Many people believe that police departments often protect their own, even when they’re in the wrong. While some argue against that belief, stories like this one make it difficult not to feel critical. This particular case happened 28 years ago and centers around the deadly conflict between Marvin Harris and Patrolman Jeffery Ginn in Pasadena, Texas.
According to the official version released by police, Officer Ginn was responding to a disturbance involving a man allegedly burning marijuana leaves in his backyard. That man was Marvin Harris, described in reports as mentally unstable and dangerous. The police claimed that Marvin opened fire unprovoked, then executed Ginn with his own service weapon, and held a woman hostage for nearly 20 hours before supposedly taking his own life.
For years, that version remained the accepted truth until photos and other evidence began surfacing online. Reddit user Familiar-Crow8245 put together a detailed post challenging the official story, offering evidence that Marvin wasn’t the aggressor but the victim of police misconduct and cover-up.
According to their findings, Officer Ginn entered Marvin’s backyard unlawfully, without a warrant, backup, or any true cause. The supposed marijuana smoke was actually just smoke from Marvin’s barbecue, confirmed by later lab tests that showed no trace of marijuana anywhere on the property. Even more concerning, Ginn entered with a personal, unauthorized revolver drawn, violating department policy and Marvin’s constitutional rights.
Startled by the armed Texas officer in his yard, Marvin ran inside, grabbed a small .22 pistol, and returned, telling Ginn to leave. Ginn opened fire first, missing all six shots. Marvin didn’t fire back during that exchange.
Only when Ginn retreated to reload, Marvin, fearing for his life, retrieved his M1 Garand rifle. When Ginn returned and the shooting resumed, Marvin fired in self-defense, hitting Ginn in the leg and back. Ginn died from his wounds.
Marvin did not flee. Instead, the Texas man sought help from his elderly neighbors, surrendered his weapons, and called the media and the FBI, asking to turn himself in safely. His neighbors later confirmed that Marvin was never violent toward them and that no one was being held hostage.
Despite this, the Pasadena police escalated the incident into a standoff, ignoring the neighbors’ statements. When FBI agents finally showed up, they were told by local authorities to stand down. Marvin waited overnight, still hoping for a peaceful resolution.
On the morning of July 11, Marvin, exhausted, fell asleep on the kitchen floor. According to forensic evidence and family testimony, a SWAT officer entered the home through the garage, approached Marvin, and executed him with a silenced shot to the back of the head. The scene was then staged to look like a suicide.
Many Reddit users who came across the story have strongly condemned the actions of the Pasadena Police Department. One commenter wrote, “That entire family acts sanctimonious about this. Crazy how it turned out, the cops covered up their own corrupt bull**** again. They killed a man they had an agenda against. Officer Ginn is not the hero they made him out to be. Pasadena PD is absolutely full of liars and bullies.”
