Police shoot mentally ill relative after family calls them for help

12:01 AM CDT on Friday, October 31, 2008

By Jeff McShan / 11 News

HOUSTON -- Standing in his driveway, Shadrach Green is still trying to cope with the death of his only brother, who was killed earlier this week by police.

Kenneth Green, 45, was shot and killed in his bedroom after his family called police for help. They said he was mentally ill and had not taken his medicine in three days.

“This can not happen again. If you’re dealing with someone with a mental problem, you just can't kill them,” said Green.

On Tuesday, Green said he dialed 4-1-1 looking for someone to take his mentally ill brother to Ben Taub Hospital. He was connected to HPD's non-emergency number.

“I wanted them to send somebody to get my brother and take him to the hospital,” said Green.

When police arrived, he reportedly told them that his brother had an unloaded pellet gun upstairs. He said the SWAT supervisor assured him that Kenneth wouldn't die.

“He told me that they were not going to kill my brother. They had other options that included bean bagging him, tasering or tear gas. But as soon as he said that, I heard two shots ring out,” said Green.

According to Green, the SWAT supervision looked just as surprised as he did.

“It was like he didn't know what was going on either,” said Green.

Last year, Jose Valle and his wife Asuncion suffered the same loss when their son Omar died.

Asuncion said she called police because her son was off his medication and she needed help getting him to the hospital.

Omar allegedly threatened them with a hammer, and police fired their guns.

Both families now say they will never call HPD again.

“Do not call the police under any circumstances. If your relative is sick, they are the last people you want to call,” said Green.

HPD has made great strides in dealing with the mentally ill. All new recruits are required to take crisis intervention training.

They have implemented that team, but it appears that once SWAT is called out to the scene, there is a tussle of who has jurisdiction and control over the situation.

On Thursday afternoon, HPD homicide detectives visited with Shadrach Green. They promised him that they would conduct a thorough investigation.

But no matter how it all sorts out, nothing will bring Green's brother back.