Man critically injured by Austin police during protests identified as San Antonio graduate
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Justin Howell, the 20-year-old who was shot by the Austin Police Department during protests against police brutality on Sunday, is being identified as a San Antonio high school graduate.
Justin Howell, the 20-year-old who was shot by the Austin Police Department during protests against police brutality on Sunday, is being identified as a San Antonio high school graduate.
Photo: GoFundMe Screenshot
Justin Howell, the 20-year-old who was shot by the Austin Police Department during protests against police brutality on Sunday, is being identified as a San Antonio high school graduate.
Justin Howell, the 20-year-old who was shot by the Austin Police Department during protests against police brutality on Sunday, is being identified as a San Antonio high school graduate.
Photo: GoFundMe Screenshot
Justin Howell, the 20-year-old who was shot by the Austin Police Department during protests against police brutality on Sunday, is a San Antonio high school graduate, according to the Texas A&M student newspaper.
Austin Police Chief Brian Manley discussed the shooting of “less-lethal” ammunition in a briefing on Monday. He said the victim is in critical condition after it “appears” he was struck in the head. Manley said the person standing beside Howell, who allegedly threw a water bottle and backpack at officers, was the target, but Howell was struck instead.
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Brad Ayala, 16, was also critically injured the day before Howell when he was struck by police in the head by a beanbag round, according to the Austin American Statesman.
The chief said an investigation is ongoing and offered prayers for the family. Howell’s older brother, Joshua Howell, is the opinion editor of The Battalion, the student newspaper at Texas A&M University. He wrote a column this week, identifying his younger brother and rebuking Manley’s response.
“It’s also notable in his briefing how little effort Manley puts into taking responsibility for what happened,” Joshua Howell writes. “No, reader, I haven’t omitted the part of Manley’s statement where he seems contrite. There was no apology. Instead, he sat at his desk for three full minutes, gave us the details above and at no point apologized to my brother, my family or the five brave protesters who carried Justin to police headquarters under fire.”
The Battalion later published an article saying Justin Howell is a graduate of Communication Arts High School in San Antonio. Northside Independent School District was not immediately available to confirm. Texas State University, where Justin Howell now attends college, identified him on Wednesday as a student.
University President Denise Trauth said finding the words to share about Justin Howell’s critical injuries were “difficult.”
“What was already a heartbreaking situation has hit painfully close to home,” her statement reads.
“Black Lives Matter,” she said “It is not debatable at Texas State. Justin Howell’s life matters. Black lives matter in our classrooms, on our campuses, and in the streets during tumultuous protests. They matter every moment of every day, no exceptions, no debate.”
Joshua Howell says his family does not want the police department’s prayers. He said his younger brother has a fractured skull and brain damage.
A video, showing Justin Howell’s limp body being carried to officers for help while still being shot at with beanbags, is trending nationally on Twitter with the hashtag #HisNameIsJustinHowell. A GoFundMe campaign that was set up for his family. They have almost reached their goal of $45,000 goal in less than 24 hours.
Madalyn Mendoza covers news and puro pop culture for MySA.com | [email protected] | @maddyskye
