M. J. Beasley (female), reportedly suicidal, killed when shot twice by Houston police SWAT officer P.J. Straker and once by Houston patrol officer R.V. Pinkerton. The woman was a health care provider who lived with her patient. They had argued over sleeping arrangements, and the patient called police saying she had barricaded herself in his bedroom with his gun and was threatening suicide. After a lengthy confrontation, police claim she waved the gun at them in a threatening way, and the two officers shot and killed her. (See also 6/10/99 – Straker kills Demetrio Martine Hernandez.)

Although approximately 25% of HPD’s 5700 police officers have now been trained by its CIT (Critical Incident Team) program to respond to calls involving the mentally ill, apparently not one was either dispatched or willing to respond to this threatened suicide. This woman was the 10th person known to have been shot to death this year by Harris County police officers.