Peter Matthew Gaines, a 37-year-old African-American man, died on March 12, 2016, in Houston, Texas. The incident occurred around 5:45 PM along the feeder road of the Eastex Freeway at Collingsworth. According to reports, Gaines was damaging a traffic sign when Houston Police Officer K. Levi approached him. Gaines appeared agitated and possibly under the influence of drugs, specifically PCP.
Despite being tased twice in the chest, Gaines continued to advance towards the officer, who then shot him. Gaines was unarmed at the time of the shooting.
The officer involved, K. Levi, claimed that he shot Gaines in self-defense as Gaines was lunging at him and he feared for his safety. Levi had served in the Houston Police Department for four years and had never discharged his duty weapon on the job before this incident. Following the shooting, Levi was placed on three days of administrative leave, as per protocol.
The shooting sparked controversy and outrage among Gaines' friends and family, who believed the use of lethal force was unnecessary. They argued that Gaines, who had just celebrated his birthday two days prior, was not a threat to the officer. Witnesses also questioned the officer's actions, stating that the police were not in immediate danger and could have used non-lethal methods to subdue Gaines.
The incident led to an investigation by the Houston Police Department's Homicide Division. The officer's actions were scrutinized to determine whether the use of deadly force was justified. The case also drew attention from the media and the public, highlighting issues of police brutality and the treatment of African-American individuals by law enforcement.
