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Father Of Slain Middle School Student Says Police ‘Overreacted’

January 6, 2012

The shooting death of a 15-year old Texas boy as a result of police force has the father questioning if authorities could have averted the tragedy. Jaime Gonzalez made news yesterday after reports say the middle school student brandished what appeared to be a handgun, pointing the weapon at police who then took the boy down with gunshots. The handgun was later revealed to be a pellet gun, but Gonzalez’s father questioned Brownsville police on their methods.

Jaime Gonzalez Sr. addressed Brownsville police and their use of force, saying that other tactics should have been used. “They overacted,” said a grief-stricken Gonzalez. “I understand that it looked like a gun but I mean shooting him three times and one in the head, that’s unnecessary. He was a child…that I don’t have anymore.”

Brownsville interim police chief Orlando Rodriguez said his offices reacted justly to the situation. It was said that the younger Gonzalez had several opportunities to drop the weapon, but engaged police instead resulting in two shots to the torso. Gonzalez was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital later.

Follow up reports say Gonzalez was a model student and was a budding drum major. At a vigil held for Gonzalez, several members of the community supported the claim that Gonzalez was not a troubled child. Gonzalez Sr. has said he did not know how his son obtained the pellet gun.

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