Peter Matthew Gaines, a 37-year-old African-American man, was shot and killed on March 12, 2016, on the feeder road of the Eastex Freeway at Collingsworth in Houston. The encounter began when Gaines was observed damaging a traffic sign and was approached by Houston Police Officer K. Levi. Gaines appeared agitated and possibly under the influence of PCP, and was unarmed when the officer fired fatal shots after two chest tasings failed to stop him.

Officer Levi, a four-year HPD veteran who had never before discharged his weapon on duty, said he shot Gaines in self-defense because Gaines was lunging at him and he feared for his safety. Levi was placed on three days of administrative leave following the shooting while the Homicide Division opened an investigation. Friends, family and witnesses disputed the need for lethal force, saying Gaines was not an immediate threat and that nonlethal options could have been used.

What details about the confrontation or its timeline would help clarify whether the shooting was justified?