Gilbert Flores: Texas Shooting Video Shows Cops Killing Man With Raised Arms?

A Texas shooting video allegedly shows 41-year-old Gilbert Flores being shot to death by Texas police officers even after he raised his arms in surrender. But the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office claims Flores was resisting being arrested by officer David Ramos and Detective Wintric Ellis before the fatal shooting occurred.

In a related report by the Inquisitr, the Texas shooting video was taken by a witness named Michael Thomas. Gilbert Flores allegedly harmed an 18-month-old child and a woman inside a home before he came running out. Flores is then seen fleeing as the two Texas police officers approach him with guns at the ready. Flores then approached the cops with his arms held wide, backed away once, and then appears to put his arms up before the officers opened fire.

When the Gilbert Flores video went public, the Bexar County Sheriff’s office released this statement on their Facebook page.

“Today, members of our local media chose to broadcast online unedited video of a man’s death. KSAT 12 paid a neighbor who filmed the tragedy $100 for the exclusive rights to the video. As a result, people from outside our community have bombarded us with inappropriate comments, and today, physical threats toward our deputies. These deputies have not been charged with a crime and a family lost their loved one. This is unethical and sad. Call KSAT and let them know what you think – (210) 351-1277. If you agree, let the local media know this sort of sensational behavior doesn’t fly in Bexar County.”

Apparently, the Gilbert Flores shooting was caught on a second video that has not been released, and police are treating it as evidence. According to the San Antonio Express-News, the Texas shooting video seen above also allegedly does not tell the whole story, since at one point Flores was allegedly armed with a knife. In addition, before the shooting occurred, police had already tried subduing Flores with a riot shield and a Taser gun. This struggle is said to have taken about 20 minutes, but the video only shows the end of the events.

“Certainly, what’s in the video is a cause for concern,” Sheriff Susan Pamerleau said. “But it’s important to let the investigation go through its course so that we can assure a thorough and complete review of all that occurred — of the evidence and the actions of the officers.”

Anyone who saw the Gilbert Flores shooting is asked to call 335-TIPS in order to report their witness account.

“What’s important is to make sure we don’t rush to judgment on any part of this,” Pamerleau said. “It’s important that we get the facts, the evidence, all that we can, in order to make a thorough and complete assessment of what happened.”

San Antonio attorney Thomas J. Henry, who is representing the victim’s family, is considering filing a lawsuit in order to compel the police to turn over more evidence.

“Seeing the video, it does appear the immediate danger is gone because he had both hands in the air,” Henry said. “Now there are other videos and other pieces of evidence that we want to gather.”

Terri Burke, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, also released a statement about the Gilbert Flores shooting on their website.

“The video of Gilbert Flores’ fatal shooting by two deputies of the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office raises serious concerns over whether these officers used force that was proportional to the circumstances. Like other events that that we’ve seen across the country involving interactions with law enforcement, this one points to a troubling trend of overzealous and abusive policing. The video doesn’t show every aspect of the interaction, but it certainly raises serious questions about whether the level of force was constitutionally permissible.”

What do you think?

[Image via YouTube]