20-year-old Justin Howell and 16-year-old Brad Ayala were both hospitalized after being struck in the head with bean bag rounds during a protest in Austin, Texas. After being struck in the head, fellow demonstrators attempted to carry Howell to safety, but officers continued to fire non-lethal rounds in their direction. At this time, Ayala’s condition is unknown, but Howell’s brother, Joshua took to his college newspaper to discuss the matter further.
“His name is Justin Howell. And he is my little brother,” Howell writes.
“He has a fractured skull. He has brain damage. Doctors anticipate that when he wakes up, he will have difficulty telling his left from his right,” he adds.
Howell is a 20-year-old college student at Texas State University. After learning of the incident, she took to Twitter to express her concern.
“It is difficult to find the words to share this news with you. Today, I learned one of our students, Justin Howell, was critically injured in a protest in Austin on Sunday, May 31,” Texas State University President Denise M. Trauth tweeted.
In response to this incident along with others, the Austin City Council hold an emergency hearing on Thursday.
For those who wish to see the video of Justin Howell being carried by fellow demonstrators, you may do so here.
