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Union Will Appeal Firing Of Harris County Deputy Who Shot Unarmed Man

The family of Danny Ray Thomas is also suing the Harris County Sheriff’s Office

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The Texas Organizing Project calls attention to a town hall meeting in north Houston at the intersection where Danny Ray Thomas, an unarmed black man, was shot by a Harris County Sheriff’s deputy in March 2018.

The Harris County Deputies Organization said it will appeal the firing of one of its members who fatally shot an unarmed man in Houston.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez announced Friday that Deputy Cameron Brewer was being fired, for failure to follow the department’s use-of-force policy in the March 22 fatal shooting of 34-year-old Danny Ray Thomas. In doing so, Brewer chose not to use his Taser first in an effort to subdue Thomas.

Harris County Sheriff’s deputy Cameron Brewer shot 34-year-old Danny Ray Thomas during a confrontation captured on dash-cam video from Brewer’s police cruiser. The incident prompted the Harris County Sheriff's Office to review its policies and training on the use of non-lethal force.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez announced Friday that Brewer was being fired for failure to follow the department’s use-of-force policy in the March 22 shooting. In doing so, Brewer chose not to use his Taser first in an effort to subdue Thomas.

Brewer was shot dead in a confrontation captured on police video. Thomas had his pants around his ankles and was unarmed as he advanced toward Brewer, despite warnings to stop.

Thomas’ family is suing the county for wrongful death.

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