As the The Texas Rangers division of the Texas Department of Public Safety investigates the will investigate a shooting by a police officer of an unarmed man early Friday, his relatives say that they have been kept in the dark concerning the details of his death.
"He was 24 years old and he was unarmed," said a man who identified himself as his uncle. "The only thing he did was give someone a ride."
His mother, who identified herself as Maria del Carmen Treviño, was part of a group that was protesting the shooting across the street from the Brownsville Police Dept. Monday at the corner of Jackson and Seventh streets. More than a dozen supporters were carrying placard demanding justice in the case.
"They haven't allowed me to see my son since he was killed," she said as she held back tears and was consoled by people arriving to offer their support. "No one is telling us anything."
A Brownsville police officer shot Roman Rodriguez, 24, between the 2300 and 2500 block of University Boulevard , authorities said.
Police did say how many shots were fired.
Investigators from the Texas Department of Public Safety said Rodriguez died at the hospital as a result of the shooting.
Another man, 22-year-old Jaime Gonzalez, was arrested by Brownsville police and has been charged with evading on foot in connection to Friday’s shooting, investigators said.
News reports indicate that the efforts to keep the public away from the facts in the case started at the very onset. As part of the investigation after the shooting, police blocked off traffic from entering the area — near the Subway restaurant and the Brownsville Public Utilities Board sewer plant — for the better part of Friday morning.
Cameron County District Attorney Luis Saenz held a press conference Friday.
Saenz, Lt. Gerard Serrato and Commander Juan Hernandez provided few facts about the case, confirming that an on-duty Brownsville police officer had shot and killed someone earlier in the day.
Authorities said the officer involved in the shooting was unharmed.
However, their first statements that the officer had “shot and killed an aggravated robbery suspect between 1 and 2 a.m.” were not confirmed at the press conference.
The changing stories and the fact that police have not said that Rodriguez was unarmed when he was shot have raised questions from his relatives.
"He was only 24 and they ended his life without giving his family an explanation," said the uncle. "We want answers on why he had to be killed. when he wasn't armed."
However, their first statements that the officer had “shot and killed an aggravated robbery suspect between 1 and 2 a.m.” were not confirmed at the press conference.
The changing stories and the fact that police have not said that Rodriguez was unarmed when he was shot have raised questions from his relatives.
"He was only 24 and they ended his life without giving his family an explanation," said the uncle. "We want answers on why he had to be killed. when he wasn't armed."
15 comments:
Attn: Police officers. Sadlly to say if You are afraid of your Job, You shouldn't be a cop. You aré in the wrong profession. This. Is not Tombstone. Also, why has the P.D. Put a lid on this matter? Are they attempting to clean up the paper work? This leaves a lot of speculation .
Cuidado!!!!
We have trigger happy cops here!!!
If you do not break the law you don't meet up with the cops. Si andas recio te lleva la calaca. Lo que quieren es feria. It is not going to happen he did not have to challenge the cop. You are caught, just surrender. He would still be here.
Attn: Anonymous. It is the fear that keeps you alive, You sound like someone who has never done a job like that. Speculate all you want, but Cops want to go home at night, They do a job while you sleep at night. If you don't like the job BPD is doing, call someone else when you need help.
Bring in El ,Chapo, cuidado . No, "El Señor de los Cielos .
Not only trigger happy cops, some don't even work and take their patrol cars home I've asked that question many times: ARE BROWNSVILLE PD officers allowed to take their patrol cars home? MY TAXES are paying for the automobile, the gasoline and the policeman's salary and he/she gets to take that car home!!! I know of at least 2 police cars. One in my neighborhood that is why I ask if that is legal.
One Kagapalo off the streets now family want to protest get a life people cop was doing his job.
Funny how they are good and responsible persons when something bad happens? Roman Rodriguez should not have committed a crime to justify a traffic stop that led to his death. One less crook to deal with!
If this kid were the son of a cop or judge or lawyer his family would not have to be seeking due process with cardboard signs. BPD has used unjustified deadly force too many times. I hope the Texas Rangers straighten them out once and for all.
Amen to anonymous @3:37. My brothers and hubby are officers and I can't tell you how many sleepless nights my mother has had. As for me, i just pray my husband can come home safe to his children. It's sad a father lost his life because of HIS choices and no one else. Are there badge heavy cop of course. When the wolf is at your door, don't call 911 if you don't support them!!
The Brownsvile narco cops strike again. These clowns are a disgrace to the uniform. How many times have I seen these losers speeding in non-emergency situations with cell phone in hand, picking up groceries (and beer) on their squad vars and so on. Why is the PD stonewalling the media when they asked for information about the incident under FOIA?
Don't be fooled people, Brownsville's finest ahouldn't be fully trusted. We never heard anything else about the perp who casually walked out of the city jail. Heck there are even rumors I've heard that I really wish they were not true. But every day I see their incompetence those rumors look to be true.
No, it is NOT legal. Patrol cars, are bought with tax money! !!!!!
They should be used 24/7 by officers, not sitting at officers homes. Contact Commander Ethridge at 548 7103 and report the unit number please!!
It's not that cops are afraid; they're not stupid. Did you want him to wait there to see if maybe the pendejo didn't have a gun? If he told him to get his hands up and he didn't then I would've done the same thing. The guy just finished helping another pendejo steal from a store at 3 in the morning, he was full of tattoos and wouldn't stop the vehicle. FUCK YEAH he's going to raise some concern and more than likely have a gun. "He was a good kid," says the mom. Pendeja, the problem started with YOU! Raise your kids right and they won't be out stealing beer at 3 in the morning. Now she wants money as if her food stamps and Medicaid weren't enough. All those viejas do is have a million kids so they can get more money from the government and once the kids are born they do not bother raising them. No wonder Donald Trump hates us Mexicans. Props to BPD. Thank you for keeping us safe from this scum.
Very well said .... about insulting the P.D man most of these officers i can say do respect everybody not like other police officers from other cities that provoke trouble harass citizens Brownsville PD does not do that Sheriff Deputies might but not pd keep up the good work.
El Trump doesn't hate "mescains", "Mescains " hate themselves . Just look at a picture of Da Mayor. He just returned from Persia desguised as Muniz, a secret atomic scientist with Kissinger. They were able to prepare a much better ham sandwich without the 2 pounds of spices of pepper. Upon return, da Mayor got a decent G.I. Haircut at Lola's. "Mission Accomplished."
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