Video Shows Texas Police Shooting Man With His Hands Up

The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office in San Antonio is investigating an incident caught on video that shows officers shooting a man who had his hands up.

Two deputies responded to a disturbance at a home just northwest of San Antonio on Friday morning where they found a woman with a cut on her head and an 18-month-old baby who appeared to have injuries as well, Bexar County Sheriff Susan Pamerleau said during a press conference after the shooting.

The deputies tried to arrest the suspect, identified as 41-year-old Gilbert Flores, but “he resisted,” Pamerleau said. They tried using non-lethal force, including Tasers, and “after a lengthy confrontation, both deputies fired shots, causing the man’s death.”

ABC affiliate KSAT 12 obtained cell phone video of the shooting and posted it on their website. “KSAT12 has made the editorial decision to freeze the video right before the shooting occurs that leads to the death of the suspect,” the station said in its original story. But on Tuesday, the station released the full, unedited version of the video on its website.

In a Facebook post on the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office page, the department said it had received death threats over the video.

“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,” the post said. “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.”

Pamerleau said the deputies, each with more than 10 years on the job, have been placed on administrative leave while an investigation is conducted. The FBI has now joined that investigation.

As for the video, Pamerleau said at a press conference in San Antonio that “it’s among many pieces of evidence that we are collecting to determine what happened.”

She asked for other witnesses to come forward and contact their tip line at 210-335-TIPS (8477). The deputies were not wearing body cameras, she said.

“Certainly what’s in the video is a cause for concern,” she said. “But it’s important to let the investigation go through its course.”

The video was recorded by Michael Thomas, who KSAT 12 identified as a student at the University of the Incarnate Word.

“I was watching and wondering, what was going on, but I couldn’t figure it out. I was like, with the things going on in the world, like different type of shootings with cops and different things like that, so I was like, ‘Well, maybe I can catch something with my camera,’” Thomas told the station.

“He kind of just put his hands in the air. After he put his hands in the air, they shot him,” he said.