Grand jury reconvenes in case of unarmed black man shot, killed by HPD officer

HOUSTON – A grand jury is meeting Tuesday to decide whether or not to indict a Houston police officer in the shooting death of an unarmed black man.

There was a small crowd of protesters coming to voice their opinion about a case which is similar to others happening across the country.  The protesters are waiting for a decision, but the crowd is not the only reason for the heavy police presence.  Many officers are waiting to see if one of their own will be indicted.

HPD officers lined the street in front of the courthouse in anticipation of a protest for the death of Jordan Baker. 

Baker, who was 26 years old, was shot and killed by HPD officer Juventino Castro on January 16.   He was shot in a northwest Houston strip center where a string of robberies had been reported.

HPD initially claimed Castro thought Baker was a robbery suspect and shot him when he charged the officer.

"My son was shot and killed for being in a place that he had every right to be in," his mother Janet Baker said.

Baker was unarmed and now the Houston Coalition for Justice says they see the writing on the wall.

"The pattern, there's been 288 cases where there has not been an indictment of a police officer," said Durrel Douglas,Houston Coalition for Justice. "Regardless of what happens today we're going to work because today would start the clock back over at one and still looking at the stats we have so much more work to be done."

The protesters essentially say they will only be satisfied if there is a trial for Baker's death.  Even then, they claim they will continue to protest the system.

HPD has yet to comment on this case.