Congressman Christian Menefee Faces Growing Scrutiny Following Lawsuit Filed by Mother of Tony Underwood
Congressman Christian Menefee is facing growing public scrutiny after a lawsuit filed by Patricia Underwood accused both the Houston Police Department and the Harris County Attorney’s Office of misconduct following the fatal shooting of her son, Tony Dewayne Underwood.
The allegations gained additional attention after activist Dr. Candice Matthews interviewed Patricia Underwood and publicly withdrew her endorsement of Menefee, who is currently seeking re-election in a runoff race for Texas’ 18th Congressional District.
Tony Underwood was shot by HPD Officer Pailin on April 30, 2025, after officers attempted to stop an alleged stolen vehicle he was driving. According to the lawsuit, Underwood initially failed to stop for officers before eventually fleeing on foot following a brief pursuit.
The lawsuit alleges that after Officer Pailin caught up with Underwood, he complied with commands to get on the ground and had already discarded his firearm before being shot.
Attorneys representing the family argue it remains “Very unclear” why Officer Pailin claimed Underwood was reaching for a weapon when the lawsuit alleges the firearm had already been thrown away. The filing also accuses HPD of releasing edited body camera footage that allegedly concealed the moment Underwood discarded the gun.
According to the lawsuit, Underwood was shot in the back while surrendering. The shooting left him paralyzed, ventilator-dependent, and unable to communicate. He later died on July 18, 2025, after spending 79 days hospitalized.
Much of the lawsuit’s focus centers on the actions of the Harris County Attorney’s Office, which at the time was led by Christian Menefee before he was elected to Congress earlier this year.
View full lawsuit Filing:
The filing alleges Patricia Underwood was denied access to her son for 34 of the 79 days he remained alive following the shooting. According to the lawsuit, armed officers physically prevented her from visiting Tony Underwood at Ben Taub Hospital while he remained critically injured and unable to speak for himself.
The lawsuit further claims the Harris County Attorney’s Office became heavily involved in hospital visitation issues that would normally not fall under its authority. Attorneys for the family allege county officials appeared before a court without Patricia Underwood or her attorney present and provided misleading information about Tony Underwood’s condition in order to revoke a court-approved visitation order.
According to the filing, county officials repeatedly claimed criminal court restrictions prohibited Patricia Underwood from seeing her son. However, the lawsuit states the presiding judge later confirmed in writing that no such restriction existed.
The lawsuit also accuses both HPD and Harris County officials of withholding public records, including unedited body camera footage and Tony Underwood’s autopsy report.
Dr. Candice Matthews addressed the allegations during her interview with Patricia Underwood, announcing that she was officially rescinding her endorsement of Menefee. Matthews accused Menefee of misleading voters and failing the constituents who elected him.
Menefee, the former Harris County Attorney, was elected earlier this year to fill the congressional seat previously held by the late Congressman Sylvester Turner.