Mom of man killed in HPD police shooting joins call for change

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Dozens of people marched through the campus of Texas Southern University Friday afternoon in protest of controversial grand jury decisions and police use of force while one mother says she's waiting for justice.

The chants of "hands up, don't shoot," "black lives matter" and "I can't breathe" echoed as marchers took over the famed Tiger Walk. They ended up in front of the student center where they staged a "die-in" for four and a half minutes, symbolizing the four and a half hours Michael Brown's body was left in the street after he was shot by a Ferguson, MO police officer last summer.

"I just couldn't sit any longer and not do anything," said sophomore Kaleb Taylor who organized the march.

For Janet Baker of West Houston, change can't come soon enough.

They're stating this happened in Ferguson. This is what happened in Houston," Baker told Eyewitness News.

In January, Baker's son, Jordan Baker, 26, was shot to death by a Houston Police Officer Juventino Castro. At the time, a HPD spokesman said Baker fit a suspect profile in a Northwest Houston strip center that had been riddled with robberies and when the officer tried to stop him, he ran-around the corner and into a dark alley. According to the officer, Baker charged him and reached into his waistband. Officer Castro shot and killed Baker. Baker was not armed.

"How did it go from my son being in an area where he had every right to be in a shopping strip to losing his life," questioned Baker.

She has waited for almost a year for the case to go to a Harris County grand jury to see if what he officer did was criminal.

"It's an emotional roller coaster. My family we're just dreading it," added Baker.

And now with it imminent, she's anxious. Her son's shooting death is supposed to be presented next week. She has little faith in the system she believes always favors the officer.

"He needs to be held accountable for the mistake he made he took a precious life," said Baker.

The case was investigated by the HPD Homicide and Internal Affairs Divisions as well as the Harris County District Attorney's Office. Officer Castro told investigators he feared for his life when he discharged his weapon. We'll let you know the grand jury's decision.