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55136242

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Faith%20Hedgepeth

Killing of Faith Hedgepeth

The body of Faith Hedgepeth (born September 26, 1992), an undergraduate student in her third year at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), was found in her apartment by a friend on the morning of September 7, 2012. She had been beaten over the head with a blunt instrument, later found to be an empty liquor bottle, and evidence of semen and male DNA was present at the crime scene. The last time she was known for certain to be alive was much earlier that morning, when she went to bed after returning from a local nightclub with her roommate. Police have recovered considerable forensic evidence in the case, but so far it has served to eliminate one likely suspect, a former boyfriend of her roommate who reportedly expressed anger and resentment toward Hedgepeth, even supposedly threatening to kill her if he could not reunite with her roommate. His DNA, however, did not match that left at the scene. A note left at the scene, suggesting the writer was jealous, is also believed to have been written by the killer; it was among a large group of documents released by police two years after the crime, following a court action brought by several local media outlets. Four years after the killing, a Virginia DNA testing company prepared and released, at police's behest, an image showing what the suspect might look like based on his genetic phenotype. A voicemail possibly accidentally recorded by Hedgepeth may also capture some of the events that led to her death. In September 2021 the Chapel Hill Police Department announced an arrest in the case. The suspect, not initially considered, had been linked to the case through DNA evidence after a drunken-driving arrest the month before. Background A member of the Haliwa-Saponi Native American tribe recognized by the state of North Carolina, Faith Hedgepeth was born in 1992 in Warren County, part of the tribe's traditional territory. Her parents divorced within a year of her birth, and she was raised by her mother, with help from an older sister, in Hollister and Warrenton. Connie Hedgepeth named her second daughter Faith because she believed that was what she needed to raise a fourth child when she already had two sons, a daughter and a husband with a drug problem. In high school, Hedgepeth was an honor student, a cheerleader and a member of many extracurricular clubs and organizations. She did well enough academically to earn a Gates Millennium Scholarship to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her father had attended UNC-CH as well, but had dropped out. She hoped to be the first in her family to graduate from college. After undergraduate studies, she was considering further studies to become either a pediatrician or teacher. Her first two years at the university went well for her, although she took the spring 2012 semester off. She remained in the Chapel Hill area over the summer, living in an off-campus apartment at the Hawthorne at the View complex between Chapel Hill and Durham, on the line between Durham and Orange counties, during the month of August. She planned to move to another apartment after her financial aid for the fall semester was made available to her. She shared the apartment with Karena Rosario, with whom she had been friends since freshman year, and Rosario's boyfriend, Eriq Takoy Jones. The relationship between Jones and Rosario had been marked by domestic violence, and eventually she ended it and he moved out. However, he had in early July 2012 twice attempted to break into the apartment, even after Rosario changed the locks. Hedgepeth eventually drove Rosario to court to get a protective order that required Jones to stay away from the apartment. Jones reportedly resented Hedgepeth's influence over his former girlfriend, and at one point reportedly threatened during a phone conversation with Hedgepeth to kill her if he could not get back together with Rosario. Homicide The evening of September 6, 2012, a Thursday, began at 5:45 p.m. with Hedgepeth attending a rush event for the campus chapter of Alpha Pi Omega, a historically Native American sorority she hoped to join. At 7:15 she left, saying she had to work on a paper she was writing about the history of her tribe. She and Rosario went to the university's Davis Library to study together at 8 p.m. Between 8:30 and 9 she exchanged texts with her father about her hopes to join the sorority. Hedgepeth left Rosario there briefly and returned around 11:30, after which they returned to their apartment together, arriving there around midnight. A half-hour later they left again, heading for The Thrill, a now-closed nightclub in downtown Chapel Hill which admitted customers under the legal drinking age of 21 to dance. The two young women arrived at The Thrill around 12:40 a.m. After almost an hour and a half of dancing, Rosario told police later that she was having an upset stomach and wanted to leave. Security cameras at the club show her and Hedgepeth leaving at 2:06 a.m.; it is the last visual record of her presence anywhere before the killing. By 3 a.m. Hedgepeth and Rosario had returned to their apartment. A woman who lived below the two and was awake watching television said that she heard three thumping noises, which she described as similar to a heavy bag being dropped or furniture being overturned, shortly afterward. Hedgepeth's Facebook page was also accessed around the same time. At 3:40 a.m., a text was sent from Hedgepeth's phone to that of Brandon Edwards, a former boyfriend of Rosario, saying "Hey b. Can you come over here please. Rosario needs you more aha. You know. Please let her know you care." Three minutes later, another text was sent from Hedgepeth's phone to Edwards' with the single word "than," believed to be a correction for the "aha" in the previous text. That was the last evidence of activity from her phone. At 4:16 a.m., Edwards sent a return text asking who had sent the previous text. Rosario's phone records show she was also trying to call Edwards around the same time. He did not answer, and when he did not she tried to call Jordan McCrary, a UNC-CH soccer player she knew. At 4:25 a.m., she left the apartment to get in McCrary's car. At that time, Rosario said later, she believed Hedgepeth was asleep in her room, and left the apartment's door unlocked. McCrary drove Rosario to the home of another acquaintance on West Longview Street in Chapel Hill. She put the time of her arrival there at around 4:30 a.m. After spending the rest of the night and the early morning there, a short time after 10:30 she began trying to arrange a ride home. After attempting to reach Hedgepeth, who did not answer, Rosario instead called another friend, Marisol Rangel, who came and took her back to her apartment. When they arrived there, shortly before 11 a.m., they entered and called for Hedgepeth, who did not respond. In her bedroom, they found her bloodied body, wrapped in a quilt, partially nude. They immediately dialed 9-1-1 and informed police. Investigation Details of the investigation were not discussed publicly at first, a deviation from the Chapel Hill police's usual practice. The town obtained a court order sealing all records as they were collected. Police collected semen from the scene and used it to develop a DNA profile; it reportedly was consistent with male DNA found elsewhere in the apartment. The autopsy determined that Hedgepeth had died from blunt force trauma to the head, likely a result of being hit by an empty rum bottle in the apartment. Jones seemed to be a very strong suspect from the beginning. Police learned of his history of domestic violence and his threat against Hedgepeth. They also found that the night before, around 6 p.m., he had texted an acquaintance asking for forgiveness "for what I am about to do" and then posted the same message on his Twitter feed. Three days later, he changed the banner on his Facebook page to read "Dear Lord, Forgive me for all of my sins and the sins I may commit today. Protect me from the girls who don't deserve me and the ones who wish me dead today." Police sought a DNA sample from Jones, whom they considered a person of interest. After some initial resistance, he complied. His DNA did not match the sample from the apartment, and they excluded him as a suspect. DNA from Edwards and many other men whom police found had been at The Thrill during the same time as Rosario and Hedgepeth was also tested, with the same result. Within days the university's board of trustees, the local Crime Stoppers chapter, the Haliwa-Saponi tribe, and the apartment complex had offered a combined $29,000 in reward money for information leading to an arrest. Police hoped the reward money would lead to a quick resolution of the case, as their resources were limited. In the 2008 murder of Eve Carson, who at the time was UNC-CH's undergraduate student body president, a $25,000 reward had led to the killers' arrest. Two months later, the office of governor Bev Perdue added another $10,000 to the reward for Hedgepeth's killer. Seal on case records In November, The Daily Tar Heel, UNC-CH's student newspaper, petitioned the judge who had ordered the investigation records sealed to release an early search warrant in the case. Instead, the judge ordered it resealed for another 45 days. At that time, the Chapel Hill police had not even released Hedgepeth's cause of death, although her parents told the media that their daughter's death certificate said she had been beaten. Police announced in January that the DNA from the scene had come back as belonging to a male. From the crime scene and other evidence the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had developed a profile of the man. They said it was likely that he had lived near Hedgepeth in the past, had expressed an interest in her and his behavior may have changed since the crime, including showing an unusual interest in the case. Notwithstanding this release of information, the town successfully petitioned the court to keep the warrants under seal, saying that phase of the investigation was still not complete; in May 2013 the court extended the seal another 60 days. In September 2013, a year after the killing, Chapel Hill police formally requested the assistance of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, which had provided some help earlier in the investigation, with the case. "We're working the case hard, and we've used all the possible resources," said Chief Chris Blue. However, he would not share any more information about the case. Two months later, the Tar Heel noted that the Hedgepeth case remained open, along with the death case of David Shannon, a UNC-CH freshman whose body had been found on the grounds of a Carrboro cement plant the previous October 27 (while he had died from a fall, the autopsy found he was severely intoxicated, and the Carrboro police suspected hazing and believed there might be other students who could tell them more about the circumstances of Shannon's death). In Hedgepeth's case, there had been no new information about a possible suspect since January. Yet the case records remained under court-ordered seal. In March 2014 the Tar Heel was joined by the Raleigh News & Observer and Capitol Broadcasting Company, which owns three television and radio stations in the Research Triangle area, in opposing the district attorney's motion to extend the seal another 60 days. They argued that the order was not justified by a compelling interest on the state's part, and that some of the orders had been issued before the records covered by them had been created, meaning the argument for sealing them was speculative. During a hearing on the motion, the district attorney filed a more specific accounting of what investigative work had been done, allowing the media to report for the first time on what police had searched in the immediate aftermath of the crime. "Eighteen months goes by and no one's been charged and no one's been arrested," said a lawyer for the Tar Heel. "The public has the right to assume the trail has gone cold, or it's not being investigated in a diligent manner." In response, the district attorney's office argued that releasing the detailed records at that point would definitely hinder the investigation, and the records remained under seal. Criticism of seal The following month, Chelsea Dulaney, a reporter who had originally covered the case at the Tar Heel, wrote an article on the Atavist platform taking a skeptical look at the sealing of the case. She speculated that the seal's real purpose was to conceal early missteps by the Chapel Hill police, who might also not have been competent enough to handle the investigation by themselves. The town's court filings, she noted, revealed that after the first two months of the investigation no new search warrants had been sought. "We have to ask, how hot is it?" asked one of the lawyers representing the media. Dulaney talked to the residents of the apartments at Hawthorne at the View who lived near Hedgepeth and Rosario. They told her that during the preceding summer, they strongly suspected the domestic violence later reported between Rosario and Jones; they thought the police presence on the day the body was found