Houston Police Department Has Some Explaining To Do After Killing Double-Amputee in a Wheelchair

Houston, Texas

We knew (or hoped) there would be more to the story involving the killing of a double-amputee in a wheelchair by Houston Police.

Fortunately, community activists have stepped forward and are demanding answers.

According to Houston police, an officer responded to a domestic disturbance complaint at a group home on Polk and Sidney in southwest Houston around 1:30 a.m. Saturday. Police said the person in charge of the home said the man inside, Brian Claunch, 45, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, was threatening other residents.

"When officers arrived and went inside to speak to him, he was situated in a wheelchair holding an unknown object," said Jodi Silva with the Houston Police Department.

Claunch was in a wheelchair because he had lost his right arm and leg in a train accident.

The officers said Claunch was swinging the shiny object in a threatening manner towards them. Investigators said the officers told Claunch to drop the object, but he refused. Police said five-year veteran Matthew Marin then fired his gun at Claunch, shooting him in the head.

The Greater Houston Coalition for Justice is calling on U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to launch a full investigation of "patterns and practices of civil rights violations by the Houston Police Department against minorities and others." The Texas Civil Rights Project has also demanded an open investigation.

"This killing is very disturbing," Texas Civil Rights Project director and attorney Amin Alehashem said. "HPD has not explained how or why two officers responding to a routine call came to feel threatened by a by a man in a wheelchair with two limbs and a pen. There are far too many questions left unanswered today for the public to blindly accept HPD's assurances that the shooting of this man in a wheelchair was justified."

And this isn’t the first time Houston police officer Matthew Marin has fatally used his weapon in uniform. Houston police records indicate that Marin also fatally shot a suspect in 2009.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker released a statement about the shooting.

"I want to express my condolences to Mr. Claunch's family and friends. As for any comment on the circumstances, there is a process in place to determine if the officer acted appropriately. In addition to the usual internal review, Chief McClelland has taken the additional step of asking the local office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) within the U.S. Department of Justice to monitor our investigation of this incident. Until the facts are in place, it is premature to draw any conclusions. I have utmost respect for the very difficult job of our Houston Police Department. However, if there were mistakes made, I know the police chief will take appropriate action," Parker said.

And, in the meantime, if you are anywhere in the vicinity of Houston police officer Matthew Marin, we would suggest you only use a feather pen.