A grand jury decided on Tuesday not to indict a Houston police officer in the fatal shooting of a 26-year-old unarmed black man in January.
Officer Juventino Castro, a 10-year police veteran, received the verdict from the Harris County grand jury on Tuesday, according to CBS affiliate KHOU. This is the fourth decision favoring police in recent officer-involved killings in the U.S., which have triggered nationwide protests over the use of excessive force by law enforcement.
"It is with deep regret that we announce to you that the grand jury has decided not to indict Officer J. Castro," activist Deric Muhammad said. "Welcome to Ferguson, Texas. Hmmph...Out of 93 police killings, there have not been one indictment."
On Jan. 16, Castro was off-duty and working as a private security guard at a strip mall when he shot and killed 26-year-old Jordan Baker after a scuffle broke out between the two, law enforcement officials reportedly said.
Since the mall had recent break-ins, Castro reportedly claimed that he confronted Baker after suspecting him of being a burglar targeting the mall.
Initially, the college student struggled, ran away, and then allegedly put his hands in his waistband and charged toward Castro, according to the station. That's when Castro shot and killed him.
"Officer Castro, fearing for his life, discharged his duty weapon one time, striking Baker," police reportedly said.
However, it was later determined that Baker had been unarmed, the Associated Press reported.
Baker's mother, Janet, reportedly said that Castro had suspected her son to be a criminal based on his race and clothing. Attorney Sadiyah Evangelista plans to file a federal complaint on behalf of the family.
"I know they are disappointed, but the grand jury's decision means they found that there was no probable cause to believe a crime was committed," Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson said, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Last month, a Staten Island, N.Y., grand jury decided not to indict NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo in the chokehold death of Eric Garner. The decision was preceded by a Ferguson grand jury's verdict not to indict Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown, according to International Business Times.
On Monday, local authorities decided not to criminally charge Milwaukee Officer Christopher Manney in the shooting death of Dontre Hamilton, another black man.
