Questions still surround fatal shooting of double amputee

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- There are still a lot of questions surrounding the shooting death of Brian Claunch.

One of the biggest is how did a man with one arm and one leg, in a wheelchair, manage to corner a Houston police officer? And why did another officer reach for his gun, rather than his Taser?

We are getting a better picture of what two HPD officers were dealing with when they arrived at the Healing Hands assisted home care about 2am Saturday. An instructor who trains aspiring officers also walks us through the levels of force officers are taught to use.

Eyewitness News got a first view of the room where two HPD officers confronted a double amputee in a wheelchair, threatening to kill them with a shiny object. It turned out to be a silver ballpoint pen.

After allegedly lunging at one officer with the pen, a second officer, M. Marin, shot the wheelchair-bound man in the head.

At the foot of the bed is where Claunch, 45, was pronounced dead. He was mentally ill.

Mike Emanuel is an instructor for University of Houston's Basic Peace Officer Course. Officers are taught, he says, to use one of three levels of force depending on the threat. The first is a physical take down.

"Whether I go into soft contact, which is joint manipulation control, medium contact would be your pepper spray, your asp, your Taser and then lethal force would be a firearm," Emanuel.

HPD can't yet say if the officers knew Claunch was armed with a pen since they were dispatched after a 911 call. HPD does confirm both officers were equipped with a Taser and tasked with disarming a double amputee in a wheelchair.

"When you have two officers on one suspect, it does make it easier on both officers to subdue a suspect without lethal force?" we asked Emanuel.

"Absolutely," he said. "The more officers the better."

One thing Emanuel makes clear, it's always a live situation, where there can be little time to react.

"These are all judgment decisions that officers make in a quarter of a second and it's very hard to second guess this," Emanuel said.

HPD Chief Charles McClelland has asked the local FBI office to monitor and investigate this incident along with HPD's Internal Affairs Division.

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City officials weigh in on officer-involved shooting of wheelchair-bound double amputee

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- City officials are now weighing in on the fatal shooting of a mentally and physically disabled man at the hands of police.

At the group home where the deadly shooting occurred is a note saying people inside would no longer talk about what happened over the weekend. But community activists are just beginning their crusade.

"I'm sick and tired of the same old thing from our police departments here in Houston. We want some action, we want the truth, we want the secrecy stopped. We want to see everything being done in this case, future cases, and past cases," said Arlene Kelly with Civilians Down.

Civilians Down is a local organization that focuses on police-related shootings. She and others with the Greater Houston Coalition for Justice called for an outside investigation into the shooting that killed wheelchair-bound double amputee Brian Claunch.

"Things do get dangerous, things do get stressful, but you have to stop and think, you have to use good judgement," said Sylvia Gonzalez with LULAC.

But at City Hall on Wednesday, elected officials asked for restraint. Mayor Annise Parker says for now she doesn't know exactly why a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) officer wasn't on scene.

"I don't know why a CIT officer was not dispatched," said the mayor.

Council members pointed out the FBI is already monitoring the investigation, and they urged patience.

"Until an investigation is complete, we simply don't know what happened, and I would encourage us to, for the benefit of the victim's family, for the benefit of officers in our city, let investigations run their course," said Council Member C.O. Bradford.

The mayor said she has a meeting with Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland at the end of the week to further discuss the shooting.

Since the first of this year, there have been 22 officer-involved shootings in Houston. That's compared to 15 in all of last year. Of those 22 officer-involved shootings this year, ten suspects or citizens were killed, 13 were injured, and three officers were wounded.

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Community activists hold protest at City Hall over fatal shooting of double amputee

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Anger over the controversial shooting death of a mentally ill double amputee by a Houston police officer was evident Tuesday in front of City Hall.

As the shooting that took place at the group home continues making national headlines, community members stormed Houston City Hall in protest, and city leaders started speaking out publicly about the investigation.

Holding signs and chanting, "The people united will never be defeated," more than a dozen community activists, religious leaders and concerned community members marched outside City Hall Tuesday afternoon.

These protesters were blasting the mayor's office and the Houston Police Department after an officer shot and killed Brian Claunch at a group home for the mentally ill on Polk Street over the weekend.

