LEAGUE CITY, Texas — A League City police officer is being sued in federal court for shooting and killing a teen earlier this year.
The family of 18-year-old Alvaro Herrera filed the lawsuit as a way of seeking justice.
A Galveston grand jury declined to press charges against Officer Massey after reviewing the case.
Herrera’s family arrived at the federal courthouse on Saturday morning dressed in all white.
They carried signs in English and Spanish demanding justice for the teen.
Herrera died on Jan. 23 after allegedly being shot by the officer.
Shardae Parker, attorney at the Lewis Law Group said, “Someone has to be held accountable. Too many times in this country black and brown people have been, there lives have been lost to police violence and we’re here to take a stand.”
The Galveston Medical Examiner’s Office determined Herrera’s death was caused by multiple gunshot wounds and a stab wound to the back.
They’ve ruled his death a homicide.
Randall Kallinen, family and civil rights lawyer said, “There’s been no evidence that Alvaro has done anything wrong prior to him being killed by the League City police.”
The Houston Chronicle reported Massey shot Herrera after the teen tried to attack the officer and tried to disarm him.
The Chron stated Herrera was a suspect in an attempted car-jacking.
Gomez denied the claims and wants justice for her son.
“He was a good son. He was not a disobedient son. He was an excellent son. That’s why I, my friends and my family are here. To talk because he didn’t have to harm him that way,” Gomez said.
We reached out to the League City Police Department for comment and have not heard back.
Herrera’s family is hoping the Galveston District Attorney’s Office will revisit the case once more facts are available.
They hope charges may be filed in the future.