Charion Lockett’s family attorney said that Friday’s newly released footage from the February 7th shooting by the police body camera supports their belief that Lockett was afraid for his life just moments before he was shot to death.
Taft Foley, one the attorneys said that they showed up at his house with guns and didn’t declare themselves to be police officers. It’s why this case is tragic. It could have been avoided.
Police claim that Lockett was Black and was the aggressor.
“As officers approached Mr. Lockett’s residence, he was still inside his vehicle in the driveway. “He stepped out and started firing on officers as he moved toward his front door,” Assistant Chief Belinda Null stated in a video statement.
One of the Lockett lawyers claimed that the video does not show Lockett shooting. The family claimed that he had no criminal records, was a graduate of a master’s degree, and was preparing to apply for law school.
“My son was a loving individual. He was devoted to his family. He was the life and soul of the party. After a march by over 300 protesters to the police headquarters, Shanetta Guidry Lewis, his mother, said that “He took care of everyone.”
Lockett was being held on suspicion of aggravated murder with a deadly weapon. Police attempted to arrest him. He was accused of trying rob at gunpoint an acquaintance he had met in high school on Nov. 26. Foley stated that he doubts the validity of this charge due to his investigation revealing that a judge rejected the police department’s request for an arrest warrant.
Police declined to comment on Friday, citing an ongoing investigation by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, as the shooting occurred outside of Houston’s City Limits.
Foley claimed Lockett did not know there was an arrest warrant until he received a call from authorities at 9:05 a.m., February 7, just one hour before his death. Foley stated that he told authorities he wanted his attorney to contact him and surrender himself.
He’s a bit shaken up. According to his mom, he goes and sits down in his car. Foley stated that he sits in his car, meditates, and prays.
Lockett was inside his car when several unmarked police cars rushed to his house.
One officer can be seen in the body camera footage opening the passenger side doors as he drives up to Lockett’s house. As the car is still moving, the officer raises his gun and can be heard taking at least one shot.
It’s not clear who fired the initial shot, as shown by the footage. The footage does not show Lockett firing on officers, and there was no evidence that officers identified themselves to Lockett prior to the shooting.
After hearing the first shot, the officer sat down and began firing while still in his vehicle. As his partner got out of the car, the officer continued firing while he was still in his seat. He could be seen firing at the person in front of him before saying “He’s down.”
Hours after the shooting, Troy Finner, Chief of Police, stated that four officers had returned fire and were placed in administrative leave.
Finner stated that the officers who attempted to serve the warrant were part of a crime suppress team that assists in the detection and arrest of violent criminals within the city.
“We pray for the best so that no lives are lost.” He said, “But we still need to do our jobs.”
A neighbor was heard telling an officer on the scene that he had been shot after the fact. He’s a good boy man. He is a good child. Please don’t shoot him.
Randall Kallinen (another attorney representing Lockett) said that “not one video shows Mr. Lockett firing a gun or shooting anyone.”
Foley stated that Lockett was licensed to carry concealed handguns and that officers should be aware of this.
Foley stated that the whole community was wondering “Why, why, why?” The whole thing was bungled so badly that it ended in the death of this child, who is a role model and an example of what they want our Black children to be.”
Houston police were under investigation for a drugs raid in 2019 where a couple was shot and killed. Following the raid, a dozen officers were arrested.
