TEMPLE, Texas — Community members gathered in downtown Temple on Thursday in protest of the not guilty verdict of former Temple police officer Carmen DeCruz earlier in the week.
DeCruz was found not guilty of second degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the shooting death of Michael Dean during a 2019 traffic stop.
An arrest affidavit stated that DeCruz pulled the trigger of his gun while reaching into Dean's car to remove the keys, shooting Dean in the head. DeCruz's defense team however, argued that Dean struck DeCruz's weapon with his own hands, causing it to go off.
The rally began at 5:30 p.m. as citizens met in front of City Hall in solidarity against the controversial verdict.
It all began with the singing of the black national anthem and remembering those lost to police brutality.
The Dean family had previously said they wouldn't go to the protest, but Michael Dean's brother, Jay Dean, did end up attending.
"Justice is justice and justice needs be served for the laws the white man put in place," Dean said.
He mentioned that he felt his family was not respected in the courtroom during the trial.
"The judge laughed, he made a little smirk when they found him not guilty," he added.
Dean continued to call out the city of Temple, it's leaders and the police department. Until there is accountability, he said justice will not be served.
Before Dean spoke to almost 100 people, community members shared their thoughts with Six News.
They expressed their concerns with this verdict and how it makes them feel about the city of Temple.
"As a black man in Temple I don't always feel safe and love where I live," Deonta Davis, a speaker at the protest, said.
Davis brought his children and wife to the protest too. When asked why he brought his kids, he responded that he wants them to see what standing up for yourself is like.
He wants them to grow up knowing they have a voice.
In his speech, he noted that the community has a lot of work to do.
Sandra Combs was in attendance Thursday night and said she wanted to be there for her two sons. She feels that after this verdict, they are no longer safe in the community.
"I thought he would get something maybe but I knew in my heart of hearts that they were going to acquit it," Combs said.
The bodycam footage of the incident has been shared in court but it will not be released until the Dean family's civil lawsuit against DeCruz and the City of Temple is completed, said the city.
This is a frustration Dean has expressed. He, his family and the community believe it is only right the footage be shared with the public.
"It's just going to get worse and worse until there's a race war," he added.
The Dean family filed the lawsuit in November, 2021. They are seeking $10 million.