Houston Police Kill a Man with One Arm and One Leg

The spotlight is once again being shined on Houston police after an officer shot and killed a man with one arm and one leg. The man, who was in wheelchair, is accused of aggressively waving a metal object that turned out to be an ink pen.  Officers also say that the man threatened them.

Police spokeswoman Jodi Silva said that the incident took place in a group home.  According to the spokesman, the man in the wheelchair cornered the officer and the officer didn’t know what the object was.  The officer allegedly told the man to calm down, and he didn’t listen, which led to the shooting.

“Fearing for his partner’s safety and his own safety, he discharged his weapon,” Silva told The Associated Press.

Officers had been called to the group home after the man was causing a disturbance.  The owner of the group home, John Garcia, says that the man had a history of mental illness.  He said that the man lost his leg and arm after being hit by a train.

“He sometimes would go off a bit, but you just ignore it,” Garcia said.

The officer, Jacob Martin, has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation is pending.   This is his second shooting, with another having taken place in 2009.  The incident also involved a suspect holding a metal object, which turned out to be a knife.