Family Wants Answers After Death Following Arrest
POSTED: Monday, July 14, 2008
UPDATED: 12:04 pm CDT July 15,
2008
HOUSTON -- A family wants answers after a burglary suspect died following being shocked with a Taser gun by a police officer, KPRC Local 2 reported Monday.
Houston police said Marion Wilson Jr., 52, got into a scuffle with officers after a burglary at a home on Galaxy Street near Locksley Road in northeast Houston at about 11:55 p.m. Sunday
Investigators said they found broken glass and three men were inside the home. The men were detained for questioning.
Wilson was seen running out of the back of the home, police said, and ran across the street, through a field and into the woods.
Police said he kept running when they told him to stop.
An officer fought with Wilson as he tried to arrest him, detectives said. He took the officer's flashlight, police said.
Another officer heard calls for help and ended up shocking Wilson with a Taser gun twice, detectives said.
Wilson was arrested and paramedics were called to check him out, officials said. He was rushed to a hospital and died, police said.
The Harris County Medical Examiner's Office will determine if the man died as a direct result of being shocked.
Charles Shepard said he wants to know why his stepson died after being hit with the Taser.
"I just want to know what really happened," he said. "Real troubling. I really need to know what happened because it's never easy. Nothing is easy about this."
"I know my brother was a good person and I really feel like it was something that shouldn't have happened. There were other ways this could have been resolved," said Darrell Shepard, Wilson's brother.
Family members said Wilson suffered from possible heart problems and diabetes. An autopsy will determine if that played a role in his death.
The Houston Police Department's Internal Affairs Division is investigating the case.
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