LULAC Press Release Pedro Oregon Navarro Shooting

Dovalina Meets With Justice Regarding Oregon Case

WASHINGTON--On Thursday, October 22, at approximately 3 p.m.there will be a press conference held on the Pennsylvania avenue side of the Department of Justice regarding the Monday ruling of the Harris County grand jury's decision that dismissed five of the six Houston police officers under investigation for the death of Pedro Navarro Oregon. The only officer to have been charged received a misdemeanor criminal trespass charge.

On July 12, Oregon, a 22 year old father of two, with no previous criminal record was shot 12 times by officers who received a tip that narcotics were being sold at the Oregon residence. The informant was not a registered confidential informant and he was not handled by narcotics officers. In fact the informant is on probation, which would have made him ineligible to become a Houston Police Department informant.

Six officers crowded Oregon's hallway outside his bedroom, when one officer announced that Oregon had a gun, apparently one of the officers accidentally discharged his gun which was confused to be Oregon's shot. Thirty rounds were fired in Oregon's home striking Oregon 9 times in the back, one in the back of the head, one in the back of the shoulder, and one in back of the hand. It was later determined that Oregon had never fired his weapon, and no narcotics were found.

The Hispanic community is outraged by the decision of the grand jury. For many, this unfortunate incident is a blatant case of police sloppiness pardoned by an insensitive jury. Further confusion stems from the fact that only one of the six officers was charged with criminal trespass. Oregon's mother, Claudia Navarro, offers the response "Maybe if I could speak English, they would have listened to me."

"The community is infuriated with the grand jury's decision. Tensions in our community are building, and we are doing our best to keep everyone calm. I am glad to see that the FBI has responded quickly by announcing yesterday that a thorough investigation will be conducted into this matter. I will be in DC tomorrow to meet with the Department of Justice to ensure that the Oregon family receives a just conclusion to this unfortunate incident. It is also important that the Hispanic community nationwide recognize that this incident, and demonstrated "justice" is intolerable and should not be accepted in your community or in mine" said LULAC national president, Rick Dovalina.

Coincidentally, tomorrow is the date of a nationwide protest "October 22" which calls for an end to police brutality. The group is expected to join the 3 p.m. press conference.

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