HOUSTON – A Harris County grand jury took no action Wednesday afternoon on potential charges against Houston police officer Shane Privette in the April 2022 fatal shooting of Jalen Randle, meaning the case will be presented to a new grand jury as soon as is practical.
It is the policy of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office to present all officer-involved shootings to a grand jury to determine whether probably cause exists to support criminal charges. Harris County grand juries are composed of 12 randomly selected county residents who hear all available evidence in a case, including witnesses.
If nine or more grand jurors agree that probable cause exists, they issue a “true bill,” or indictment, and the case continues on through the criminal justice system. If nine or more grand jurors determine probable cause does not exist, they may issue a “no bill.” In some instances, a grand jury may take no action, meaning the case is unresolved and is presented anew to a subsequent grand jury.
This process ensures that all such cases are subject to community review at the grand jury and, if necessary, trial level.
The case
According to investigators, on April 27, members of the HPD Narcotics Division Tactical Team were searching for Randle, who was a fugitive wanted on three felony warrants.
Officers said they witnessed Randle get into the passenger side of a silver vehicle, which left the location. When officers tried to stop the vehicle, the driver refused, leading officers on a chase.
Investigators said officers then performed a PIT maneuver, which blocked the vehicle’s path and made the suspects come to a stop.
When Randle exited the vehicle from the passenger side, investigators said Officer Privette discharged his weapon one time, striking the suspect.
Investigators said Randle was in possession of a bag that contained a gun.
In the bodycam video released by HPD, officers can be seen pulling up to the suspect’s vehicle, and one officer can be heard yelling, “Aye, let me see your hands.” While the officer yelled the command, a gunshot could be heard and the suspect was seen falling to the ground. The same officer who yelled the command could also be heard yelling an expletive after the firearm was discharged.
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The video shows the officers then running towards the injured suspect, placing him in handcuffs, before dragging him a few feet across the sidewalk. Shortly after, one officer could be heard asking for a medical team.
The bodycam video was released a week after Randle’s family and civil rights attorney Ben Crump conducted an independent autopsy and demanded the videos be released by HPD.
The family said original HPD reports stated that Randle was walking toward officers, but according to witnesses at the scene, he was running away from officers when he was shot.
HPD releases bodycam footage of all deadly officer-involved shootings within 30 days as part of the Mayor’s Task Force on Policing Reform. Houston police Chief Troy Finner agreed with the adherence to the recommendation, saying there cannot be a talk of transparency without action.
At the beginning narration of the video, HPD Assistant Chief T. Hardin said, “It is important to note that we are in the very early stages of the investigation, and we continue to review additional evidence as it is collected and analyzed.”
The YouTube videos posted by HPD show police fatally shooting a suspect. Viewer discretion is strongly advised.
Family’s response
KPRC 2 spoke with Randle’s mother, Tiffany Rachal, following the news that no action was taken in the case Wednesday.
“I’m just going to say it wasn’t in God’s timing, I’m going to say that God is going to handpick the jury that needs to be on that stand so that we can go forth the next time when this all happens,” Rachal said.
She said she is grateful the case was not no-billed.
“I’m not disappointed, I’m not mad, I’m just grateful that it was not no-billed and we have another chance,” she said.