Family of driver killed by deputy constable questions investigation

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A local family is still searching for answers weeks after their son was killed during a traffic stop.

"The whole investigation has been wait, wait, wait, wait, wait and today, we finally we got a chance to speak to the district attorney's office," Tommy Barnes, the father of a man killed by police in April, tells Eyewitness News about the ongoing police investigation.

His son, 24-year-old Ashtian Barnes, was shot and killed three weeks ago by a Precinct 5 toll road deputy in a dramatic struggle that shut down Beltway 8.

At a press conference at the scene, Houston police said Deputy R. Felix (the deputy's full name has not yet been released) pulled Barnes over because of outstanding toll violations.

"We found cash, a cutting instrument, as well as a bandanna," a police spokesperson said after the incident. "We haven't finished processing the car. That's all we found so far, but we've only done an initial examination."

Today, the Barnes family says they were just told there was also a gun in the car.

"If you found, in a Toyota Corolla, a bandanna, a straight razor and some cash...you couldn't find a gun until the car got back to the police impound," said Janice Hughes-Barnes, the victim's mother.

"It's like we as a family are still heartbroken because we have no closure and, after the stuff we heard today, it don't seem like it's coming anytime soon," added Nari Barnes, the victim's aunt.