January 5, 2012
Jaime Gonzalez, an eighth grade student, was in possession of what looked like a handgun when police went to Cummings middle school in Brownsville, the acting police chief, Orlando Rodriguez, said.
He said that, before the confrontation with police, Gonzalez had walked into a classroom and punched another boy in the nose. “He had plenty of opportunities to lower the weapon â€¦ and he didn’t want to,” Rodriguez added.
Two officers fired three shots, hitting Gonzalez at least twice, he said. The autopsy results are pending.
His parents demanded to know why officers took lethal action.”Why was so much excess force used on a minor?” Jaime Gonzalez Sr, his father, asked outside the family home. “Three shots. Why not one that would bring him down?”