Photo by J. Patric Schneider
Officer J. McGowan shot the man, identified by relatives as Rufino Lara, about 4:30 p.m. in front of a vacant store along the 7000 block of Bissonnet near Fondren.
“I don’t believe this should be happening,” said his sister, Calixta Lara. “He never had a problem with the police.”
McGowan and her partner were investigating an assault at the center. McGowan told detectives five or six people were standing in front of the building when she and her partner pulled up.
The man later identified as Lara began walking away when McGowan’s partner started questioning the others, Houston police said.
She followed him along the walkway in front of the center, telling him to stop in both English and Spanish, said John Cannon, a Houston police spokesman.
“The male is ignoring her the entire time. She continues to tell him, ‘Show your hands. Show your hands,’ ” Cannon said.
At times, Lara would raise one hand but keep the other tucked under his shirt. He suddenly turned and faced McGowan in front of a vacant grocery. He hand was still tucked under his shirt.
The officer told detectives she was in fear for her safety. “She thought he might have a firearm with him,” Cannon said.
McGowan fired once and Lara, 54, died at the scene, police said.
McGowan’s partner was standing next to her when Lara turned and faced them, HPD said. She did not fire but told detectives she also felt in fear for her safety.
Officers did not find a weapon on Lara during a preliminary search of the body.
Houston police don’t know why Lara kept a hand inside his shirt.
“The officer did all she could, giving commands in English and Spanish for (Lara) to hold his hands up,” Cannon said.
Calixta Lara said her brother had been drinking with friends when he got into a fight with the others in front of the shopping center. But, she said her brother wasn’t the kind of person who would cause trouble.
She doesn’t believe the officer gave commands in both languages to her brother, who didn’t speak English.
“I help the police when I can, but they can’t do this,” Calixta Lara said.
McGowan has been a Houston police officer for about two years and is assigned to HPD’s South Gessner Patrol Division.
She will be on desk duty for three days – standard practice in any such incident.
Houston police homicide and internal affairs detectives, along with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, are investigating.