was related to that until they learned otherwise. Two of the neighbors told Dulaney that while the police sealed off the four-unit block where Hedgepeth and Rosario lived with crime scene tape, they only searched the women's apartment and not any of the others in it. Nor did they search the woods behind the apartments, and they only returned later to search one other apartment in the complex. They did not seem to canvass the area either, never knocking on doors and asking residents what they might have seen. The police also left Hedgepeth's car unsecured while they searched the apartments. When the State Bureau of Investigation officers began investigating the case late in 2013, they also interviewed residents of Hawthorne at the View. One resident who spoke to Dulaney said it was clear to her that the SBI investigators were better trained than their Chapel Hill counterparts had been. The agent who interviewed her asked questions that elicited more useful information from her, she recalled. In downtown Chapel Hill, Dulaney talked to the owner of a towing service who had the contract for the Thrill's parking lot. He had set up a system of security cameras to monitor activity in the club's parking lot that might have possibly recorded anything that happened outside of the club involving Hedgepeth and Rosario while they were there that morning, or after they left. The police did not ask to see it until shortly before Dulaney wrote the article, almost 19 months after the crime. By that time, he told her, any footage from that night had been long since recorded over. Release of records The court ordered the records unsealed in July 2014. Media organizations were able to review and report on the search warrant applications and the investigative notes that had supported them, with most names redacted, for not only the residences and cars but Hedgepeth's phone, computer, Facebook records and bank account. Also released was the transcript of Rosario's 9-1-1 call, and the content of the early-morning text messages as well as the timeline of Rosario and Hedgepeth's actions the night before the body was found. In September 2014, almost two years after Hedgepeth's death, the autopsy report was released. It confirmed what was on her death certificate, that she had died of blunt force trauma to the head. She had numerous cuts and bruises as well as blood under her fingernails, suggesting she had struggled with her killer. The DNA taken from the semen was matched to DNA elsewhere at the scene. Evidence The released records included the recording of Rosario's 9-1-1 call and two pieces of evidence that were seen as potentially helpful in narrowing down the killer's identity. The DNA profile was also used later to generate an image of the potential suspect. "Investigators have excellent evidence in this case," Chief Blue said when the documents were released. "This is not a cold case. It has been and remains an active investigation." 9-1-1 call News & Observer reporter Tom Gasparoli, who covered the case extensively for his newspaper, has also devoted most of his own blog to pondering the evidence and keeping the case alive. To him, Rosario's call raised many questions. "To me, the whole call reeks of unusual," he wrote in 2017 on the case's fifth anniversary. Gasparoli raised the possibility that Rosario's friend Marisol Rangel, whose voice sounds to him more like the constantly sobbing caller, was the real caller, only later identifying herself as Rosario after repeated requests from the dispatcher for her name. And if it was Rosario, she never mentions that Rangel accompanied her to the apartment. The caller also does not mention Hedgepeth's name in a call that lasts nearly eight minutes, only describing the body she has come upon as "her friend." And why, Gasparoli asked, does the caller seem reluctant to touch Hedgepeth's body despite repeated pleas from the dispatcher to at least see if she is still breathing? If Rosario was not able to bring herself to do so, could she not have asked Rangel to do so? "I have often thought," Gaparoli wrote,"[that] if it was [Rosario], that she didn't call 9-1-1 the moment she first saw [Hedgepeth]." Note left at scene Among the evidence collected was a note left near Hedgepeth's body with the text: It was sloppily written in ballpoint pen on what was determined to be the torn-off bottom of a white paper bag of the type commonly used for carry-out food. Police believe the bag may have come from Time-Out, a popular 24-hour restaurant in Chapel Hill that would have been the only place open at the time Hedgepeth and Rosario left The Thrill. It uses such bags and is a short distance away from the nightclub. Investigators have not said whether they have had the handwriting analyzed. The website Crime Watch Daily had an expert, Peggy Walla, look at photos of the note. She noted that it was clean of the blood reportedly found splattered all over the room, suggesting it was written either away from the crime scene or beforehand. The writer may have been using their non-dominant hand in an attempt to disguise their handwriting. Walla believes the writer was particularly agitated, likely to the point of homicidal rage, by being called "stupid." In his post marking the fifth anniversary of the case, Gasparoli said a law enforcement source he talked to about the case refused to comment on whether the note was "odd" even as the source answered other questions. He elaborates that the words may have been intended to be read in a different order, producing wording that makes more sense ("I'm not jealous ... stupid bitch," for instance). In addition, he theorizes that more than one writer may have been involved, or that not all of it may have been written at the same time. The word "STUPID" especially looks to Gasparoli as if it might have been written separately from the other words, as it is written much more clearly and off to the side. The swash extending leftward from the counter on the "P" in "STUPID" struck him as unusually distinctive. "[It] looks quite different, much more precise than any other letter in the note," he says. It seems to Gasparoli to suggest a female writer, or at least one calmer and more intelligent than the lettering elsewhere on the note. Gasparoli questioned in fact what purpose would be served by leaving it there. As a message to Hedgepeth, it made no sense to leave it next to her body if she was dead; if it was written by the killer or killers, it could have been particularly incriminating evidence and they had to be aware of that possibility. It looked to him, in fact, "[a]lmost as if it were a red herring ... left for some other reason than to reflect the real feelings of the killer(s). Left ... to confuse." Conversation accidentally recorded A friend of Hedgepeth's shared with police a long conversation, perhaps inadvertently recorded, when Hedgepeth's phone pocket-dialed them on the night before the murder, that may have some bearing on the case. It consisted of a three-way conversation, three minutes long, between what sounds to be Hedgepeth and a male and female, with music in the background. It was timestamped at 1:23 a.m., when the night's timeline has Hedgepeth at The Thrill. It was mostly inaudible and of minimal evidentiary value until Crime Watch Daily hired audio expert Arlo West, who specializes in enhancing such recordings. He claimed he heard Hedgepeth crying for help while the female says "I think she's dying" and the male says "Do it anyhow" after a long discussion in which the female seems to get angrier. The male and female use the name "Eriq" and "Rosie" (which is Rosario's nickname) respectively. Hedgepeth's father is convinced what was recorded was of his daughter's death; West agrees. The website informed the Chapel Hill police of West's findings, and they agreed to consider West's enhanced version and evaluate it. However, due to the time of the message, they do not believe it to be a recording of the killing; the music in the background further suggests it was recorded at The Thrill. Several months later, they added that the metadata associated with the call reinforces this belief. West, for his part, cites a known software issue with phones like Hedgepeth's that resulted in inaccurate timestamps. He discounts the background sound as being music, since his analysis did not produce any sounds like percussion, a heavy bass or synthesizers. Further, he adds, there are none of the background sounds, like glasses clinking and others talking, that one would associate with a nightclub. Image of suspect generated from DNA profile On a September 23, 2016, episode of the ABC News program 20/20, Chapel Hill police released an image generated by Parabon NanoLabs, a genetic testing company in Reston, Virginia, of what the suspect who left the semen might look like based purely on the phenotype in his DNA profile. Parabon's president told ABC that Snapshot, the program his company used to create the image, "predicts eye color, hair color, skin color, freckling, face morphology and ancestry." The image included a chart listing the probability that the suspect had the traits he was assigned. According to the image, the suspect was "very strongly Native American and European mixed ancestry or Latino." Most of his genetic markers pointed to Mexican, Colombian and Iberian ancestry, with some other South American and African countries making up the balance. Parabon believed with over 80 percent confidence that the suspect would have a skin tone in the olive range, with very few freckles or none at all and black hair. It did not make any predictions as to his height and weight. Theories Chapel Hill police have not said much about how the crime happened despite the September 2021 arrest. In the past they said they do not believe the killing was a mere crime of opportunity by a stranger, and instead it was committed by someone in her social group, likely someone who knew her through UNC-CH. They are certain the killer or killers knew Hedgepeth, and have interviewed 2,000 people, with DNA tests done on 750 of those. They mapped the relations of many of those interviewees with Hedgepeth and each other, and had reportedly narrowed a pool of a thousand possible suspects down to 10. "This is not a cold case. It's never been a cold case," Chief Blue told Gasparoli in 2016. A year later, Gasparoli said that he believed that the killer was "just outside" Hedgepeth's closest friends and acquaintances. "Good chance this person didn't know [Hedgepeth] or investigators would know who it was," he wrote. They may, however, have been acting out of anger at some grievance she caused to someone closer to her. Blue declined to answer Gasparoli's question at that time as to whether investigators believed more than one person had been involved. "It's a piece of the puzzle we do not have if we connect the direct physical evidence," Celisa Lehew, who took over the case as the department's new chief investigator in 2016, told the reporter regarding that theory. "There was some knowledge that two people lived there." Speculation has sometimes focused on Rosario, Hedgepeth's roommate at the time, due to her 9-1-1 call, the last texts sent from Hedgepeth's phone to her former boyfriend suggesting that "[Rosario] needs you more than you know," the woman addressed as "Rosie" on the voicemail conversation and her decision to leave the apartment unlocked with, she claims, a sleeping Hedgepeth inside, to go sleep somewhere else at 4:30 the morning of the killing. Although she has left North Carolina and said very little about the case since then, Gasparoli wrote in 2017 that he learned from his police sources that they still regularly speak with her, and she cooperates. "They do believe there is more Rosario can tell them," he says. "[It] sounds to me like [Rosario] has been in the crosshairs ... as a key figure who knows more than she says she knows." Arrest On September 16, 2021, the Chapel Hill Police Department arrested Miguel Salguero-Olivares, 28, of Durham, on a first-degree murder charge in Hedgepeth's death. He had not been a suspect originally, but was identified through DNA samples after he had been arrested on a drunken-driving charge in Wake County the preceding month. In a statement, the police asked the public to bear with them as they sorted the details out. "This story will take time to completely unfold", said Chief Blue. See also Deaths in September 2012 List of 2012 murders in the United States List of unsolved murders Crime in North Carolina Sexual victimization of native American women 2015 Chapel Hill shooting, three UNCCH/NCSU students killed in off-campus residence Murder of Jane Britton, similar 1969 killing of a Harvard graduate student at her apartment, where police also kept information to themselves and perplexing evidence was found next to the body, attributed in 2018 to a long-dead man via DNA evidence. References External links Case documents released in 2014 2012 in North Carolina 2012 murders in the United States Murder in North Carolina Deaths by beating in the United States Deaths by person in the United States Violence against women in the United States Incidents of violence against women University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill events September 2012 crimes Women in North Carolina Unsolved murders in the United States

