When we spoke with Garcia on Tuesday, just minutes before 21-year-old Willie Young was released from jail, he was unapologetic about the arrest. On Thursday, alongside prominent Houston-area ministers, Sheriff Garcia said the arrest was regrettable.
His comments come after a strong wave of criticism on behalf of community activists and family members of the victims themselves. This all stems from a mass shooting at a birthday party over the weekend in Cypress. Two teenagers were killed and 19 others were injured after shots rang out inside the home with an estimated 100 partygoers.
Harris County investigators arrested two suspects in connection to this case only to later dismiss the charge against Young.
"It's regretful that that young man went through that experience based on the statements of three independent and individually interviewed witnesses in this case. Their information is believed to be credible," Garcia said.
The group of clergy who call themselves Ministers Against Crime, spoke out in defense of the sheriff and his department. They say they believe in the sheriff and in the process of the investigation. They also want to tell local youth that it is possible to have fun without guns.
When asked if Garcia had learned anything from the mistakes his investigators had made thus far, he answered that he and his department are "always in the pursuit of improvement."
The second suspect, Randy Stewart, 17, remains behind bars on charges of aggravated assault.
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