SAN ANTONIO – A grand jury voted Tuesday not to indict a University of the Incarnate Word police officer in the December 2013 death of a UIW student.
Cameron Redus was shot and killed by UIW police Cpl. Christopher Carter on the night of Dec. 6, 2013, during a scuffle that followed an off-campus traffic stop.
The family has filed a wrongful death suit, alleging -- among other things -- that Redus did not attack Carter as Carter claimed.
However, the grand jury's decision on Tuesday has cleared Carter of criminal charges.
As the news spread across campus, most students chose not to share their opinions, but the few who did had mixed reactions.
Paige Nobles said she thought Carter should have been indicted.
"I'm disgusted honestly," Nobles said. "He definitely didn't deserve to be shot and I don' think it's right he doesn't have to face the consequences."
Matthew Goode called it a no win situation for everyone involved.
"In the end, everybody just kind of lost," Goode said. "We don't know whether or not that the student was in the wrong or the cop was in the wrong but honestly this didn't really turn out well for anybody."
UIW Chancellor Dr. Denis Doyle issued this statement in response to the grand jury's finding:
"We appreciate the work of all involved in this investigation and believe today's decision affirms that Cpl. Carter was acting in accordance with his role as a licensed Texas Peace Officer. The grand jury, in arriving at their decision, clearly gave full consideration to the District Attorney's investigation materials, most of which are confidential. Regardless, the tragic circumstances of the loss of the life of Cameron Redus have affected countless lives. A family has lost their son and a peace officer must live with the decision he was compelled to make. The University continues to extend prayers to all involved in this tragedy. We respect the judicial process and will continue to watch it unfold."
Additionally, Redus family attorney Brent Perry issued a statement late Tuesday afternoon that reads in part:
"Cases against law enforcement officers are never easy for a District Attorney. But the fact is Officer Carter shot an unarmed student who posed no physical threat to him. None. It is textbook manslaughter, if not murder, to use deadly force against someone the officer knows is unarmed. An officer is never justified in using deadly force when there is no probable cause to believe the suspect is dangerous."