55254365

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Anthony%20Lamar%20Smith

Killing of Anthony Lamar Smith

Anthony Lamar Smith was a 24-year-old African American man from St. Louis, Missouri, who was shot and killed by then St. Louis Police officer Jason Stockley following a car chase on December 20, 2011. On September 15, 2017, Stockley was found not guilty of first-degree murder, and protests erupted in St. Louis. Incident Smith was previously convicted for drug distribution and unlawful possession of a firearm, and was out on probation for a theft charge at the time of the incident. Police officer Stockley and his partner have stated they saw Smith engaged in a drug deal. Dashcam footage from their police cruiser recorded Smith reversing his car into their vehicle twice before driving off. A car chase lasting three minutes ensued, ending when Stockley's partner, on Stockley's recommendation, rammed Smith's car. Stockley was recorded during the chase as saying "going to kill this motherfucker, don’t you know it". After the car was stopped, Stockley and his partner, Brian Bianchi, approached Smith's vehicle at West Florissant and Acme Avenues in north St. Louis. Witnesses testified and dashcam footage showed that Stockley yelled at Smith through the driver side window of Smith's vehicle to open the door. Stockley testified that Smith did not comply but rather appeared to be reaching around the interior of his vehicle in search of something which Stockley believed to be a gun. Stockley testified that Smith's demeanor suddenly changed, which Stockley believed indicated that Smith had found the alleged gun. Stockley then opened fire through the window and shot five times, killing Smith. The judge's ruling in subsequent criminal case found that the "[a]fter Smith is removed from the Buick, Stockley gets in on the driver's side;...The evidence at trial was that Stockley got into the car to search for a weapon, and Stockley testified that he found a handgun tucked between the seat and center console." In 2013 the St. Louis police board settled a wrongful death suit with Smith's survivors for $900,000. Criminal charges and trial Jason Stockley was charged by St. Louis City prosecutors with first-degree murder in May 2016. He was arrested at his home in Houston, Texas. During the trial, the prosecution had argued that the revolver found in Smith's car had been planted by Stockley to justify the shooting. However, in his ruling, St. Louis Circuit Judge Timothy Wilson said the prosecution's argument was not supported by the evidence. DNA experts testified that the gun recovered had no trace of Smith's DNA on it, and Stockley's DNA was present. The only DNA found on the gun in Smith’s car had a profile similar to Stockley’s, but, as the prosecution said, that does not conclusively prove that Smith did not touch the gun. Judge Wilson stated he found it difficult to believe the gun was concealed and planted by Stockley given the entire incident was on video and Stockley was not wearing a jacket. Wilson also noted Smith's DNA was found on the heroin in the car and that during his 28 years on the bench "an urban heroin dealer not in possession of a firearm would be an anomaly." Before this case, the judge had "ruled both for and against police during his 28 years on the bench." Defense lawyers and prosecutors interviewed by the Associated Press described him as "objective and well-respected". Protests Prior to the verdict, a group of clergy publicly stated that an acquittal would result in "mass disruption" in the city. Missouri Governor Eric Greitens, who was openly critical of his predecessor Jay Nixon's response to the Ferguson unrest, preemptively activated the Missouri National Guard and scheduled 12-hour shifts for the St. Louis Municipal Police. On September 15, 2017 protests erupted when Stockley was found not guilty of murder. Some of the protests turned violent. After declaring the protests an "unlawful assembly", police officers were pelted with water bottles and rocks. Protesters also descended upon mayor Lyda Krewson's home, and threw bricks at and vandalized it. Police deployed tear gas to break up the crowd and two officers were injured by bricks thrown by protesters. Statistics provided are in spite of multiple eyewitness accounts that claim, with absolute certainty, that the police initiated the violence. Over the night, ten police officers were injured and thirty-two protesters were arrested. Protesters in attendance reported not hearing an order of dispersal before tear gas, and an estimated 250 people who took shelter in a nearby synagogue described being "held hostage" under threat of arrest. The next day, the band U2 and singer Ed Sheeran both cancelled their weekend concerts in St. Louis out of safety concerns over ongoing protests. Protests during this day were largely peaceful, as demonstrators marched through two nearby shopping malls and into the streets. However, a small group of protesters at the Delmar Loop in St. Louis refused to disperse after the police asked them to leave. These protesters broke windows and threw objects at the police, who arrested nine people. Protests continued on September 17 in the late afternoon, beginning outside the St. Louis police department, and demonstrators marched through the streets. In the night, event organizers told the protesters to go home, though a few dozen continued protesting. After a police officer made two arrests near the police department, the crowd confronted the police line and broke windows. Police response to protests was criticized as unconstitutional and excessive force by the American Civil Liberties Union following a video release of law enforcement officers chanting "Whose streets? Our streets" after kettling several people downtown. In a press conference, interim police chief O'Toole described the kettling incident positively, saying that "police owned tonight." Mayor Lyda Krewson expressed gratitude to the police and cancelled town halls that were scheduled through the following week. See also Ferguson unrest Shooting of Michael Brown References 2010s in St. Louis 2011 in Missouri December 2011 events in the United States 2017 in Missouri 2017 protests African-American history in St. Louis Smith, Anthony Lamar Smith, Anthony Lamar Criminal trials that ended in acquittal History of racism in Missouri Protests in Missouri Metropolitan Police Department, City of St. Louis

56384680

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Naqeebullah%20Mehsud

Killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud

Naqeebullah Mehsud (; also known as Naseemullah, Naqib Maseed, or by his nickname Veer) was killed on January 13, 2018, in Karachi, Pakistan, during a fake encounter staged by the senior superintendent of police (SSP) of Karachi's Malir District, Rao Anwar. On January 3, Naqeebullah was kidnapped along with two of his friends, Ali and Mohammed Qasim, by Rao Anwar's men in plainclothes from Gul Sher Agha Hotel in Sohrab Goth, Karachi. On January 6, both of his friends were freed by the police, but Naqeebullah was kept in captivity, tortured, and then killed on January 13 in a fake encounter in which he was shot twice in the back. Alongside Naqeebullah, three other men namely Muhammad Sabir and Muhammad Ishaq from Bahawalpur and Nazar Jan Mahsud from South Waziristan were also killed by the police in the staged encounter, the latter of whom was shot from a close range. On January 17, Naqeebullah's dead body was handed over to his relatives at the Chhipa Welfare Association morgue in Karachi. On January 18, his body was taken by his relatives to Tank, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where Islamic funeral prayer was performed for him, and on the same day, he was buried at his hometown Makeen, South Waziristan. The fake encounter sparked countrywide protests against extrajudicial killings in Pakistan. Referring to the killings, the police alleged that they killed four suspected terrorists in a shootout. Rao Anwar claimed that Naqeebullah had links with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Daesh). However, the claims were contested by Naqeebullah's relatives and human rights activists, especially the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (Pashtun Protection Movement), who launched a campaign to seek justice for him. An inquiry committee consisting of senior police officers was formed to investigate the killing, which found Naqeebullah to be innocent, and declared that the alleged police encounter staged to kill him and three others was fake. Naqeebullah was survived by his wife, two daughters, and a son. On January 24, 2019, a Pakistani anti-terrorism court declared Naqeebullah and the three other persons murdered as innocent. Background Naqeebullah Mehsud Naqeebullah was born in 1990 in the Makin Subdivision of South Waziristan. He belonged to the Abdullai Mahsud tribe of the Pashtuns. In 2009, his family was forced to flee Waziristan by the Pakistan Army during Operation Rah-e-Nijat. After migrating to Karachi, Naqeebullah had been working as a labourer. He was passionate about modeling and was an aspiring model. He had three brothers, one of whom had settled in Dubai, UAE. Naqeebullah was planning to start a business in garments and had rented a shop in Sohrab Goth, Karachi just before being kidnapped and murdered. Rao Anwar Rao Anwar Ahmed, the senior superintendent of police (SSP) led the team staging the fake encounter and was already known for carrying out controversial police encounters in Karachi. He was known as the "encounter specialist" of the Sindh Police. Killing of Gul Saeed On January 16, 2018, when the inquiry against Rao Anwar was about to start following the extrajudicial killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud, Rao Anwar claimed that he came under attack in Karachi's Malir Cantonment while he was heading towards his house. He alleged that a suicide attacker detonated explosives near him and his squad but they remained unhurt, and that two accomplices of the attacker then opened fire on the police, both of whom were shot dead in the exchange of fire. He also alleged that a few militants escaped the site under the cover of fire while the police and Pakistan Rangers were conducting search operation. The alleged suicide attacker was later identified as Gul Saeed Afridi, a 34-year-old driver from Orangi Town, Karachi, who had gone missing a few months earlier. Gul Saeed's body was found to be burned badly, but not blown up and still in one piece, although it had allegedly fell far from Rao Anwar's armoured vehicle. Gul Saeed's family was outraged at the demands of the police from them after the killing. They protested and took Gul Saeed's body away from the police by force, but returned it to the mortuary after negotiations. The police placed the three dead bodies at the Chhipa Welfare Association morgue in Karachi. The other two bodies besides Gul Saeed, which were still unidentified, had been riddled with bullets. The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan immediately claimed responsibility of the alleged suicide attack. Gul Saeed's family, however, appealed against Rao Anwar's allegations and claimed that Gul Saeed was innocent and had no links with terrorists. They asked how a suicide attack could even be possible in a sensitive area surrounded by the military like the cantonment, and asserted that Rao Anwar had in fact murdered Gul Saeed extrajudicially. The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) probing the case doubted if a suicide attack had even taken place at the site. Suggesting that it was a fake encounter, a senior CTD officer Omar Khattab said: “This has been observed for the first time that the suicide bomber, despite having himself blown up with explosives, was only burnt. While examining the site of the attack, no traces of any explosive material were found. Even there was no smell of explosives.” The investigators found out that contrary to Rao Anwar's claim, no exchange of fire had taken place. According to the investigators, the alleged suicide attacker Gul Saeed was first riddled by the police with bullets, then a suicide vest was wrapped around his body, and then the vest was set on fire which burned his body. Investigation The inquiry committee of senior police officers probing the case found no sign of an exchange of gunfire at the site of the alleged police encounter, which was an abandoned poultry farm. Although the police officers who had taken part in the alleged shootout claimed that militants were hiding inside the poultry farm who attacked them when the police encircled the hideout, the inquiry committee found out that there was no gunfire from inside the poultry farm during the incident. Some marks of firing were found in a room and on walls of the poultry farm, which the inquiry team declared to be post-incident fabrications by the police team. The committee found out that during his service as a senior police officer in the Malir District of Karachi between 2011 and 2018, Rao Anwar carried out at least 444 killings in 192 alleged encounters, whereas the total number of alleged police encounters led by him was 745, including 553 cases which did not involve any killings. However, not a single policeman was ever killed or even injured during his 745 alleged encounters. Eight people were killed in Rao Anwar's two alleged encounters in the first 19 days of January 2018 alone. Senior police officers in Karachi, on condition of anonymity, claimed that the majority of the people killed during Rao Anwar's encounters were ethnic Pashtuns. They added that men were airlifted to Karachi from as far away as the Federally Administered Tribal Areas for Rao Anwar to deal with them. Another senior police officer stated: “[Rao Anwar] led a team of killing machines. There was no one to stop him.” Explaining why no notice was taken of Rao Anwar's actions earlier, the senior police officer revealed that “even the police command is afraid of him because of his close connections with criminal political bosses and within the security establishment.” A mid-level police officer at the Malir police station, who had worked under Rao Anwar, remarked that money was the motive behind the picking up of Naqeebullah. He said: “Rao’s touts amongst the Sohrab Goth shopkeepers came to know that Naseem [Naqeebullah] was in possession of a hefty amount of money with which he wanted to buy a shop. Two policemen — SI Yaseen Dhukku and ASI Akbar Mallah — picked him up along with two of his friends from a restaurant on Abul Hassan Ispahani road. While they let his friends go, they continued to torture him even after extracting Rs9 million, demanding he pay them Rs20 million more. By then, he was in such bad shape that they decided it would be unwise to set him free.” The inquiry committee termed the allegations by Rao Anwar against Naqeebullah as baseless and suggested to add Rao Anwar's name to the Exit Control List. They stated that the claims made by Rao Anwar, including the claim that Naqeebullah was unmarried, were untrue. The committee concluded that Naqeebullah was innocent and had no history of militancy or criminal activity, but was rather killed in a fake police encounter carried out by Rao Anwar. The four men including Naqeebullah were killed in two separate rooms of the abandoned farm by Rao Anwar's team and then their bodies were dumped in a single room. On January 20, 2018, Rao Anwar was removed from his post as senior superintendent of police (SSP) Malir on the recommendation of the committee. On January 23, Rao Anwar attempted to flee the country in a Dubai-bound flight from Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Islamabad, but the Federal Investigation Agency foiled his attempt and stopped him at the immigration counter of the airport after observing that his No Objection Certificate was inauthentic. Pashtun Tahafuz Movement The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), under the leadership of Manzoor Pashteen, launched a campaign to seek justice for Naqeebullah Mehsud soon after his murder. PTM organized a series of protest marches and sit-ins at various cities. They held public gatherings in Islamabad, Quetta, Peshawar, Lahore, Swat, Karachi, Dera Ismail Khan, Swabi, Bannu, Tank, as well as other cities and towns, in which one of the main demands was to punish Rao Anwar and his team for murdering Naqeebullah. See also Pashtun Tahafuz Movement Manzoor Pashteen Tahir Dawar Arman Loni References 2018 in Sindh 2018 murders in Pakistan 2010s crimes in Karachi 21st-century mass murder in Pakistan Encounters in Pakistan Enforced disappearances in Pakistan Human rights abuses in Pakistan January 2018 crimes in Asia January 2018 events in Pakistan Mass murder in 2018 Mass murder in Karachi Pashtun Tahafuz Movement People shot dead by law enforcement officers in Pakistan Protests in Pakistan Deaths by firearm in Sindh People murdered in Karachi

56449237

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Roni%20Levi

Killing of Roni Levi

Roni Levi was a French freelance photographer who, while experiencing an episode of mental disturbance, was shot and killed by members of the New South Wales Police Force at Bondi Beach in 1997. The incident is one of Australia's most controversial shootings by police. Death On the morning of 28 June 1997, Roni Levi was surrounded by six NSW Police Officers after being found walking at Bondi Beach with a knife. Levi, who had been diagnosed as mentally ill, spent the previous evening at St Vincent’s Hospital, after suffering a delusional episode. After a 25-minute standoff two of the police officers, Constable Rodney Podesta and Senior Constable Anthony Dilorenzo, shot Roni Levi four times. Levi, who died from his wounds soon after, was 33 years old. In statements given on the day of the shooting, Podesta and Dilorenzo reported that Levi had lunged at them with the knife, and was a potential threat to spectators on the promenade. At the time of the shooting, both Podesta and Dilorenzo were the subject of covert internal affairs investigations; one concerning Podesta's suspected sale of drugs, and another concerning Dilorenzo's associations with known drug suppliers. Neither Podesta or Dilorenzo were subjected to drug or alcohol testing after the shooting. Photographs of Levi's death Photographs showing the moments leading up to, and directly after, the shooting were captured by a passing professional photographer, Jean Pierre Bratanoff-Firgoff. The photographs, which showed Levi standing at some distance from police officers, appeared to contradict the statements made by Podesta and Dilorenzo; specifically that Levi had threatened police by lunging at them. Both police officers were unaware the photographs were taken at time of giving their statements. The next day, Jean Pierre Bratanoff-Firgoff's photographs of the incident were published in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper, and were subsequently distributed internationally. Aftermath The death of Roni Levi was the subject of a highly publicised coronial inquiry. In his March 1998 report, the State Coroner, Derick Hand, recommended changes in police procedure, and that police involved in shootings should be subject to immediate, and mandatory drug and alcohol testing. In June 1998, the Department of Public Prosecutions concluded that there was no reasonable prospect of conviction of either officer, Podesta or Dilorenzo. After a public campaign, lead by Levi’s estranged widow, the case was reopened. Three Police Integrity Commission hearings were held over eighteen months, in which Jean Pierre Bratanoff-Firgoff's photographs of the incident were used as evidence. While both officers continued to deny any wrongdoing, Podesta resigned in March 1998 and the following year was found guilty of supplying cocaine. Dilorenzo was later sacked from the NSW Police Service in June 1999 as a result of his involvement with known drug dealers. Bratanoff-Firgoff's photographs of the incident have become iconic, and have been described as "culturally emblematic signifiers" of critical incidents between police and the mentally ill. In 2007, the State Library of New South Wales purchased the photographs, on behalf of the people of New South Wales. See also Police Integrity Commission References External links Death of Roni Levi, Bondi Beach, 28 June 1997 / photographed by Jean Pierre Bratanoff-Firgoff at State Library of New South Wales New South Wales Police Force People shot dead by law enforcement officers in Australia

56628975

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Raju%20Risaldar

Killing of Raju Risaldar

Raju Risaldar, labelled the don of Vadodara (alt.: Baroda) by the media, was killed by police in an encounter (also referred to as the Vadodara encounter) in June 1993. Raju was accused of being involved in multiple cases of extortion, murder and contract killing. He was also a political activist of Shiv Sena and its chief of Vadodara district unit. Risalder rose to prominence following the August 1991 killing of a Congress Party leader. In February 1993, Chief Minister Chimanbhai Patel was credited with strong-arming Risalder into an uneasy alliance to keep the peace between Hindu and Muslim communal activists in Baroda in the lead up to an election in which the BJP was expected to contest the traditional Congress Party dominance of elections in the region by issuing orders to have several of Risalder's lieutenants arrested. Risalder and Shiv Sena were then tasked with ensuring that the BJP turnout would be low. According to The Times of India, leaders of the Hindu community cooperated out of a desire to avert the communal rioting and destruction of shops and other property that were expected if Congress lost the election. Risalder's henchmen were accused of murdering of Dinesh Pathak, the resident editor of the popular Gujarati daily Sandesh. Raju was arrested in Bombay and was shot dead by Gujarat Police in Vadodara. See also Pakki encounter Abdul Latif – Ahmedabad based don and his contemporary. References Law enforcement operations in India 1993 in India Encounters in India Gujarat Police Crime in Gujarat

57375584

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Mustafa%20Tamimi

Killing of Mustafa Tamimi

Mustafa Tamimi, a 28-year-old Palestinian taxi driver, was killed when he was hit by a tear gas canister by Israeli forces fired from close range and striking him directly in the face on 9 December 2011 during a weekly protest in Nabi Salih, West Bank. The tear gas canister that struck him was fired from the rear door of a military vehicle at which he was throwing stones while running after it. The incident raised questions about Israeli military behavior when engaging with the demonstrators. Some Israeli military officials used social media to defend the army. Israeli army statements said that Tamimi was throwing a rock when he was targeted and that the soldier firing the canister "did not see any people in the line of fire" and was not criminally liable. Tamimi's brother, Louai, rejected the investigation saying he was not approached by the investigators although he said he witnessed the incident as he was standing close to the army jeep at the time of the shot. Background Residents of Nabi Saleh had protested against the Halamish settlement since 1976 when it was first built. Demonstrations were stepped up in 2009 when the settlers claimed a fresh-water spring historically used by the village. The protests were regularly disbanded by Israeli troops using tear gas, and were often accompanied by stone-throwing by local youths. Sarit Michaeli, a spokeswoman for the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem, who was in Nabi Saleh, said she was aware of dozens of cases where, "in violation of explicit regulations", tear gas canisters were fired directly at protesters by Israeli soldiers and border policemen. Event During one of the weekly demonstrations to protest the seizure of Nabi Saleh land by a neighboring Israeli settlement, Tamimi was hit in the head below his right eye by a tear-gas canister fired at close range from the rear door of an Israeli armored vehicle, while he was throwing stones at it. The projectile fired towards Tamimi can be seen in a photograph of the incident. According to the Israeli activist Haim Schwarczenberg, Tamimi fell down after he was hit, and his friends then rushed to him and "covered his bloodied face with a black-and-white Palestinian checkered scarf". He was taken to Beilinson Hospital in central Israel where he died from his wounds the next day. Aftermath Funeral Thousands of Palestinians participated in Tamimi's funeral where his body, wrapped in a Palestinian flag, was moved from the hospital in Ramallah north to Nabi Saleh in West Bank. Participants held up posters showing graphic images of Tamimi's injuries. These were also "plastered on monuments in Ramallah's central squares". The mourning event turned violent. Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters in response to stones being thrown and tried to push the protesters back using "jets of skunk water, a foul-smelling chemical waste spray". Four Israelis and two foreign activists were arrested. Six people, including Israeli activist Jonathan Pollack, were injured at the funeral. Investigations The Israeli army said it was investigating the incident. In its initial statement, Israeli military said that Tamimi "threw rocks at IDF soldiers". Later investigation said that the soldier "did not see any people in the line of fire" and was not criminally liable. According to the IDF the soldier could not clearly see Tamimi and did not "aim" to shoot the gas canister at him. The Israeli human rights group B'Tselem questioned the legality of the soldier's act since he "could not ensure that no harm will result". IDF also said that they could not reconstruct the event because there were rocks thrown at the investigators. Tamimi's brother, Louai, rejected the investigation saying that investigators had not approached him although he was a witness to the incident standing about from the army jeep when the soldier shot. Speaking to the Reuters he said: "there is no doubt that he saw us, and struck my brother directly". The IDF speaker said a Palestinian witness refused to testify. Tamimi running towards the Jeep, the tear-gas launcher appearing from the rear door, the canister in the air, and then "Tamimi falling to the ground, clutching his face", are seen in photographs taken of the incident. According to B'Tselem the fact it took two years for the military to come to a decision, though the incident was "well-documented", indicated "the failure of the military investigation system." B'Tselem also said that the decision announced by the military was not in accordance with its regulations over the use of tear gas. Controversies Tamimi's supporters accused Israeli soldiers "of using excessive force to deal with the protester, delaying an ambulance from reaching him and not letting his family or others to be with him". Tamimi's death, and the photo which was said to record the moment before he was hit, raised concerns over the Israeli military's use of force in dealing with Palestinian demonstrators. Human-rights groups questioned whether the forces respect military rules of engagement for demonstrators. The "widely publicized" photograph gave the impression that the Israeli soldier had deliberately targeted Tamimi. The Telegraph described Israeli military officials as "largely unapologetic for the death", and trying to prove Tamimi had thrown stones by "releasing pictures of a sling they said was found on Tamimi's body". Some of the military officials "defended the army and attacked Tamimi" via Twitter, among them Peter Lerner, then spokesman for the IDF Central Command, whose Twitter comment caused the most "outrage", according to The Telegraph, and a "storm", according to Yedioth Ahronoth. "What was Mustafa thinking running after a moving jeep while throwing stones #fail", posted Lerner. ("Fail" is an American slang term used in a derogatory manner to denote "extreme stupidity".) Yedioth Ahronoth wrote that Lerner intended "to use the word in its literal sense–as failure", and that he had shown his "happiness" for Tamimi's chance of survival after he was transferred to the hospital. Lerner later denied the mockery and said he did not mean "to hurt anyone's feelings by writing 'fail'", and that "fail" was directed at activists who he believed were not impartial relating the incident. Lerner described the death as an "individual tragedy, with an awful outcome" and believed that Tamimi had "put himself at unnecessary risk" and that the soldier "had operated within the realm of their responsibility". See also Death of Mohammad Habali Shooting of Eyad al-Hallaq References People from Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate 2011 deaths Deaths by tear gas canister Deaths in the Palestinian territories Death of Mustafa Tamimi People killed by Israeli security forces Death of Mustafa Tamimi

57410919

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Alexander%20Levlovich

Killing of Alexander Levlovich

Alexander Levlovich (alt.: Levlovitz) was an Israeli who was killed in Jerusalem on 13 September 2015, by Palestinians who hurled rocks at the car he was driving. He died in hospital the following day. Levlovich was the first casualty in the 2015-2016 wave of violence in Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The wave of violence began when Muslim youths gathered at the al-Aqsa Mosque, with the intention of blocking visits by Jews to the Temple Mount on the eve of the Rosh Hashanah holiday. The youths barricaded themselves inside the Mosque, hurling rocks and flares at police as the police used tear gas and threw stun grenades in an attempt to quell the violence. Social media campaigns rapidly spread news of the rioting, which quickly sparked rock-throwing and stabbing attacks in nearby neighborhoods. Attack Levlovich (64), the manager of a home for disabled persons, was attacked while driving through the Armon Hanatziv neighborhood in Jerusalem on his way home from a family Rosh Hashanah dinner. Stones hitting the car caused him to lose control and hit a utility pole. His two daughters, also in the car, were badly injured. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu responded by going to the site of the killing and declaring "war" on rock and petrol bomb throwers; "Here, in the heart of Jerusalem, at a traffic island on a main road, a thug and criminal stands here, on a traffic island, takes a rock and throws again and again at the windshields of cars of Jerusalem residents until he manages to cause death - it did not kill, it murdered." Convictions All 4 perpetrators confessed to having committed this crime. 5 men were convicted of throwing the rocks that killed Levlovich. Abed Dawiat (Mahmoud Abed Rabbo Doiat), 19 at the time of the crime, was convicted of manslaughter for throwing rocks that resulted in death. It was the longest sentence every given by an Israeli court for a stoning attack. Dawiat claimed that as he threw the rocks that killed Levlovich, he was wearing a Hamas flag given to him at a demonstration in which he participated protesting Israel's banning of the activist group Murabitat from the Temple Mount. The signing of an order declaring the Murabitat illegal by Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon on 8 September 2015 is regarded as sparking the 2015-2016 wave of violence in Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Co-defendants Muhammad Abu Salah, 19, Fares Mostafa Walid Atrash, 19, and a fourth, whose name was not revealed because he was a minor, plead guilty and were found by the court to have participated in the stoning of Levlovich's car. Dawiat has also been convicted of throwing firebombs at Israeli police in 2014. The family home of Abed Dawiat, (17,) who found by the court to have personally thrown the rocks that hit Levlovich's car, was demolished by order of the court. As of march, 2018, Interior Minister Arye Deri was considering stripping Dawait of his right to reside in Jerusalem under a new law permitting the revocation of residency for individuals involved in terrorist activity. Impact In the immediate wake of the killing, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced that they would "use all necessary means" to "combat stone-throwers, those who hurl Molotov cocktails, and those who detonate pipe bombs and shoot fireworks with the aim of doing harm to police and civilians." Stating that "We will institute a system-wide change and set a new standard of deterrence and prevention." Levlovich's death caused Israel's Security Cabinet to act on the long-simmering issue of violent and deadly stone-throwing attacks by Palestinian youths. On 24 September 2015, the Security Cabinet enacted new measures against the throwing of rocks and of Molotov cocktails. The new regulations permit police to use Ruger rifles firing .22-caliber bullets, and to open fire when there is “an immediate and concrete danger” to civilians exists, or when the lives of security officers are threatened. In addition, Israel will revoke child support benefits for underage youth serving time in prison. In addition, legislation was proposed in September 2015 to impose minimum terms of four years in prison — with a maximum term of 20 years — on adults who throw rocks, throw firebombs, or who shoot fireworks aimed directly at human beings. Higher fines are to be imposed on youths between the ages of 14 and 18, and also on their parents. Arguing for passage of legislation that would enable courts to impose life sentences on terrorists, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked pointed out that the killers who threw rocks at Alexander Levlovich's car on Rosh Hashana, were indicted for manslaughter, not murder, because existing law demands proof that a murder was premeditated. References Attacks in 2015 Murder in 2015 Israeli–Palestinian conflict Deaths by rocks thrown at cars Palestinian stone-throwing

57428397

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Esther%20Ohana

Killing of Esther Ohana

Esther Ohana (Alt.: Ester Ohana) was an Israeli woman who was killed by a rock thrown by a Palestinian Arab through the window of the vehicle in which she was riding on 29 January 1983, hitting her directly in the head. Ohana never regained consciousness and died two weeks later in hospital. Ohana was the first Israeli to be killed by a Palestinian stone-throwing attack. Attack The attack took place on the Beersheva - Hebron road, where it passed through the Arab town of Dhahiriya. Ohana, a civilian social worker form Beit Shean, was riding in a private vehicle driven by an army officer at the time of the attack. Ohana was taken to a hospital, she died on 12 February without ever having regained consciousness. She was to have been married a week later. Search for killers and curfew Israel immediately imposed a curfew on Dahariya, permitting residents to leave their houses only during a 2-hour period each day as police sought clues to the identity of the perpetrators. After three weeks, 5 suspects were arrested and the curfew was lifted. Conviction and sentencing Five youths were convicted of "deliberately causing death" and sentenced to between 11 and 13 years in prison. Four of the youths confessed to having thrown rocks at the car in which Ohana was a passenger, the fifth confessed to being the leader of the "terrorist cell," but stated that he had not personally thrown rocks. No penalty was imposed on the house of the man who did not throw stones. The houses of the four who threw stones were "forfeited and sealed off" under Regulation 119. The penalty was upheld on appeal on the grounds that it is the "duty and right" of the Military Commander "to protect all people using public roads, Jews and Arabs alike; given the plague of throwing stones." Impact Addressing the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Security Committee, General Rafael Eitan is reported to have urged that "for every stone that the Arabs throw in the West Bank," ten new settlements should be built. In April, Israel announced that it would expand 68 West Bank settlements, increasing the Jewish population of the West Bank from 30,000 to 50,000. On January 31, 1983 the Israeli cabinet approved the establishment of the West Bank settlement of Teneh Omarim as a Nahal post by 21 members of the Socialist-Zionist Hashomer Hatzair movement who had intended to settle at Kibbutz Nir Oz in the Negev, and instead settled at Teneh Omarim, near the road where Ohana had been killed two days before. Context Five years later, during the First Intifada, a Jewish civilian, Vardi Bamberger, 25, of Pesagot, was severely injured when rocks were thrown at the vehicle in which she was riding at the same spot where Ester Ohana was killed. Bamberger suffered a fractured skull, but survived. References Israeli–Palestinian conflict Attacks in 1983 Murder in 1983 Israeli terrorism victims Deaths by rocks thrown at cars Palestinian stone-throwing

57639551

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Susanna%20Feldmann

Killing of Susanna Feldmann

Susanna Maria Feldmann (born 2 November 2003) was a 14-year-old German girl who was raped and killed on the night of 22 May 2018 in Wiesbaden. Ali Bashar Ahmad Zebari, a 21-year-old asylum seeker from Iraqi Kurdistan, confessed to the murder and was found guilty in July 2019 at a trial in Landgericht Wiesbaden. Incident description and arrest of suspect Susanna Feldmann was reported missing by her mother at 9 p.m. on 23 May 2018, after she had uncharacteristically not returned home for a morning appointment after a night out and telling her mother she was staying with friends. Shortly before being strangled to death, the victim texted a friend “Help me, I want to go and they won’t let me. They’re keeping me here.” Her remains were found by police in early June buried near the Ländches Railway line, after they had been tipped off about the location by a 13-year-old migrant who lived in the same refugee station as Zebari. She was found to have been raped and then suffocated that night. Feldmann's mother, Diana, had continued to receive WhatsApp messages from her daughter's phone after the time of her death. Diana said that the crime was not seen as anti-Semitic, because Susanna never mentioned her Jewishness, and her father was Turkish and mother originally from Russia, so she had both Turkish and Russian flags on her Instagram profile. Susanna had met a number of refugees in Wiesbaden, and had a crush on Ali's younger brother, KC, and Diana believes that she was tricked into the situation by KC in order to please his older brother and his gang. Diana Feldmann blames Germany's culture of welcoming immigrants (Willkommenskultur) and has asked that Merkel resign. Ali Bashar Ahmad Zebari was born on 11 March 1997. He used his second given name as a surname when he arrived in Germany, so media initially reported his name as Ali B. or Ali Bashar. According to Stefan Müller, the head of police for western Hesse, Zebari had probably migrated to Germany in October 2015 as part of a wave of other migrants. Zebari lived in a refugee station in the Erbenheim district of Wiesbaden and was known to police authorities for other crimes involving violence. His asylum application had been rejected in 2016, but he was allowed to stay in Germany while his appeal was being reviewed. He was also one of several suspects in the sexual assault of an 11-year-old girl living in the same refugee shelter. Zebari, along with his parents and five siblings, departed Germany on 2 June 2018 using false names. On 8 June 2018, he was captured in northern Iraq by Kurdish authorities. According to Tarik Ahmad, the police chief of Dohuk where the suspect was arrested, Zebari confessed to strangling Feldmann but denied raping her. Dieter Romann, head of Germany’s federal police force, traveled to Iraq and returned the suspect to Germany with the help of authorities in the Kurdistan Region. The central Iraqi government lodged a formal protest with Germany. In Germany, Romann was sued for illegally depriving the suspect of his liberty, but proceedings were stopped in January 2019 on the grounds that the extradition had been initiated by Iraqi authorities. Based on information provided by the Iraqi government, Prosecutor Oliver Kuhn said that the suspect was probably older than his German documents state. Die Welt reported that the age discrepancy arose because when the suspect and his family requested asylum in Germany in 2015, they claimed to have no identity documents; they later presented Iraqi documents at the consulate in Frankfurt. Because Zebari is 21 years old, older than the originally reported 20, he will be tried as an adult. Aftermath and public debate The Central Council of Jews in Germany confirmed that the victim was a member of the Jewish community in Mainz and expressed condolences to friends and family of the victim. This incident was one of a series of high-profile crimes by asylum seekers that led to a fraught political conversation about German migrant policy and hardened anti-immigration sentiments. The question of how Zebari had been allowed to remain in Germany after his asylum application was rejected in 2016 was raised. Politicians like Christian Lindner (FDP) raised questions as to how the suspect, along with his family, were able to leave Germany using fake identities. The Süddeutsche Zeitung noted that the murder of Feldmann was listed in social media among the cases of other German women killed by asylum seekers, and enumerated the murders of Maria Ladenburger of Freiburg (2016), Mia Valentin of Kandel (2017), and Mireille B. of Flensburg (2018); foreign media such as The New Yorker also grouped together the Mia Valentin and Daniel Hillig murders. Far-right parties and social media have also exploited the case for their own ends. Ethnologist and head of the Research Centre of Global Islam at the Goethe University Frankfurt, Susanne Schröter, said that Zebari lacked respect for German society, German women, and German police, and spoke of a culture clash, whilst not making a blanket accusation against refugees, Arab men or Muslims. In an interview with web.de, she said that there were no young women in Germany for migrants like him. She suggested that Germany needed to develop a new approach for dealing with aggressive men shaped by patriarchal cultures. She said that the perpetrator had no respect for German society nor the police, and had viewed the girl as nothing but a sex object. Verdict and sentence Bashar was found guilty of murder and rape in the court in Wiesbaden on 10 July 2019, and sentenced to life in prison. According to German law, the convict can be released on parole after 15 years, if a court finds that he is no longer dangerous. In this case the verdict includes a finding of "exceptional gravity of guilt", which means release after 15 years is nearly impossible. See also List of solved missing person cases References 2010s in Hesse 2010s missing person cases 2018 crimes in Germany 2018 murders in Germany Crime in Hesse Deaths by person in Germany Female murder victims Formerly missing people May 2018 crimes in Europe May 2018 events in Germany Missing person cases in Germany Rape in Germany Violence against women in Germany Wiesbaden Incidents of violence against girls

57734698

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Antwon%20Rose%20Jr.

Killing of Antwon Rose Jr.

Antwon Rose II was a 17-year-old African-American who was fatally shot in East Pittsburgh on June 19, 2018, by police officer Michael Rosfeld after being suspected of attempted murder by participating in a drive-by shooting. Rose had an empty handgun magazine in his pocket and gunshot residue on his hand. Allegheny County Medical Examiner Daniel Wolfe said the residue was likely the result of Rose firing a gun. He was transported to McKeesport Hospital where he was later declared deceased. Following the shooting, Rosfeld was charged with criminal homicide. After a 4-day trial, Rosfeld was acquitted on all counts. On October 25, 2019, Rosfeld and East Pittsburgh settled a civil lawsuit over Rose's death for $2 million. Background Rose was 17 years old when he died. He had worked as a community volunteer and was a student at Woodland Hills High School, where he took Advanced Placement classes. According to the family attorney, Rose had no significant criminal record prior to his death. His mother had been a clerk for another police department. His maternal grandfather had been a police officer for more than 35 years in a different jurisdiction. Rosfeld, the officer involved in this shooting, had been sworn in to the East Pittsburgh Police Department only a few hours before the shooting, and trained with the department for three weeks prior. He had seven years experience with other police departments, including those in the Pennsylvania towns of Oakmont and Harmar, and the University of Pittsburgh. Rosfeld left the University of Pittsburgh “after discrepancies were found between one of his sworn statements and evidence in an arrest.“ Shooting On Tuesday June 19, 2018, there was a drive-by shooting in North Braddock around 8:30 p.m. Just 10 minutes later, police stopped a car matching witness descriptions of the silver Chevrolet Cruze used in the drive-by shooting. The police observed bullet holes on the side of the car. A video recording taken by a bystander shows police ordering the driver to step out from the car. While the driver was being handcuffed, Rose and the third occupant, Zaijuan Hester, ran from the car. Rosfeld fired three rounds, and Rose was struck by all three. He was pronounced dead at McKeesport Hospital. In the video, a woman's voice is heard saying, "Why they shooting at him? All they did was run, and they shooting at them."[sic] Police said that Rose had been unarmed when he was shot. Hester escaped, but was later arrested. Earlier drive-by shooting Hester was charged with the drive by shooting. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette published video footage showing Rose in the front passenger seat of a Chevrolet Cruze, while Hester fired through the rear window behind him. Contradicting that video evidence, drive-by victim William Ross told investigators on January 17, 2019 that Rose was in fact the individual who had shot him: "The beef was between me and him, that car came by, he shot me, I ran to the store." Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala stated that Rose had an empty 9-millimeter handgun magazine in his pocket, and officials stated there were two guns in the car, a 9-millimeter handgun and a .40-caliber handgun. According to police, Hester had fired the .40-caliber handgun. Trial testimony from a scientist at the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office showed that Rose had gunshot residue on his hands at the time he was shot and his DNA was found on the 9mm pistol found under the passenger seat. Allegheny County Medical Examiner Daniel Wolfe said the residue didn’t necessarily mean Rose fired a gun, though it is likely he did. During the trial, Rosfeld's attorney additionally claimed that Rose had stolen one of the handguns found in the car during an armed robbery of his employer just hours before he was shot. However, this was ruled inadmissible by Judge Alexander Bicket, as information regarding the gun theft was unknown to Rosfeld when he conducted the felony traffic stop. Indictments Rosfeld was placed on leave and the Allegheny County Police Department began an investigation. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office later classified Rose's death as a homicide and said that Rose died of a gunshot wound to the torso. On June 26, Rosfeld was arrested and charged with criminal homicide, after detectives stated that there were inconsistencies in the officer's testimony. Rosfeld was released on bail by the district judges overseeing the case and according to authorities appeared remorseful during interviews. Rosfeld was charged with criminal homicide, was arraigned, and had unsecured bail set at $250,000. His trial began on March 19, 2019 and concluded on March 22, 2019. Rosfeld was found not guilty of criminal homicide. Hester was arrested on June 26, 2018 and detained at the Shuman Juvenile Detention Center. Police stated that Hester had been on juvenile probation and had cut his ankle bracelet. Hester was charged with aggravated assault, criminal homicide, receiving stolen property, and firearm charges. Reactions The Washington Post reported that Rose was the first person killed by the East Pittsburgh Police Department since at least 2015. On June 25, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto told reporters "there should be a trial” before a jury regarding the death of the young man and the fate of the police officer. On July 30, it was calculated that the Pittsburgh Police force paid out over $1 million in overtime for forces who monitored protests. Protests June 2018 Protests attended by hundreds of people were held on June 20 and June 21 in front of the Allegheny County Courthouse in Downtown Pittsburgh. On the night of June 22, protestors marching on the Parkway East freeway slowed traffic for miles; subsequent protests took place near PNC Park on Pittsburgh's North Shore and in Pittsburgh's South Side neighborhood. A visiting for Rose was held on June 24, and his funeral held at the Woodland Hills Middle School on June 25. July 2018 The preliminary hearing for the officer was relocated to the Allegheny County Courthouse due to security concerns given the continued protests in the city. On July 8, while protesting on Route 30 in North Versailles, four protestors were hit by a car that drove through the march. One person was arrested and one person was taken to the hospital. The protests continued, with the goal of bringing visibility to and awareness of the shooting. On July 26, Pittsburgh city officials issued a new protest policy due to continued disruption of the city's roadways and bridges. This policy does not prohibit protests, but does prohibit unpermitted protestors from blocking traffic or shutting down specific "red zone" areas, and during limited high-traffic times in "yellow zone" areas. On July 27, protestors at Grant Street and Forbes Avenue confronted the Public Safety Director and Police Chief. One of the protestors, Nicky Jo Dawson, complained that the new policy "put further restrictions on people who are peacefully protesting against an oppressive system." March 2019 Following the trial of Rosfeld, multiple demonstrations took place. The largest was three days after the trial on March 25, in which over a thousand people marched through the streets of Downtown Pittsburgh. The march was escorted by the police. This protest coincided with a walkout of schools and universities, including Chatham University, the University of Pittsburgh, Taylor Allderdice High School, and Obama Academy. Smaller protests took place after, in which protestors occupied businesses and disrupted traffic. 2018 Community birthday celebration On July 12, 2018, members of Rose's community in Rankin, Pennsylvania came together to celebrate his 18th birthday. The celebration was motivated by his mother as a way to bring the community together. The event offered food for participants, and the organizers donated 250 backpacks of books to members of the community. See also List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States, June 2018 List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States References 2018 controversies in the United States 2018 deaths 2018 in Pennsylvania African-American history of Pennsylvania African-American-related controversies Black Lives Matter Civil rights protests in the United States Deaths by firearm in Pennsylvania Deaths by person in the United States Filmed killings by law enforcement History of Pittsburgh June 2018 events in the United States African Americans shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States Race and crime in the United States

59148476

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Emantic%20Fitzgerald%20Bradford%20Jr.

Killing of Emantic Fitzgerald Bradford Jr.

On November 22, 2018, Emantic Fitzgerald Bradford Jr., an African-American man, was shot three times from behind and killed by Hoover police officer David Alexander on the night of Thanksgiving, at the Riverchase Galleria shopping mall in Hoover, Alabama. Police responded to a shooting at the mall where two people were shot. Another African-American man suspected in the first shooting was arrested in Georgia a week later and charged in the shooting of one of those injured. Bradford was holding a legally owned weapon when shot and was not involved in the prior shooting incident, although near the crime scene. The shooting of Bradford was immediately controversial, and was condemned by the Alabama National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) as an example of racially biased policing. Background Emantic "EJ" Fitzgerald Bradford Jr., of Hueytown, Alabama, was 21 years old. He was born on June 18, 1997. He attended Holy Family Cristo Rey High School in Birmingham and earned his diploma through the General Educational Development (GED) program. Bradford had enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2017 and completed basic training, and was on leave in August 2018 before completing advanced individual training. Bradford worked full-time and was a caretaker for his father, a former correctional officer, with cancer. Incident On November 22, 2018, at approximately 9:52 PM local time, an altercation involving four people occurred near the Footaction and JCPenney stores on the second level of the mall. One of the men – initially claimed to be Bradford and currently believed to be Erron Brown, who was later arrested by U.S. Marshalls – reportedly drew a weapon and shot 18-year-old Brian Wilson twice, before fleeing the area. Stray gunfire also hit a 12-year-old female bystander. Within five seconds after Wilson was shot, two officers from the Hoover Police Department approached Bradford, who was armed. One of the officers immediately fired from behind at Bradford, who was running with gun in hand, and killed him. It subsequently transpired that Bradford's movements in the critical seconds were more complicated than originally thought. Brian Wilson and the injured 12-year-old were taken to different hospitals; Wilson in serious condition with two gunshots to the torso and the 12-year-old in stable condition with a lodged bullet near her spine. The mall was closed for the night. The 12-year-old was found to have had a rib fractured in the initial shooting, but her spine was undamaged. A 70-year-old woman had been injured by a fall while attempting to flee. She sustained multiple pelvic fractures, as well as internal bleeding and bleeding of the brain, and she was airlifted to Mobile. Investigation The Hoover Police Department turned all video and other collected evidence to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department, which subsequently turned the investigation over to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. All three agencies initially refused to release videos of the event. During the investigation into the shooting, an additional gun was found in the "Santa's Village" portion of the Galleria. Doubt grew that Bradford was the initial shooter. In a press conference, Captain Rector of the Hoover Police Department stated that the initial shooter would need to be determined by the investigation into that shooting. Captain Rector also stated that they believe the initial altercation may have more people involved than originally suspected, and clarified that a separate investigation by the Hoover Police Department would occur for the police shooting. Late in the evening, the Hoover Police Department issued a correction saying that Bradford was not the shooter. They said the shooter was not in custody. Furthermore, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency took over as lead investigator of the shootings. A suspect in the initial shooting, Erron Martez Dequan Brown, was arrested by U.S. Marshals at a relative's home in Fairburn, Georgia, on November 29. He was charged with the attempted murder of Wilson. On February 5, 2019, the Office of the Attorney General of Alabama released a report of its review of the evidence regarding the police shooting. They determined that "Officer 1", as he was referred to in the report, "identified E.J. Bradford as an immediate deadly threat to innocent civilians and thus shot Bradford to eliminate the threat," and therefore, that he, "did not commit a crime under Alabama law when he shot and killed E.J. Bradford and thus the Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct preclude presentation of this case to a grand jury." The report was strongly criticised by Bradford's family. Aftermath The mall reopened the day after the shooting at 6 AM, and the two officers who were involved in the shooting were placed on administrative leave pending the investigation. When it was reported that the 21-year-old deceased victim was not the perpetrator, the family of the victim raised demands that the Hoover, Alabama Mayor and Police Chief step down. Protests were organized by a Birmingham activist group called Justice League on the following Saturday. Protesters also called for a boycott of the Galleria. On November 26, 2018, a protest gathered outside Hoover City Hall, calling for the Hoover Police Department to release video from the police body cameras and mall surveillance cameras for public review. The protestors then shut down U.S. Highway 31, carrying signs reading "Black Lives Matter", "Justice for EJ", and "Justice starts with the truth", as they marched to the Riverchase Galleria, the site of the shooting. Additional protests throughout the city of Hoover were organized in the following weeks in multiple shopping areas, public interstates, and private residences of Hoover City Officials, some resulting in the arrest of participants. Family of Bradford The family of Bradford hired civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump. Additionally, the Alabama chapter of the NAACP issued a press release condemning the "extreme and excessive police force." At a press conference in Birmingham, Benjamin Crump claimed that witnesses to both shootings described the responding officers as not revealing that they were undercover officers nor that they gave any orders to people nearby before shooting Bradford. He also stated that Bradford was trying to clear the area when the officers reached the scene of the initial shooting and that they prevented Bradford from receiving aid for a gunshot wound to the face. It was claimed that the gun on Bradford was not in his hands, but attached to his pants. According to various members of Bradford's family, no one from the Hoover Police Department informed them of his death. In addition, they were not provided with any details of the police shooting until the November 28 meeting. One of Bradford's relatives called for the resignation of both Chief Derzis and Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato for their actions shortly after Bradford's death. A meeting between the family of Bradford and Mayor Brocato, Chief Derzis, and Councilman Derrick Murphy occurred on November 28. The city leaders apologized to the Bradford family for the shooting and answered what questions they could regarding the events. A vigil for Bradford was held on November 29 at the Kelly Ingram Park in Birmingham. A funeral for Bradford was set for December 1 at the Boutwell Memorial Auditorium with Reverend Jesse Jackson to speak. A "preliminary anatomical review" was planned on November 29 for the following day to determine the number of shots that hit Bradford and whether Bradford was hit from the front or from behind. At a press conference on December 3, Crump was joined by attorneys Rodney Barganier and Frankie Lee in revealing the results of the independent autopsy. The review concluded that Bradford was shot three times from behind while he was running. The locations of the shots were to the right side of the head, the base of the neck, and the right portion of the hip. The bullets all entered from an upward angle and the shot to the head was the fatal shot, entering from the back right of the head and exiting above the left eye. Hoover city The Hoover City Council gave the ALEA until noon on December 3 to make a decision regarding the release of information pertaining to Bradford's shooting. Had the deadline passed without comment, Chief Derzis would have decided for the council if the information would have been released without the ALEA. Derzis revealed on the 3rd that the ALEA had asked city leaders to not reveal critical information while the investigation was in progress. On December 6 it was revealed that the ALEA had had a meeting with Bradford's family, attorneys for the family, and district attorneys Danny Carr and Lyniece Washington. Part of the meeting allowed those present to view a portion of the footage of Bradford being shot. The meeting was allowed provided that specific evidence not be publicly shared or detailed. A Justice for E.J. Community Forum was held with members from the Nation of Islam and Black Lives Matter, among others, at the Muhammad Mosque in Birmingham. The city additionally postponed a Christmas tree lighting ceremony that was to take place on November 29 due to threats that the lighting would be protested. A fourth protest occurred at the AMC Patton Creek movie theater on December 2. Federal lawsuit In 2020, Bradford's family filed a federal lawsuit against the officer who shot him (as a John Doe), the city of Hoover, the Galleria, and Brookfield Property Partners, the owners of the Galleria. In November 2020, the officer who shot Bradford was identified as David Alexander. References External links 2018 deaths 2018 controversies in the United States African-American-related controversies Black Lives Matter Deaths by firearm in Alabama Law enforcement controversies in the United States African Americans in Alabama November 2018 events in the United States African Americans shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States

59630495

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Ronil%20Singh

Killing of Ronil Singh

Ronil Singh (April 6, 1985 – December 26, 2018) was a Fijian-born American police officer who was shot and killed on the morning of December 26, 2018, in Newman, California, by a driver he had pulled over on suspicion of driving while drunk. Paulo Mendoza, a 31-year-old Mexican illegal immigrant, was arrested three days later. Prior to his arrest for the murder of Singh, Mendoza was found guilty of multiple offenses. Incident Singh grew up in the town of Naitata, Navua, Fiji. He emigrated to California in 2003 with his family. He attended police academy and joined the Newman, California Police Department in 2011. While working overtime on Christmas Day, Singh was shot by a motorist whom he had pulled over because he appeared to be driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The shooter drove off and was captured after a 55-hour manhunt. Suspect The accused murderer, a citizen of Mexico, was in the United States illegally, and had previously been charged with driving under the influence. He was wanted for failing to serve his sentence on two previous charges. Although the suspect had identified himself as Gustavo Arriaga Perez, his real name was Paulo Virgen Mendoza, born December 28, 1986. Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson stated that the suspect had twice been arrested for driving under the influence, and that he spoke openly about being affiliated with a gang. His first arrest, for a felony DUI with an injury to a man, was on August 14, 2011. He was arrested on a second misdemeanor DUI on June 5, 2014. A court sentenced him to serve five days in jail, and three years of probation for the 2011 DUI, as well as to enroll in a DUI program. However, he never showed up, and the warrant was still outstanding when he shot Singh four years later. The suspected shooter was scheduled to appear in court in January 2015 to be arraigned for his second DUI case, but court records reveal he never showed up. A warrant was then issued for his arrest. He appeared in court on January 2, 2019 and was charged with the murder of Officer Singh, although the trial was suspended temporarily for a mental health evaluation requested by his attorney. Mendoza was cleared by psychiatrists to stand trial on April 2, 2019. On April 11, 2019, Mendoza initially pled not guilty to the murder, but later pled guilty to first-degree murder as well as other special circumstances on a trial on November 5, 2020 as part of a plea deal to avoid the death penalty. He was sentenced to life without parole. Political attention President Trump drew attention to the crime immediately after the arrest, and in a January 9, 2019 in an address from the Oval Office on the need to build a wall between the United States and Mexico, saying, "“America’s heart broke the day after Christmas when a young police officer in California was savagely murdered in cold blood by an illegal alien, who just came across the border,... The life of an American hero was stolen by someone who had no right to be in our country.” Singh's brother, Reggi Singh, accompanied President Trump on a visit to the Mexican border in Texas. Stanislaus County Sheriff Christianson said that, “Law enforcement was prohibited because of sanctuary laws, and that led to the encounter with Officer Singh,... “I’m suggesting that the outcome could have been different if law enforcement wasn’t restricted, prohibited or had their hands tied because of political interference.” The case has been compared to the 2015 Shooting of Kathryn Steinle in San Francisco and the 2018 Killing of Mollie Tibbetts in Iowa. Nicole Malliotakis wrote that "Corporal Singh's name must now be added to the growing list of Americans that includes Kate Steinle, Kayla Cuevas, Nisa Mickens, and Mollie Tibbetts, who were all killed by individuals who were unlawfully in our nation. The most recent victim, 22 year-old Pierce Kennedy Corcoran, was killed by an unlicensed and uninsured illegal immigrant driver on the last Saturday of 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. The simple fact is, if we had stronger border security in lieu of sanctuary policies that protect those in our country illegally, these six young (average age 23) Americans, would still be alive today." Former California Governor Jerry Brown denied that the Ronil Singh's death had anything to do with California's new sanctuary law. See also Office of Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement Illegal immigration to the United States and crime References External links Brother Of Fallen Newman Officer Ronil Singh Takes Part In Pres. Trump's Border Security Roundtable. CBS Local, January 10, 2019. December 2018 events in the United States 2018 crimes in California 2018 murders in the United States American people of Indo-Fijian descent Singh, Ronil December 2018 crimes in the United States Stanislaus County, California

