Houston police say an undercover officer last week shot Keith Martin through the windshield of an unmarked pickup because the man threatened the officer and appeared to reach for a gun in a backpack. In a statement issued Wednesday, Martin’s lawyer said his client was only offering to wash the truck.

Martin, 45, survived the shooting and has since been charged with misdemeanor terroristic threat. His backpack did not contain a gun, but rather his car detailing equipment and cellphone, said his lawyer Andre Evans. Martin runs his own mobile car detailing service, Evans said.

In the statement, Evans said the shooting was “unjustified” and that the officer’s actions displayed racial bias. Martin, who is black, remains in Harris County Jail in lieu of a $2,000 bond.

The undercover officer has not been identified “due to the nature of the officer’s assignment,” police said. A Houston police spokesman said the department could not respond to the new allegations, citing the ongoing investigation.

“Mr. Martin was simply trying to earn a living when he was met with several bullets,” Evans said in the statement.

On the afternoon of Jan. 9, two plain-clothed undercover officers were conducting surveillance in an unmarked Chevrolet Silverado in a Walgreen’s parking lot in the 8000 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard. Martin unwittingly interrupted their operation around 1:20 p.m.

Police said he walked around the truck and looked inside. He gestured for the officers to get out and, at one point, struck the hood of the truck with his hands, police said. Martin tried to open the driver side door and claimed he “had something for the officers,” according to police.

Police described Martin as “incredibly angry and agitated” that the pickup doors were locked and that the officers wouldn’t exit the vehicle.

Martin, again stating he had something for the officers, walked to the front of the truck and removed his backpack, police said. He stuck his hand inside and raised the bag “in a manner that looked like he had a gun in it and was about to begin firing at (the officers),” according to the department’s news release.

At the time of the shooting, police said the investigation would determine whether the officer identified himself before pulling the trigger. Only the officer in the passenger seat opened fire.

“From the evidence gathered, only one of the two officers sitting in the vehicle fired their weapon—indicating that the officer’s belief that Martin was reaching for a weapon was unreasonable,” according to Evans’ statement.

Evans said Martin disputes several points in the police narrative. According to Evans, Martin said he did not attempt to open the doors of the vehicle or ask the officer’s to get out. While Martin did verbally offer his services, he denies saying “I got something for you,” according to Evans.

Evans said Martin walked to the front of the pickup because “ the windows were rolled up and he did not think the occupants could hear him.” Martin didn’t realize he was shot until he “felt moisture” and saw blood coming from his wounds, Evans said.

In the statement, Evans asked the Harris County District Attorney’s Office drop the charge against his client. He also requested a civil rights investigation into the case.

julian.gill@chron.com