May 15, 2019

Action Alert:
Call for Charges Against Officer who Shot Unarmed Grandmother


Officer Juan Delacruz of the Baytown Police Department was patrolling an apartment complex in the Houston, Texas suburb after 10:30 p.m. on May 13, 2019 when he saw a black resident with alleged outstanding warrants for criminal mischief and assault, 45 year-old Pamela Turner.

A witness captured the entire encounter between Pamela Turner and Baytown police officer Juan Delacruz on cell phone video.

Delacruz moved in to arrest Turner, first trying unsuccessfully to handcuff her. Then he fired his Taser stun gun, forcing her to the ground. While she was prone, Delacruz got on top of her, Taser still in hand. She fought back, kicking him off. As the officer staggered back a few steps he drew his handgun and fired five times point-blank at the unarmed Turner, killing her.

The Baytown Police claim Turner “was able to gain control of the Taser and use it on the officer.” Officer Delacruz suffered no injuries and it’s unclear if his Taser required reloading after a single shot. There was no time for such a reloading during the scuffle.

Turner has two children in their 20s and three grandchildren. Her family and attorney Benjamin Crupp deny she had outstanding warrants. Her sister Antoinette said Turner was on medication for schizophrenia. Antoinette also said the officer was Turner’s neighbor and she had complained about him before. Officer Delacruz is facing no charges or disciplinary action for the killing. 

Please contact Baytown Police Chief C. Keith Dougherty and Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg through one of the channels below and give them the following message, personalized to your liking:

Bring charges against Baytown Police Department officer Juan Delacruz for shooting and killing Pamela Turner on May 13, 2019! I have watched the cell phone video and there is NO WAY this killing was justified. Turner was a middle-aged woman suffering from schizophrenia who was neighbors with officer Delacruz. Turner’s family and attorney Benjamin Crupp have indicated she did not have any outstanding warrants against her as suggested. Officer Delacruz precipitated the confrontation with Turner late on a Monday evening outside their development, then botched her arrest, which sparked the shooting. Delacruz suffered no injury during the encounter (from a Taser or anything else) that required his hospitalization or merited the use of lethal force. The truth is he was embarrassed by his own incompetence and responded to this injury to his pride by killing an unarmed woman in cold  blood. This is INTOLERABLE, this disregard we are seeing for the lives of people of color by law enforcement. CHARGE OFFICER DELACRUZ for killing Pamela Turner, who SHOULD STILL BE WITH HER CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN TODAY. I will be watching your actions in this case closely and organizing politically as necessary.

Baytown Police Chief C. Keith Dougherty
Phone: (281) 422-8371
Email: police@baytown.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Baytown-Cops-214376275242776/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/baytownpolice1

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg
Phone: (713) 274-5800
Email via webform: https://app.dao.hctx.net/contact/feedback
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Harris-County-District-Attorneys-Office-150891285427503/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HarrisCountyDAO

Sample tweet:
Charge @baytownpolice1 officer who killed unarmed Pamela Turner in front of her home on 05/13/19! https://www.onepulseforamerica.com/action-alert/call-for-charges-against-officer-who-shot-unarmed-grandmother/ #GunControlNow

Once you have contacted Chief Dougherty and/or DA Ogg, fill out the three fields below and click the orange banner to report taking action!

 


This is an action alert, NOT an online petition. Please take the action before filling out the fields below.

43 people have taken this action