HOUSTON (KTRK) -- We have new developments about Monday's deadly police shooting. An eyewitness claims an officer killed an unarmed man who tried to get help from the police.
At a civil rights news conference Tuesday afternoon an eyewitness, Florida Rubio, says that Rufino Lara asked her to call police Tuesday afternoon because he feared some men were going to hurt him. Two officers responded to the assault call in southwest Houston. Rubio says she told police that Lara needed help but officers would not listen.
"She told the police officers that the gentleman was with her and that was the reason for the call, but the officers didn't pay attention to her," Rubio said through a translator.
Police say Lara tried to leave the scene and Officer J. McGowan ordered him to stop. The officer says she shot and killed Lara because he made threatening move towards her. Rubio says she distinctly heard the officer say Lara had a gun. Officers later said that Lara, in fact, did not have a gun.
Police Chief Charles McClelland issued a statement saying, "Our condolences go out to the Lara family," and "We ask that the public withhold judgment until all facts and evidence has been gathered and the investigation is complete."