"How in the world can you shoot a a man in a wheelchair with one arm and one leg to death? Deadly force," said community activist Krystal Muhammad.

HPD Officer Matthew Marin shot the wheelchair-bound man during a disturbance call. Police say Claunch threatened the officer with a shiny object -- an object that turned out to be an ink pen.

"You mean to tell me you don't have the type of training that could teach you to subdue a person in a wheelchair?" said Muhammad.

These activists say that shooting is just the latest in alleged cases of police brutality they've been documenting for 87 weeks.

"We want to be clear and say this, we don't have any faith in the system and the process that exists," said community activist Kofie Taharka.

Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland and Mayor Annise Parker issued statements this week urging the public to avoid rushing to judgment before all the evidence in this shooting investigation is gathered.

"It really hurts because no one should die," said City Council Member Jack Christie.

He told us he's also concerned about the shooting.

"It's good to ask questions, we need transparency. Any way that we can ask questions to avoid this in the future will be good, so I encourage people to ask questions, but to be patient," Councilman Christie said.

The mayor says she believes the city has a very aggressive investigation policy for these types of incidents.

Earlier Tuesday

The police shooting death of a wheelchair-bound, mentally ill double amputee remains under the microscope. The shooting has divided some in our city with the police union standing by the officer and critics calling it a case of police over-reaction.

Brian Claunch, a psychiatric patient who lived at a group home for the mentally ill, was shot to death early Saturday morning by Houston Police Officer Matthew Marin. The officer said Claunch, who had a leg and arm amputated and was in a wheelchair, was belligerent and that he was waving an object in his hand that the officer could not see clearly.

Claunch suffered from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The object turned out to be a pen.

HPD says the officer felt shooting Claunch was necessary because he was in fear for his life and that of his partner, and Claunch had disobeyed his commands.

Psychiatrist Dr. Richard Pesikoff says a patient in an altered state will respond better to physical cues than to verbal ones. He says it can be effective for an officer to call for backup, and then surround the patient to show that he is physically outnumbered. He says that demonstration often gets a patient to cooperate.

"The visual reaction goes a lot more quickly for a lot of people. They don't have to process a lot of things. They see it and it gets processed immediately through the eyes. And you look around and you see 2,000 pounds of people not hurting you, just talking to you and telling you come this way. Simple commands. Don't use complex English sentences," said Dr. Pesikoff.

Officer Marin was also involved in the fatal shooting of a suspect back in 2009. That suspect had a knife.

Marin is on administrative leave, which is the procedure after any officer-involved shooting.

Community activists and advocates for the mentally ill say this is not an acceptable explanation.

"Why they didn't use mace? Why they didn't use a Taser? All he had was a writing pen, were they afraid he was going to write a complaint on them," said Community Activist Quanell X.

Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland issued this statement:

"The Houston police department places the highest value on human life and events like these are tragic and unfortunate for everyone involved. All Houston police officers receive mandatory crisis intervention training specifically dealing with persons experiencing mental crisis."

Chief McClelland has also asked the local FBI to monitor and investigate the incident, along with the agencies who are already conducting their investigations.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Double murder remains mystery 7 years later

On Tuesday, September 13, 2005, Nick Munoz (left) and Chaz Kettner (right), both age 20, were gunned down at a gas station

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Crime Stoppers and investigators with the Houston Police Department are searching for the suspect responsible for the 2005 murder of Nick Munoz and Chaz Kettner. Yesterday marked the seventh anniversary of Nick Munoz' and Chaz Kettner's deaths and today would have celebrated Kettner's 28th birthday.

It has been seven years since 20-year-olds Nick Munoz and Chaz Kettner were gunned down at an area gas station. It was Tuesday, September 13, 2005, at approximately 10:35 pm, when Kettner and Munoz were approached by an unidentified black male while seated in their vehicle at a gas station located on the 2700 block of W. Sam Houston Parkway. The unknown suspect shot both of the victims while they were in the vehicle.

Kettner died where he was seated. Munoz attempted to flee, but collapsed, passing away near the door of the service station. The unknown suspect fled the scene in a green truck.

Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect is asked to contact Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-TIPS (8477).

Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for any information called in to the 713-222-TIPS (8477) or submitted online at http://www.crime-stoppers.org/ that leads to the filing of felony charges or arrest of the suspect in this case. Tips can also be sent by text message. Text TIP610 plus your tip to CRIMES (274637). All tipsters remain anonymous.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Crime Tracker »

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Police seek gunman in fatal double shooting

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Two men were shot on a north Houston street, and police say the victims knew the person who pulled the trigger.

It happened around 8:20pm Friday on East 43rd Street not far from North Main.

Police say the men got into a fight with an acquaintance outside a home. That person pulled out a gun and started shooting.

Both men were shot and a stray bullet even hit a wrecker's truck, but the driver wasn't hurt.

According to police, the gunman fled the scene and one of the victims ran into a store, covered in blood and asking for help.

He survived and was taken to a nearby hospital, officials say.

The other victim, 26, died at the hospital.

Police are now questioning the surviving victim for more information on the suspect.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Argument between men ends in double shooting

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Police are searching for a shooter who injured two people outside a store in east Houston.

Investigators say three men got in an argument last night on Gregg near Sarah Street.

Shots were fired, and two of the men were hit. Their injuries were not life-threatening. The third man ran away and is still on the run.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Police chase ends in double fatal accident

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- An early morning chase in Fort Bend County ended with a car flying through the air, killing two of the three people inside.

It happened on Mason Road near FM 1093 along the Westpark Tollway around 2am. Deputies tried to pull the suspects over for speeding, but the driver refused to stop. A chase ensued with the driver speeding so excessively that at one point, the deputy lost sight of the vehicle.

The driver ended up crashing a short time later, flipping over multiple times. A man and woman in the vehicle died. A second woman was taken by Life Flight to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where she is listed in critical condition.

"The vehicle in question began to travel at a little higher rate of speed and left the roadway near South Mason Road on FM 1093," said Bob Haenel with the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators on the scene say the accident was so bad that they didn't know the make, model or color of the vehicle initially.

Authorities had to use the Jaws of Life to get all three victims out of the car. None of the victims have been identified.

There is no word whether alcohol was a factor or whether any of the three were wearing a seatbelt.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Double stabbing at SW Houston nightclub

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Houston police are investigating a double stabbing at a southwest Houston nightclub.

It happened at Metropolis on Richmond and Fondren around 2am Monday.

Police say two people were stabbed during a possible robbery. They were transported to the hospital and are expected to be OK.

The suspects left in a black Jetta. Two people are believed to have been taken into custody in connection with the stabbing.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Opening statements to begin in double murder trial

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Opening statements begin today for a man accused of killing two teen girls before leaving their bodies in a burning house.

Joseph Jean, 38, is facing the death penalty for the murders in Baytown back in April of last year.

Police say Jean was trying to set fire to his girlfriend's home in retaliation for an argument, when the girls caught him in the act. Police say he beat 17-year-old Chelsey Lang and 16-year-old Ashley Johnson with a bat and then started the fire.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Sketch released in double shooting in South Houston

 A composite sketch has been released of the suspect. He is only described as a male wearing a black hoodie type jacket and dark pants.

  SOUTH HOUSTON, TX (KTRK) -- Authorities are asking for the public's assistance with any information about a suspect wanted for shooting two people, one fatally, in South Houston.

On Sunday, January 30, 2011 at approximately 5:21 am, George Segura and his girlfriend were sitting their car at their residence in the 1000 block of Washington St. in South Houston. They noticed a man wearing a black hoodie jacket and dark pants standing in the roadway. Segura and his girlfriend thought the suspect was acting strangely. The next time they saw the suspect, he was standing at the passenger side door of their vehicle with a gun. The suspect shot at them, striking Segura in the head and his girlfriend in the right arm. The suspect then fled north on Austin Street. George Segura died seven days later of his injury. A composite sketch has been released of the suspect. He is only described as a male wearing a black hoodie type jacket and dark pants. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for any information called in to the 713-222-8477 (TIPS) hotline or submitted online at http://www.crime-stoppers.org/ that leads to the arrest or filing of felony charges in this case. Tips can also be sent by text message - Text TIP610 plus your tip to CRIMES (274637). All tipsters remain anonymous. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) 

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