p>\n The second male, identified as Francis Vasquez-Benitez (H\/m, 18), is charged with assault of a peace officer in the 176th State District Court.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n As is customary in HPD officer-involved shooting incidents in the city limits, this case is being investigated by the HPD Special Investigations Unit, the Internal Affairs Division and the Harris County District Attorney\u2019s Office.<\/em><\/p>\n