The Austin Justice Coalition holds a rally in support of Alex Gonzales Jr.
Gonzales’ family and friends are rallying “in solidarity in their demand that Chief Chacon fire the officers who killed Alex.”
AUSTIN, Texas – The Austin Justice Coalition (AJC) held a rally in support of Alex Gonzales Jr. on Tuesday.
The rally, held at Austin City Hall, began at 5 p.m. on Jan. 24.
The AJC is using the rally to support the #JusticeForAlex campaign and to demand that Austin Police Chief Joe Chacon fire the officers involved in the Gonzales’ deaths.
Austin Police say the January 2021 shooting involving Gonzales began with a traffic encounter with Officer Gabriel Gutierrez in southeast Austin. Gonzales was in the car with his young son and widow when he pointed a gun at Gutierrez at a traffic light, according to police.
Gutierrez was off duty at the time but shot and injured Gonzales.
After Gonzales pulled over in the southeastern borough of Austin, officers on duty arrived and repeatedly — in both Spanish and English — asked Gonzales to step away from the car.
As Gonzales reached into the car, Officer Luis Serrato shot and killed him. Gonzales’ family believe he was trying to check on his baby.
Police said they later found a gun in the car.
A Travis County grand jury ruled in December 2022 that no criminal charges would be filed against Gutierrez or Serrato, leaving the sole decision in the case to Chacon. Chacon will announce this week whether an officer in the case violated department guidelines.
In honor of this decision, which will be announced soon, Gonzales’ family and friends “are rallying in solidarity in their demand that Chief Chacon fire the officers who killed Alex,” according to an AJC press release.
https://www.kvue.com/article/news/community/rally-alex-gonzales-jr-austin-justice-coalition/269-9fb55cb8-c24e-46e0-9c3c-f90beecfbac5 The Austin Justice Coalition holds a rally in support of Alex Gonzales Jr.
