Photo: Chávez Family / Courtesy
TEXAS – Family of a Hispanic man aged 27 who was shot to death by Houston Police Department officers last year filed a lawsuit Tuesday for $ 100 million dollars, as announced by the lawyer representing the family of the deceased.
The lawsuit is filed days after the Chief of Police Houston’s Art Acevedo announced that he would step down to take over the reins of the Miami Police Department.
Nicolás Chávez was shot dead by four officers, who shot him 21 bullets during a chase, after officers responded to a call from a person who threatened to commit suicide.
Chávez was cornered by officers in a neighborhood of the Denver Harbor area east of the city after a small chase. Chávez allegedly ignored orders from the police and threatened them. Faced with Chávez’s resistance, several officers fired, hitting the victim.
A video that appeared on social networks that was recorded by a person who remained anonymous. shows Chávez kneeling on the floor before receiving the bullet holes. The video contradicted the version given by Acevedo at a press conference shortly after the shooting.
The officers involved in the shooting were identified as Luis Alvarado, Benjamin LeBlanc, Kevin Nguyen, Omar Tapia and Patrick Rubio.
All four were dismissed from their positions in September of 2020.