Adrian Medearis, Houston gospel music artist and Prairie View A&M University Alumnus, was shot and killed during a police stop on Friday, May 8. He was 48.
Houston police officer J. Ramos pulled over Medearis on suspicion of drunk driving at 1:30 a.m. on Friday. J. Ramos claims that Medearis was speeding at 90 mph. Once stopped, the officer attempted to handcuff the gospel music artist to give him a sobriety test.
The officer reported that Medearis tried to retrieve his taser from him and that’s when J. Ramos fired four shots, two of those shots killing Medearis . Medearis was only five minutes away from his home when the incident occurred.
Although there were no witnesses during the incident, Ramos’ body camera, which was knocked off during the incident, captured a part of an alleged struggle, according to Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo.
“The characterizations of what happened that night by [HPD Executive] Chief [Matt] Slinkard, from what I’ve watched, is accurate,” said Acevedo.
Many family members, friends and associates of Medearis believe the way he is depicted by police is uncharacteristic of the singer. As a result, the family has requested that the video be released to the public.
“Everybody – and especially his family – deserve to know what happened that night, they need to see what happened to their loved one,” said family friend Dav Lewis. “We must hold the police accountable and we’re not going to just sit back and take the police word on this.”
Shawn Thierry, brother to Medearis and a Cy-Fair first responder, issued a statement addressing the lack of communication from the Houston Police Department.
“It is disappointing and absurd that Chief Acevedo would call a public press conference before speaking with the Family of Adrian Medearis. I am not only his brother, but am also a first responder and Cy Fair firefighter. I am very easily accessible to HPD. The Harris County Chief Medical Examiner is aware that I am the next of kin as I contacted the office last Friday requesting to view my brother’s remains.”
He continued, “As of Today: 1) I have not been contacted by anyone from HPD notifying us that Adrian was killed. 2) I have not been contacted by HPD to learn where Adrian’s BMW, cell phone or personal possessions are located. 3) I have not been invited to view any footage showing how/why Adrian was killed. 4) I have not been told how many times Adrian was shot, which areas of his body were struck by the bullets, nor if he was dead-on-arrival at the hospital, and if not, what lifesaving measures were taken at the ER to save his life.”
As of Monday, Acevedo said he would show the family the video before releasing it to the public.
Medearis was a choir director for the Evangelist Temple Church of God in Christ. He also formed the gospel group Standing in the Gap.
