Officers shoot, kill armed man pointing revolver at Houston police

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Saturday, July 9, 2016
Man dead in ofc-involved shooting
A gunman is dead, police say, after two Houston officers shot him on Houston's south side. Marla Carter reports.

HOUSTON -- Houston police said two officers shot and killed a man who was armed on Houston's south side early Saturday.

The shooting happened on Cullen near Yellowstone around 12:40 a.m. Officers said they saw a man with a revolver standing in the road. There were two officers in one vehicle and they asked the man to put the revolver down. The man then pointed the revolver in the air and then pointed the revolver at officers, police said.

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Immediately after, HPD said, officers fired numerous shots at the man. He died at the scene.

A woman who claimed to be the man's wife identified him as Alva Braziel.

According to authorities, the officers involved were wearing body cameras at the time of the shooting.

One of the officers is a 10-year veteran of the force, and the other has been with the force for 13 years. As part of the routine following any officer-involved shooting, the officers will be investigated by internal affairs, along with Harris County.

A bystander, Eric Puckett, told ABC affiliate KTRK-TV it was a black man that died and said black men in the area are targeted.

"It's like we got a target on our back even if we innocent, it hurts. You don't even want to walk outside your house no more. But to all the young black men and young black women out there, all black people do something positive," Puckett said.

A nearby gas station captured the scene and police said the video will confirm what happened, along with witness testimony.

Police continued to investigate at the scene where a large crowd has gathered. Shell casings and a revolver were also seen among the evidence markers.

Area city council member Dwight Boykins said these issues need to be addressed in the community.

"The biggest gorilla in the room is very clear," said Boykins. "We need to put officers in neighborhoods that reflect the neighborhood."