FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Tom Hargis, Director of Communications, ACLU of Texas, [email protected], 713.325.7006
HOUSTON — A video released Monday by ABC affiliate KSAT in San Antonio shows Bexar County Sheriff’s Deputies Greg Vasquez and Robert Sanchez fatally shooting Gilbert Flores. While many of the details of the interaction remain unclear, in the video Flores stands still and at a distance from the officers with his hands raised the moment the deputies open fire.
The following statement can be attributed to Terri Burke, Executive Director, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas:
"The video of Gilbert Flores' fatal shooting by two deputies of the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office raises serious concerns over whether these officers used force that was proportional to the circumstances. Like other events that that we’ve seen across the country involving interactions with law enforcement, this one points to a troubling trend of overzealous and abusive policing. The video doesn’t show every aspect of the interaction, but it certainly raises serious questions about whether the level of force was constitutionally permissible. We call on the Sheriff’s department and the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office to conduct a transparent investigation and hold any wrongdoers accountable."
The following statement can be attributed to Matt Simpson, Senior Policy Strategist, ACLU of Texas:
"Were it not for the footage captured by a concerned member of the public, Texans would have no record of yet another interaction with police that turned deadly. To provide more objective evidence of police encounters, all law-enforcement agencies should adopt use of body-worn cameras. Though not a complete solution for incidents of deterring officer or civilian misconduct, body-worn cameras would enable law enforcement to become more transparent to the public, promote police accountability, and help ensure interactions with community members are fair and lawful.”
Watch the full unedited video here.
