Gerald Goines convicted of murder: What other Houston officers have been convicted for killing people?

HOUSTON – After hours-long deliberations, the jury in the high-profile murder trial of ex-Houston Police Department narcotics officer Gerald Goines found him guilty of felony murder Wednesday.

Goines was found guilty of two counts of murder in the 2019 Harding Street raid that resulted in the deaths of Dennis Tuttle, Rhogena Nicholas, and their dog.

• Former Houston officer found guilty of murder in deaths of couple during Harding Street raid

History of cases

Cases against a few other Houston police officers resulted in convictions for negligent homicide.

2005

The latest conviction was in 2005 against Arthur Carbonneau for the fatal 2003 shooting of Eli Escobar.

In that incident, Carbonneau and his partner responded to an assault call at an apartment complex. Carbonneau and his partner knocked on the door of a unit where a suspect was believed to live. Three boys, including Escobar, came out of the apartment.

• Jury deliberations begin in ex-Houston cop’s murder trial for Harding Street raid

After entering the apartment and discovering no one else was inside, Carbonneau told the boys to face a wall so they could be searched. During the search, Escobar tried to leave and a struggle ensued between Carbonneau and Escobar. During the struggle, Carbonneau shot Escobar, causing his death. Carbonneau claimed the gun went off accidentally.

Carbonneau was sentenced to 60-days in jail and five years of probation.

1977

The other case where officers were convicted in Houston for someone’s death was in 1977 when Joe Campos Torres, a Vietnam veteran, 23 at the time, was arrested at an East End bar for disorderly conduct. He was severely beaten by Houston Police Department officers and then tossed into Buffalo Bayou. His body was later pulled from the water.

• 45 years later: Sandra Torres, sister of Joe Campos Torres, speaks on deadly attack by HPD officers

Two arresting officers were charged with Torres’ murder. Both were found guilty of negligent homicide. An all-white jury sentenced the officers: one-year probation and $1 in fines.

The jury’s decision caused great anger in Houston’s Mexican-American community and contributed to the Moody Park riot of 1978, a year after Torres’ murder.

In June of 2021, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner apologized to the Torres family, calling Torres’ killing, “straight-up murder.”