HOUSTON -- A Harris County grand jury on Thursday chose not to indict a Houston police officer who shot a robbery suspect, KPRC Local 2 reported.

Officer K.R. Barnes was seen on surveillance tape shooting robbery suspect Hegnor Irias at the Bel Lindo apartments in southwest Houston on May 12, officials said.

Harris County Assistant District Attorney Joe Owmby said grand jurors made their decision not to file charges after spending two days looking over evidence.

Owmby said the evidence showed Barnes feared for his safety and the safety of citizens in the apartment complex.

"You're faced with a person that's coming at you with a weapon and the officer reacted to that. And he's also reacting to the danger to other people if he let's this person go," Owmby said.

Irias' mother said she was outraged by the decision not to indict the officer.

"My son was trying to run away," Anna Villafranca said.

Investigators said Irias had just robbed two women at gunpoint, refused to stop, and ran toward Barnes with a gun when the shooting happened.

The surveillance tape, which appeared to show the suspect running away and the officer firing at the suspect's back, drew criticism from the League of United Latin American Citizens.

But on Thursday, LULAC District Director Jose Jimenez said the officer had to protect himself and residents of the apartment complex.

"The Police Department opened up and showed us the videos, especially the video before the shooting and after the shooting, to show us there were children around. This is a very difficult situation and we're going to have to support the grand jury's decision on this," Jimenez said.