- Police Brutality Watch

LULAC joins effort to learn more about the shooting

The family of Roy Rodriguez, a teen fatally shot last week by a Houston school police officer, are asking to meet with school and police officials to learn more about his death. The request was made at a news conference organized by the League of United Latin American Citizens on behalf of Rodriguez's mother, Rachel Rios. "I feel like my son has been murdered," Rios said. "All I want is justice here." Rodriguez was fatally shot by an HISD police officer at Lantrip Elementary School a week ago Saturday morning. The officer, Richard McColister, 40, said he found Rodriguez trespassing on school property and prying open a vending machine in an outdoor courtyard. After the teen allegedly threatened to shoot him and reached into his pocket, the 10-year HISD police veteran said he shot Rodriguez. But the item in the teen's pocket turned out to be a screwdriver. LULAC representatives Johnny Mata and Sylvia Gonzalez said the shooting is another example of the "carnage" involving young minorities in police shootings. The family also expressed anger at how the Houston Police Department notified them of their son's death. HPD officers entered their apartment while the parents slept, woke them and told them to put their hands up while the police searched the apartment for weapons, Rios said. The homicide detectives started interrogating them before finally telling them that their son was dead , she said. Lt. Robert Manzo confirmed the series of events, but explained that it was to "ensure a safe environment" for both the officers and the family. "Police officers that have that mentality that it's open season to kill Hispanics and other minorities in the streets of Houston and surrounding counties," said Johnny Mata of LULAC. "That mentality needs to end."[more

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