A grand jury in Harris County, Texas, decided on Tuesday not to indict an off-duty police officer who fatally shot an unarmed 26-year-old man in Houston, the Houston Chronicle reported.
Officer Juventino Castro shot and killed Jordan Baker at a Northwest Houston strip center in January. According to the police, Castro, a 10-year veteran of the force, believed Baker matched the description of suspects in a string of robberies at the strip mall where Castro worked an extra security job.
Castro's attempt to stop Baker, who was wearing a black hoodie, led to a brief struggle and a chase. Police said that Baker then reached into his waistband and charged toward Castro, prompting the officer to shoot him. Baker was unarmed.
Baker's mother contended that Castro profiled her son as a criminal.
On Tuesday, after months of hearings, the grand jury panel decided to not indict Castro in Baker's death. This decision comes in the wake of nationwide protests following grand jury decisions to not indict the officers involved in the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner.
Police will now investigate whether Castro violated any agency policies or procedures, the Houston Police Department chief said last week.
"If they don't indict this officer, it's an indictment of the system," an activist said before the grand jury decision.
"If they don't indict this officer, it's an indictment of the system." — @DericMuhammad #JordanBaker #houmews
"How can you celebrate the birth of Jesus & the death of justice at the same time?" — @DericMuhammad #JordanBaker #hounews