Back in March, Danny Ray Thomas was fatally shot by a deputy responding to a call regarding an altercation between Thomas and a motorist in Houston. Thomas, 34-years-old, was unarmed and was walking down the street mumbling to himself with his pants around his ankles. The tragic shooting reignited the conversation surrounding police response to those suffering from mental health issues.

That deputy, Cameron Brewer, has now been fired, according to an official statement from the Harris County Sheriff's Office (HCSO), CNN reports. According to the sheriff's office, Brewer — also a black man — violated the agency's use of force policy.

“The brave men and women of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office are called upon to make life-or-death decisions on a daily basis, and we take that responsibility very seriously,” said Sheriff Ed Gonzalez via the statement on Friday. “We hold the community’s trust as sacred, and we will continue to support our deputies with clear policies and the valuable training they need to protect the lives of all our residents.”

While Brewer could not be reached for statement, the Harris County Deputies' Organization (HCDO) posted a statement on its Facebook page making it clear that it disagrees with the HCSO's decision. The HCDO is representing Brewer.

"HCDO stands behind Deputy Brewer, who made a split-second decision," read the statement.

The sheriff's office also confirmed that the Houston Police Department has implemented an independent ongoing investigation into the matter.

Danny Ray Thomas

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