Demonstrators rally against HPD following grand jury decision

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Protesters gathered outside HPD headquarters today to voice their displeasure with a grand jury's decision to not indict an officer in the fatal shooting of an unarmed man.

Earlier this week, a grand jury decided not to indict a Houston police officer in the controversial shooting of Jordan Baker.

Protesters chanted Baker's name at HPD headquarters and around the block, in some cases, magnifying their message by megaphone.

Nancy Murphy, a beekeper from Fort Bend County, said, "I really think people have got to get out and say, 'This is enough.' Engineers have to get out here. Beekeepers have to get out here, teachers -- this is everybody's concern."

At least a couple dozen people showed up for today's protest, organized by local activist Deric Muhammad.

Last week, a Harris County grand jury "no billed" Houston Police Officer Juventino Castro in the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Jordan Baker on Jan.16. Baker was unarmed at the time. Castro, who is Hispanic, was working an extra security job at a shopping center and said baker matched the description of a suspect in a recent robbery. Protesters claim he was racially and criminally profiled.

Muhammad said, "If J. Castro had used his Taser, if he had left the brother alone in the first place, and not racially and criminally profiled him in the first place, and called for backup, Jordan Baker would still be alive today."

They want action from the police chief.

Muhammad said, "We're demanding that Chief McClellan fire Officer J. Castro ASAP for violating the racial profiling policy in the Houston Police Department."

Protesters also want a response from the mayor. Muhammad said, "We have yet to hear from our mayor."

Police Chief Charles McClelland has said they will forward their conclusions of their full investigation to the local FBI office to see if there were any violations in that shooting.

The protesters say they will be demonstrating again on Monday and Baker's family is expected to be there.