HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — Civil rights attorney Ben Crump has taken on the case of a 28-year-old woman who was shot several times by two deputies who were looking into a burglary call at an apartment complex in east Harris County.
On Friday, Quanell X and several other community activists demanded an "immediate" independent investigation into the shooting.
"We don't trust no Texas Rangers, we don't trust the Harris County sheriff's detectives, none of that," Quanell said. "We want an independent, outside agency to step in and investigate this."
The shooting happened on Saturday, Feb. 3 shortly after 2 a.m. at an apartment complex on Uvalde Road near Wallisville Road.
Laronda Berry told her friend Eboni Pouncy to break into her apartment through a window after they got locked out.
Deputies were already at the apartment complex investigating another crime and said they were flagged down by someone who reported a burglary at Berry's apartment. Deputies said they noticed damage to a window near the front door and said the glass was broken and the blinds were raised. They claimed they knocked on the door to announce themselves before they saw Pouncy approach the door with a weapon. That's when they started shooting, hitting Pouncy several times.
Pouncy was reportedly given medical treatment before being taken to a nearby hospital where she survived her injuries.
Berry, who fortunately wasn't shot, said the deputies never announced who they were before the shooting.
"It was unjust, it was inhumane, and it was not okay," she said.
A neighbor's cellphone captured the chaos where you can hear dozens of shots being fired.
KHOU 11 reporter Jason Miles went to the apartment on Friday and said he saw several bullet holes inside and outside the unit at Pines of Woodforest apartments.
Berry said she thanks God her son was not at home at the time.
"We do not pay you to come in and shoot up a child’s bedroom," said community activist Candice Matthews. "This is totally unacceptable."
The case is being investigated by HCSO's Homicide Division, Internal Affairs, and the Harris County District Attorney's Office. Diaz said it will go before a grand jury. The two deputies will be placed on administrative leave as an investigation takes place.
Listen to the details law enforcement gave on scene just hours after the shooting: