Juan Hernandez

On March 27, 2017, Juan Hernandez, aged 27, was killed in Houston, Texas, following a late-night altercation outside a Denny's restaurant in Crosby, an area just outside Houston. The incident began when Hernandez, who was intoxicated at the time, was seen urinating outside the restaurant. Terry Thompson, who had arrived with his teenage daughter and her friends, confronted Hernandez, which led to a violent altercation. Thompson placed Hernandez in a chokehold, which was captured on video by a bystander. The footage shows Hernandez struggling as Thompson pinned him down, with Thompson's wife, Chauna Thompson—then an off-duty Harris County Sheriff's Deputy—observing and later calling for assistance when Hernandez stopped breathing.

After being restrained in the chokehold for several minutes, Hernandez lost consciousness and was transported to LBJ Hospital, where he died three days later after being taken off life support. The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide, meaning it was caused by someone else’s actions, though not necessarily with intent to kill.

The case triggered significant public outrage, with protests demanding justice for Hernandez. Terry Thompson was eventually arrested and faced trial for murder. His first trial ended in a mistrial, but he was retried, found guilty of murder, and sentenced to 25 years in prison in November 2018. The sentencing came as a relief to Hernandez's family, who had been actively seeking justice throughout the prolonged legal process.

Chauna Thompson, who was also charged due to her involvement and her role in restraining Hernandez, was placed on administrative leave by the sheriff’s office and subsequently fired. However, the charges against her were dropped in 2019, as prosecutors cited insufficient evidence to prove her culpability. The case drew widespread attention and debates about the use of excessive force, justice for minority communities, and the challenges of holding individuals associated with law enforcement accountable for their actions.