Opinion
 

Staff Editorial

Matthew Dulin    Geronimo Rodriguez      Cara Sarelli          Lisa Street

Point blank?

Houstonians should be outraged. On Monday, Juan Lozano Jr., 31, was shot and killed by Ronald L. Plotner, a Houston police officer. 

The officer fired two shots when he saw Lozano point what the officer thought was a gun at him, but Lozano was unarmed.

The scene began when Plotner, who was investigating an armed robbery, saw a Ford Explorer turn on to a street and shut off his headlights while driving in the dark. When the five-year veteran of the Houston Police Department tried to pull the Explorer over, a chase ensued. After a 10-minute chase that peaked at 90 mph, the Explorer ran into a ditch. 

Police say the officer shot Lozano when he tried to get out of the car and point something at Plotner. 

An investigation Tuesday found a walkie-talkie in Lozanois car. Police say itis possible it was mistaken for a weapon. 

"At night, in circumstances like that, it could look like a gun barrel," HPD Investigator Todd Miller told the Houston Chronicle. 

By that rationale, HPD would have free reign to shoot a kid with a water pistol at night. We can presume that HPD cops are trained effectively and to shoot as a last resort, but the details in favor of police actions this time around are downright sketchy.

One witness maintains that Lozano was on the ground when he was shot twice. But since that doesnit line up with HPDis side of the story, attorney Kenneth "Kip" Garner, who represents Plotner, told the Chronicle, "I think thereis some inaccuracies and some of the witnesses arenit being truthful."

Maybe, but who has more at stake here, the cop or the witness?

It was also found Tuesday that Lozanois mental health had been questionable. Lozano was awaiting trial for aggravated robbery and was going through a divorce. A few days before he had been picked up on a mental health warrant, but was released rather than admitted. 

His sister had been worried he might commit suicide. 

The investigation is ongoing, and when finished, the case will go to a jury trial. 

Houston Copwatch, an organization that acts as a public watchdog over police activity, condemns the shooting. 

"Even without the chase, this case is questionable at best, and the Lozano family deserves justice," group spokesman Ernesto Aguilar told the Chronicle.

Justice ? thatis exactly what cops are out there to enforce, isnit it? 

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