Texas Cop Shoot Man In His Driveway

It's just another case of police putting a bullet in an unarmed man.

In light of the recent shooting of Oscar Grant by police in Oakland comes a similar story out of Bellaire, Texas. In this case, police shot a former pro baseball player's son, Robert Tolan, outside of his Bellaire home. The shooting took place on Wednesday, December 31, 2008.

Anthony Cooper, who is also the son of former St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Bobby Tolan, said a Bellaire police officer approached him and his brother in their driveway at about 2 a.m., after they returned home from a fast-food restaurant.

Cooper, 20, said the officer told them to get down on the ground.

"We were going into the house and our parents came outside," Cooper said. "Our parents said, 'What's going on?' They didn't say anything to us but, 'Get down on the ground.' They said, 'Well, it's a stolen vehicle, ma'am.' She's (the mother) like, 'What stolen vehicle? That's his vehicle.'" ...The vehicle was later determined not to be stolen," Assistant Police Chief Byron Holloway said. "The license plate was run, but exactly why they believed it was stolen ... we just don't have the information to make a comment on it."

Cooper said the officer then harassed Tolan's mother. Then, once Tolan turned to yell at the officer, the officer shot the 20-year-old in the chest.

Tolan was then rushed to Ben Taub Hospital with injuries to his liver and his lung. He is now listed in fair condition.

Tolan's family said they want Police Office Sgt. Jeff Cotton to face charges. Tolan's family's attorney said the shooting may have been racially motivated.

"There's no doubt in my mind that if these had been white kids, this would not happen," David Berg said. "There is no justification for what happened."

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