Family, Friends Hold Vigil For Man Killed By Police
By Lisa Baldwin
POSTED: Monday, October 22, 2007
UPDATED: 7:03 am CDT October 22,
2007
HOUSTON -- About 100 relatives, neighbors and friends of a man killed by Houston police held a candlelight vigil and protest Sunday, KPRC Local 2 reported.
They marched through the northwest Houston neighborhood near the area where Raymond Smith Jr., 29, died along T.C. Jester Boulevard near De Soto Street on Thursday.
Protesters said they believe the shooting was not justified because Smith did not have a weapon. Police have said it appears the officer was justified because he feared for his safety when Smith, who weighed nearly 300 pounds, was belligerent during a confrontation, stripped himself naked and refused to calm down despite being hit twice with a Taser gun.
Per standard procedure, an internal affairs investigation is ongoing along with the Harris County District Attorney's Office investigation.
Vigil organizers said they plan to hold a town hall meeting to discuss police shootings. The meeting will be held Thursday evening at Cliffdale Baptist Church on Enterprise Street. Organizers said officials with the Houston Police Department would be invited.
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