Family members are seeking answers following the death of 43-year-old Alejandro Corona Jr., who died after being tased by officers of the Houston Police Department (HPD) during a traffic stop involving his bicycle. The incident took place outside his home in east Houston.
The Harris County Medical Examiner has classified Corona’s death as a homicide, a determination made months after the April 1 encounter with police. His family is calling for accountability and is questioning the officers’ actions, including the delay in administering CPR and the lack of timely release of related records.
Abigail Zarco, Alejandro’s niece, expressed her disbelief at the circumstances, stating, “There was no reason at all for his life to get taken away.” She questioned the justification for the use of a Taser over what she described as a minor traffic violation involving his bicycle. “Taking his life over traffic on a bicycle, it doesn’t make sense,” she added.
Body camera footage from the incident shows Alejandro riding his bicycle on the wrong side of the road and allegedly speeding just before midnight. “Did they use a radar? Was he really speeding? What was the speed limit he was going?” Zarco asked, highlighting her concerns about whether her uncle posed any real threat to the officers.
Alexandra, Alejandro’s daughter, criticized the police response, questioning why officers did not follow proper seizure protocols given her father’s medical history. “If he had two seizures already, why didn’t you all think to do the seizure protocol? You flipped him flat to where his face was in the dirt,” she remarked.
Concerns were raised about the delayed CPR response, with Alejandro’s girlfriend, Natalie Sanchez, captured on video urging officers to begin resuscitation efforts as she observed her boyfriend’s condition deteriorating. “They waited so long. I was the one who told them to turn him around. He was foaming at the mouth,” Sanchez recounted, noting that the officers’ inaction contributed to the tragedy.
Alexandra emphasized the family’s demands for justice and accountability, stating, “We want accountability. We want justice and answers. That’s all we are asking for. It shouldn’t be that hard.” She has filed open records requests to obtain additional videos and documentation related to the incident, while the City of Houston awaits a ruling from the Texas Attorney General regarding the release of those records.
In response to inquiries about the incident, HPD referred to the body camera footage available on YouTube.
