Officials Fight To Suppress Video Of Brownsville Police Officer Fatally Shooting Man

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Officials Fight To Suppress Video Of Brownsville Police Officer Fatally Shooting Man

October 25th, 2017

Awake Goy

The Brownsville, Texas Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety have decided to ask a Texas Attorney General’s Office opinion regarding the release of police body camera video that shows police officers killing a man after they allegedly feared for their lives.

It seems strange that they would not want the video to be released if it supports their disputed version of the incident.

German Ornelas, 31, was fatally shot Oct. 5 as police tried to serve a warrant on him, reported The Browsville Herald.

Police claim Ornelas was armed with a knife and refused to put it down. The Brownsville PD incident report alleges Ornelas lunged at them with the knife and the officers fired multiple gunshots at him because they feared for their lives.

The victim’s family, who was present when he was killed, dispute the police version of events, saying that Ornelas was not armed when officers killed him.

The shooting was caught on body camera video, and The Brownsville Herald on Oct. 6 filed a Texas Open Records Act request with Brownsville PD and the DPS seeking access to the video, police reports and radio communications pertaining to the shooting.

In their letters to the AG, both Brownsville PD and the DPS state that because the shooting is an ongoing investigation, the release of the video would interfere with the investigation and prosecution of the case. Their requests for an AG opinion were filed Oct. 20.

The Texas Rangers are investigating the killing which occurred at an apartment complex located at 55 West St. Charles St.

The Herald reported on the police version of the events:

Investigators with Brownsville PD’s Special Investigation Unit were attempting to serve a burglary of habitation felony warrant on Ornelas.

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