Alva Burnett Braziel

CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT Agency Information ORIGINAL CDR Number: PA16321C Version Type: VERSION Report Date: 7/25/2016 5:28 PM Status: Submitted Agency/Facility Information Houston Police Agency Name: Agency Address: 1200 Travis Dept. Agency City: Houston Agency State: TX Agency Zip: 77002 Director Information Director Salutation: Acting Chief Director First Name: Martha Director Middle Name: I. Director Last Name: Montalvo Off SA Reyes Reporter Name: (Info provided Lt Reporter Email: [email protected] K Cones) Decedent Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 1 of 6 --- PAGE BREAK --- Identity of Deceased First Name: Alva Middle Name: Burnett Last Name: Braziel Suffix: Mr. Date of Birth: 2/2/1978 Sex: Male Race: Age At Time Of Death: 38 Date/Time of Custody (arrest, incarceration) (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Date/Time of Custody or 7/9/2016 12:39 AM Incident: Date/Time of Death (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Death Date and Time: 7/9/2016 12:39 AM Manner / Cause of Death Has a medical examiner or coroner conducted an evaluation to determine a cause of death? Medical Examiner/Coroner Yes, results are Evaluation?: available What was the manner of death? (select only one) Manner of Death: Justifiable Homicide Custodial Death Report :: Page 2 of 6 --- PAGE BREAK --- Medical Cause of Death: Medical Cause of Death: Multiple perforating and penetrating gunshot wounds of neck, torso and lower extremities Had the decedent been receiving treatment for the medical condition that caused the death after admission to your jail's jurisdiction? Medical Treatment: Not Applicable If death was an accident, homicide or suicide, who caused the death? Law Who caused the death?: enforcement/correctional staff If a weapon caused the death, what type of weapon caused the death? (Hold CTRL to select all that apply) Type of weapon that caused Handgun death?: Was the cause of death the result of a pre-existing medical condition or did the decedent develop the condition after admission? Not Applicable; cause of death was Pre existing medical accidental injury, condition?: intoxication, suicide or homicide If death was an accident, homicide or suicide, what was the means of death? Means of Death: Firearm Location / Custody Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 3 of 6 --- PAGE BREAK --- Where did the event causing the death occur? Street Address: 6700 Cullen Blvd City: Houston County: Harris Zip: What location category best describes where the event causing the death occurred? Location Category: What type of custody/facility was the Decedent in at the time of death: Police Custody Type of Custody: (pre-booking) Specific type of custody/facility: Specific Type of Custody/Facility: Custody of Peace Officer during/fleeing arrest What was the time and date of the deceased's entry into the law enforcement facility where the death occurred (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Entry Date Time: Entry Date Time N/A: Where did the death occur? At the crime/arrest Death Location: scene General Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 4 of 6 --- PAGE BREAK --- Did any other law enforcement agencies respond to calls for service related to this incident? Other Agencies Respond?: What were the most serious offense(s) with which the deceased was (or would have been) charged with at the time of death? Offense 1: Aggravated Assault (Peace Officer) Offense 2: Offense 3: Not filed at time of Were the Charges:: death What were the types of charges or reason for contact? (Hold CTRL to select all that apply) Type of Offense: At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent display or use a weapon? Decedent display/use of weapons: At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Attempt to Injure Others?: At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Appear intoxicated (alcohol or Yes Make suicidal statements?: drugs): Exhibit any mental health Exhibit any medical problems?: problems?: Custodial Death Report :: Page 5 of 6 --- PAGE BREAK --- At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Barricade self or initiate Resist being handcuffed or No standoff?: arrested?: Physically attempt/assault Gain possession of officer's officer(s): weapon: Verbally threaten other(s) Escape or attempt to including law: escape/flee custody: Attempt gain possession officer's weapon: Was the deceased under restraint in the time leading up to the death or the events causing the death? Under Restraint: No Summary of Incident Summary of How the Death Occurred: (max. 30,000 characters) Summary: On Saturday, July 9, 2016, at approximately 12:39 AM, Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) Officers E. Macias and L. E. Lopez, while on a routine patrol, were driving northbound on Cullen Boulevard. Officers Macias and Lopez (Unit #2455) were driving a marked police vehicle and wearing city-issued uniforms. The officers were in the area maintaining visibility and on active patrol. While driving northbound on Cullen Boulevard, the officers saw from a distance, a person later identified as Alva Braziel, standing in the moving lane of traffic of Cullen Boulevard. Surveillance video from a nearby convenience store showed that Alva Braziel fired approximately 2 shots just prior to officers' arrival. As the officers drove closer, they saw Alva Braziel raising his left hand above his head and his right arm extended toward them. Initially, the officers thought Alva Braziel was attempting to stop them. However, as the officers slowed down and used their spotlight from their vehicle to illuminate Alva Braziel, they immediately saw Alva Braziel pointing a gun directly at them with his right hand. The officers stopped their vehicle in the 6700 block of Cullen Boulevard, just south of Ward Street, after having identified Alva Braziel as being a threat to their safety and the safety of the public. The officers used their vehicle for cover and gave Alva Braziel several clear and concise verbal commands to “put the weapon down.” Alva Braziel did not fully comply; instead, he raised the gun and pointed it upward. The officers continued to give Alva Braziel the command to drop the weapon, but he again refused to comply. Alva Braziel changed his stance, and after a couple of seconds, began lowering his right hand, which was still holding a pistol, directly towards the officers. The officers feared for their safety and discharged their weapons striking Alva Braziel several times, as a result. Alva Braziel succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene by HFD Squad #46. Alva Braziel had prior arrests for Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Evading Arrest, Resisting Arrest, Possession of Marijuana, Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon and Burglary of a Motor Vehicle. There was no record of Alva Braziel utilizing Mental Health services in the City of Houston. Custodial Death Report :: Page 6 of 6