Written by Robbie Owens    Saturday, 24 April 2010 05:38    PDF Print E-mail
Houston Cop Investigated For Local Teen's Death

According to the Arlington Police Department, Summit High School student Clevonta Reynolds died on his way to the hospital after a gang fight was broken up by gunshots fired by off-duty Houston police officer Rafael Baez Jr. Mansfield ISD ARLINGTON (CBS 11 / TXA 21)- An off-duty Houston police officer fired shots during a gang fight in Arlington on Monday night, killing an 18-year-old, according to a spokesman with the Arlington Police Department. The incident happened at around 6:30 Monday evening at the intersection of Juniper Drive and Winterberry Court.

The fight started at a nearby park and then spilled into the street. Off-duty officer Rafael Baez Jr. was at the scene and, believing the teenage suspect had some sort of weapon, fired a shot. A spokesman with the Houston Police Department said that, at that time, Baez only fired once and the suspect displayed a weapon.

But then the suspect, identified as Clevonta Reynolds, ran and the officer fired again. A police official said Reynolds fell to the ground as Officer Baez continued shooting, unloading his weapon. Tuesday afternoon the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's office confirmed Reynolds was shot six times.

Reynolds, a student at Summit High School, was rushed to an area hospital, but according to Arlington police officials, died en route.

It is unknown if Reynolds fired any shots or attacked the officer during the ordeal.

Police investigators say Officer Baez, a 17 year veteran with the Houston Police Department, was in North Texas visiting someone at a home in the nearby Villages of Fairfield neighborhood.

Although some of the fighting teens were known to be gang members, some residents in the Arlington neighborhood are questioning the officer's actions, calling the shooting unprovoked. "I think everything was wrong," said one resident. "He handled the situation bad. The policeman handled it wrong."

The Arlington Police Department has not commented on whether or not the shooting was justified. They were still taking photographs and interviewing witnesses late Monday night.

According to the Arlington Police Department, Baez is being treated as if he were one of their own. He was placed in the backseat of a police squad car, but no charges have been filed.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)


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