Houston Gospel Artist Killed In Officer-Involved Shooting; Family Demands Release Of Video

The individual that was shot and killed by a Houston police officer was identified as 48-year-old Adrian Medearis.

Medearis was a well-known Gospel artist in the Houston area who directed the gospel choir at Evangelist Temple Church of God In Christ in the South Acres neighborhood according to sources.

The Houston Police Department said in a statement that Medearis was pulled over while speeding which is when an officer, J. Ramos, conducted a field sobriety test.

It was then that the officer began arresting the Gospel Artist after suspicion that he was driving while intoxicated, according to the police statement.

Sources stated that Medearis allegedly resisted and grabbed the officer’s Taser, and the policeman then fired multiple times which resulted in him being killed. 

The family of the deceased are now demanding to have the body cam video released.

BET Reports:

Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo told the Chronicle that Ramos’ body camera was knocked off during the struggle but it was running and captured the incident from a different vantage point.

“The characterizations of what happened that night by Chief Slinkard, from what I’ve watched, is accurate,” said Acevedo. Slinkard maintained that Medearis resisted being placed in handcuffs and Ramos discharged his taser in what he called “quite a violent struggle.”  

But Michael Stevenson, music director at Blueridge United Methodist Church said that account doesn’t make sense given Medearis’ personality.

He told the Chronicle that Medearis was not known to be a heavy drinker and that when he was pulled over, Medearis was on the phone with someone who had attended a card game that Stevenson would have normally attended but had not that night due to coronavirus distancing.

“Even if you thought he had something to drink, I don’t see where a life should have been taken,” Stevenson told the Chronicle.

With sorrowful hearts, Elder Terence K. Kirk and the Evangelist Temple COGIC family mourn the passing of our beloved choir director, Brother Adrian Medearis, who Sunday after Sunday ushered in the Holy Spirit through praise and worship. Please continue t… https://t.co/4LsRvucu16 pic.twitter.com/p99ffVvKbO

— Evangelist Temple Church of God In Christ (@etcogichtx) May 10, 2020

Although the video is still in possession of Houston Police, it hasn’t been released to Medearis’ family, Acevedo said.

However, he acknowledges that he has received multiple calls from members of the community who have said the behavior described by the police is uncharacteristic of the Adrian Medearis they know and loved.

“I think the skepticism derives from the behavior that was described … that was not consistent with his history, so I thank God that everything was captured on video so eventually the family and everyone who loved him and ultimately the community can make its own assessment” said Acevedo. “But this one night does not define this individual.”

Let us keep the family members of Adrian in our prayers.

We will keep you all updated on this story as it continues to develop.