I agree that he was actually trying to electrocute him. I'm not sure how he would have avoided being held responsible for his death, though.
Speaking of electrocution, I don't think that executions take place in what must have been a relatively short time, even in Texas, unless the innocent brother just completely declined to fight his conviction and death sentence.
JT's encounter with the racist police seems off, too. The powers-that-be are going to think he attacked a group of white cops for what reason? And if they are so dumb that they do, then how are they going to be swayed by the input of his Latino boss? In the aftermath of the attack on him, JT seemed really worried about his career, instead of furious as hell. Doesn't he have a union rep or police affinity group that would help him?
This show is crazy stylish and also crazy silly. Malcolm's mother knows that he rarely sleeps, so she decides to wake him out of a sound slumber? I find Edrisa's dialogue to be mortifying. And Martin Sheen probably purrs "My boy!" in his sleep.