Alva Braziel, 38

Houston, Texas
July 09, 2016

Agencies: Houston Police Department Texas

Cause of death: Shooting

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Last updated: over 5 years ago

Overview

Two Houston police officers shot and killed an African-American man who they say pointed a gun at them early Saturday morning, July 9, 2016 on Houston’s southeast side.  

Eyewitness video has emerged which appears to show him with hands raised before being shot.

Houston Police Department spokeswoman Jodi Silva said the two officers were on routine patrol just before 1 a.m. when they spotted the man, holding a gun. 

Silva said when police approached him, the man was pointing the gun straight up in the air. She said they ordered him to drop it. She said a bystander did, too. 

"Who is speaking with the suspect, telling him, 'Put the weapon down. Put the weapon down,'" Silva said. 

Instead, officers said, the man pointed his gun at them.  

"Both officers discharged their duty weapons,” Silva said. “Immediately, we called for aid…however, the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene." Someone called a woman to the scene who was seen sobbing.  She said she was the man's wife.