The FBI is now monitoring an investigation of a fatal, videotaped shooting involving two deputies. Some neighbors of the man who died in the Walnut Pass subdivision are on edge.
The FBI issued a statement Tuesday saying experienced civil rights investigators will look at whether the deputies willfully used excessive or unjustified force when they opened fire on 41-year old Gilbert Flores.
Last Friday a nearby motorist rolled cell phone video that appeared to show Flores with his hands in the air as deputies fired and Flores collapsed. The deputies were initially dispatched to the residence after a domestic violence call.
The shooting took place in an affluent neighborhood. The home itself now covered in ‘no trespassing’ signs. Frank Jurado lives on the same block and says this is normally a peaceful place. He says he didn’t know Flores but feels deputies could have subdued him without shooting.
“It seems like law enforcement is a little trigger happy, I don’t think they’re waiting long enough before they make that type of decision which is taking somebody’s life,” he said.
Deputies did reportedly try non-lethal measures that did not work.
Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood says officials are also studying a second video from another vantage point that’s in the possession of the sheriff’s office. He says the sheriff’s department investigation could be wrapped up by the end of this week.
“Now that’s not set, it’s tentative, but they feel confident that they can get it to us by that time, which is good because once we get them we’ll make our legal assessment, I will ultimately make the decision on what to do in this case,” the DA added.
Officials from the Bexar County Sheriff’s department were not immediately available to comment. Deputies Greg Vasquez and Robert Sanchez who were involved in the shooting are on administrative leave.
