Mayor defends decision to release footage from officer-involved shooting

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Amidst criticism the body camera video doesn't tell the whole story, Mayor Sylvester Turner is defending his decision to release it.

"What I was seeing on social media and even from the family is that this was a person who had his hands up and did not have a gun," Mayor Turner told Eyewitness News. "I felt it was very important to put the video out there so people could see he did have a gun."

The video shows an officer taking a gun out of Alva Braziel's right hand after he was fatally wounded. The Mayor says the video speaks for itself.

"I think it's important the community have accurate information," Turner said.

He didn't want police-community tension to escalate or turn into more violence against police officers.

Per Houston Police Department policy, officers are supposed to turn on their body cameras anytime they interact with a civilian, but it also says they can diffuse a threat first. Mayor Turner wouldn't question HPD's policy yet and can't promise the public will see body camera video released like this again.

"I can't say what will happen next time. This is not precedent-setting," he added.