59657284

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Aisha%20al-Rabi

Killing of Aisha al-Rabi

On October 12, 2018, Aisha al-Rabi, 47, a Palestinian woman, was killed by Jewish settler teens near the Tapuah Junction in the northern Israeli-occupied West Bank south of Nablus as they hurled rocks at the car she was traveling in. One particularly large rock smashed the front windshield and crushed her skull. In December 2018, five teenage boys from a nearby Jewish religious boarding schools where detained as suspects of the crime. Four of them were released in January 2019, but the last one, a 16-year-old boy were held until he was placed in house arrest in May. In May 2020, it was reported that he had been allowed to return home to his settlement in the West Bank. His trial has not yet begun. The attack was labelled a terrorist attack by the Israeli government but Aisha al-Rabi's family has not received compensation from it because they are not Israeli citizens. They are currently processing against the Israeli government to receive what they think is fair compensation for the attack. The killing Aisha, her husband Yaqoub (also translit: Aykube), 51, and her daughter Rama, 8, were on their way home to Bidya, Salfit Governorate in the northwestern West Bank, south of Nablus from Hebron where one of Aisha and Yaqoub's six daughters live. They were traveling in their car on Highway 60. At around 9:30 pm Yaqoub, who drove the car, slowed down about 100 meters before the Tapuah Junction where a permanent Israeli checkpoint is located. At that point, a group of settlers on the right shoulder of the road began hurling stones at the car. The front windshield and the right passenger side window where Aisha was sitting was hit by the barrage. One particularly heavy rock, weighing roughly two kilos, was dropped on the car, smashing the windshield and hitting her on the right side of her face on the ear as she was talking to Yaqoub. The rock crushed her skull and caused her to lose consciousness. Yaqoub rushed Aisha to Rafidia hospital in Nablus, a 20 minutes drive away, where his wife was pronounced dead. Investigation A few days later, the Israeli secret police, Shin Bet, began investigating the case. Itamar Ben-Gvir, leader of the far-right party Otzma Yehudit was critical of the agency's involvement: "Experience shows the Jewish Division investigates... in an aggressive and problematic manner which does not allow the truth to come out, but at most brings out false confessions." According to The Times of Israel, the involvement of Shin Bet indicated that the authorities suspected that the attack was carried out by settlers. The investigation led Shin Bet to focus on Pri Ha'aretz, a religious boarding school in Rechelim, located close to where the stones were thrown. According to Shin Bet, far-right activists from the nearby Yitzhar settlement drove to Pri Haaretz on Saturday morning, the day after the murder, to help the students prepare for future interrogation from Israeli authorities and to avoid revealing incriminating evidence. This was seen as suspicious because Saturday is the Jewish day of rest and most religious Jews would observe the religious injunction to not drive on that day. At the end of December 2018, the Shin Bet arrested three students from Pri Ha'aretz and interrogated them for a week without allowing them to meet with attorneys. Five days later, two more students were arrested and were also prevented from meeting with lawyers. On January 6, 2019, it was announced that the minors had been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the murder. On January 10, four of the minors were released but kept under house arrest. On January 15, a Statement of Claimant was filed in court by the prosecutor on the intention to file an indictment against the 16-year-old minor who remained in detention. During these weeks Shin Bet came under fire from settler and pro-settler groups who accused it of torturing the suspects. Shin Bet denied the allegation and released evidence from the investigation to justify why it had to keep the minors detained. Among the evidence was an Israeli flag with a swastika drawn over the Star of David and the text "Death to Zionists" written on it. On January 24, 2019, an indictment was filed against the minor on suspicion of manslaughter, stone throwing at a vehicle and intentional sabotage of a vehicle, all under the circumstances of a terrorist act. According to the indictment, the minor threw a rock that weighs close to two kilograms in order to harm vehicle passengers of Arab descent. The main evidence was a DNA sample from the suspect found on the stone that killed al-Rabi. According to the suspect the find could perhaps be explained by him spitting while walking around in the area. In May 2019, a forensic investigation concluded that the damage to Aisha al-Rabi's skull might be inconsistent with that of being hit by a single rock. The chief pathologist at the National Center of Forensic Medicine at Abu Kabir, Dr. Hen Kugel, stated regarding the wounds: "In searching the professional literature, there was no case found in which such broad wounds [found on the victim] were the result of one strike of a stone." However, he noted that he was one of seven pathologists at Abu Kabir who studied the case and only two of them agreed with his conclusion, two found the evidence inconclusive, and two believed that the evidence indeed showed that the wounds had been caused by a single rock. The minor was subsequently released to house arrest. In May 2020, it was reported that he had been allowed to return home to his settlement in the West Bank. He has not yet been brought to trial. Responses The US Consulate General in Jerusalem expressed condolences for Aisha Rabi's family and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. Jason Greenblatt, the US Special Envoy for Middle East Negotiations, also expressed condolences for Aisha's family and called her killing "reprehensible." The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov condemned the attack and called the Israeli authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice. The Minister of Tourism Yariv Levin criticized left-wing activists for blaming Jewish incidents, claiming they were basing their allegations on "scraps of an incident." Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked met with the families of the five suspects on January 7, 2019 to hear their concerns. Compensation Israeli victims of political violence or their relatives are eligible for compensation from the Israeli National Insurance Institute. In January 2020, it was revealed that Aisha al-Rabi's family was not eligible for compensation because she was not an Israeli citizen. Though the family would have the right to appeal to an inter-governmental committee the Israeli Defense Ministry said. Nabila Kaboub, one of the lawyers representing al-Rabi's family said she would appeal the decision. She further demanded that the defendant's home be demolished, referring to the Israeli policy of demolishing homes belonging to Palestinian attackers. In August 2020, the Israeli government offered NIS 670,000 in compensation to the family. The family who had demanded over NIS 7 million in compensation rejected the government's offer. See also Israeli settler violence Jewish Israeli stone-throwing List of violent incidents in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, 2018 Yitzhar References Attacks in 2018 Criminal rock-throwing Deaths by rocks thrown at cars Israeli–Palestinian conflict October 2018 events in Asia Political violence in Israel West Bank

61592500

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Andrew%20Harper

Killing of Andrew Harper

On 15 August 2019, 28-year-old English police constable Andrew Harper was killed near Sulhamstead, Berkshire, England in the line of duty. Harper and a fellow officer were responding to a report of a burglary, after which Harper was dragged behind a car causing his death. In July 2020, three teenage males were found guilty of manslaughter and received sentences of 16 and 13 years imprisonment. They were acquitted on the charge of murder. Harper's killing led to the proposal of Harper's Law, which would introduce a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment for anyone convicted of killing emergency workers. Background Andrew James Harper (22 March 1991 – 15 August 2019) grew up in Wallingford. He was educated at The Henley College, where he showed an ambition for joining the police. Harper initially joined Thames Valley Police as a special constable in 2010 at the age of 19, before joining as a regular police constable in 2011. He joined Thames Valley Police's road policing unit approximately six weeks before his death, and was based at the force's Abingdon station. On 18 July 2019, Harper married his partner of 13 years, Lissie (née Beckett). They had been expecting to go on their honeymoon in mid-August. Incident At 23:17 on 15 August 2019, Thames Valley Police received a 999 call from a property near Stanford Dingley, Berkshire, reporting a burglary-in-progress and theft of a quad bike. Harper and fellow constable Andrew Shaw, who were finishing a surveillance shift in Reading, responded to the call in their unmarked BMW police car. At 23:28, Shaw and Harper happened upon a SEAT Toledo towing the stolen quad bike on Admoor Lane near Bradfield Southend. Harper, the passenger of the BMW, alighted the police vehicle and ran to the suspects' vehicle. In doing so, he was caught in a strap that had been used to tow the quad bike. With the quad bike no longer attached, the suspects drove south-east on Lambden's Hill with Harper "lassoed" to the rear of the SEAT vehicle. Shaw lost sight of the SEAT but in his pursuit found Harper's stab vest in the road. The SEAT, with Harper still being dragged behind, arrived at the lane's junction with the A4 Bath Road—approximately from where the police came upon the suspects. The SEAT crossed the A4 into Ufton Lane near Sulhamstead, and Harper became disentangled. At 23:30, Shaw received a radio transmission from another responding officer which warned of "a body in the road"; Shaw replied that he believed the body was that of Harper. Shaw arrived at the location to find another officer tending to Harper, who was pronounced deceased by paramedics at 23:45. The SEAT was later found at Four Houses Corner travellers' site near Burghfield Common by a police helicopter using thermal imaging. Investigation and legal proceedings At 00:50 on 16 August, police arrested an 18-year-old male and a 17-year-old male at the caravan site. In a separate operation, a 20-year-old man from Pingewood was arrested on suspicion of murder. A second 17-year-old male was also later arrested. Media reported that in total, 10 males aged between 13 and 30 had been arrested. On 19 August, the 20-year-old was charged with murder. On 17 August, Thames Valley Police's Major Crimes Unit stated that a post mortem performed the previous day gave Harper's cause of death as "multiple injuries", which was congruent with their theory that he had been "caught between a vehicle and the road, and then dragged for a distance". The post mortem also showed that Harper had sustained a "very severe" brain injury; a pathologist stated that it was likely Harper lost consciousness when he fell to the ground. Investigations showed that Harper was dragged in 91 seconds, with the defendants averaging . On 18 September, 18-year-old Henry Long and 17-year-olds Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole were charged with murder. A fourth male, a 21-year-old from Basingstoke, was charged with conspiracy to steal a quad bike and subsequently pleaded guilty to the charge. On 19 September, the Crown Prosecution Service said that they had discontinued the case against a fifth defendant, a 20-year-old who had previously been charged with the murder. Trial The murder trial, presided over by Mr. Justice Andrew Edis, began at the Old Bailey on 10 March 2020. Bowers and Cole—both minors at the time of the offence and originally protected by Section 39 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933—pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal a quad bike but denied manslaughter. Long, who was driving the SEAT, had previously admitted manslaughter and conspiracy to steal a quad bike. All three defendants denied murder. On 13 March, the court heard that all parties agreed that the police constable first to attend to Harper on the A4 did not strike him with his vehicle, contrary to early reports of the incident. The trial was temporarily suspended on 17 and 18 March as a member of the jury was unwell. The trial, which was being held during the COVID-19 pandemic, resumed on 19 March after two of the jurors were discharged because they were self-isolating. On 23 March, along with all other jury trials in England and Wales, the trial was suspended pending a review of operations amid the spread of COVID-19. During this subsequently abandoned trial, Thames Valley Police said they had received intelligence suggesting possible jury intimidation. The police later said that there was not a "shred of evidence" that the jury had been influenced. A retrial began on 23 June following changes to the UK's COVID-19 lockdown. On 20 July, a juror was discharged after a prison officer reported that she had mouthed "bye boys" to the defendants in the courtroom. The following day, the 11-person jury retired to deliberate. On 24 July, the three defendants were cleared of murder. Long had pleaded guilty to, and Bowers and Cole were found guilty of, manslaughter. Harper's widow had made a victim impact statement and later released an open letter, in which she implored Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel to allow a retrial seeking a murder verdict. On 31 July, Long was sentenced to 16 years and both Bowers and Cole to 13 years in prison. In his summary, on the matter as to whether the jury had been subject to any improper pressure, Edis said: "To the best of my knowledge and belief there is no truth in that at all". Harper's MP, John Howell, had said that he intended to ask for a review of the sentences. Appeals On 4 August, the Attorney General's Office confirmed that it had received a request to review the sentences under the unduly lenient sentence scheme. On 19 August 2020, Bowers and Cole made applications for permission to appeal against their convictions for manslaughter, and against the sentences that they had received. On 21 August, the Attorney-General applied for permission to refer the killers' sentences to the Court of Appeal on the basis that she considered them to be "unduly lenient". On 28 August, Long applied for permission to appeal against his sentence, on the basis that it was too severe. The Attorney-General's application for permission to refer and the defendants' applications for permission to appeal were heard by the Court of Appeal on 30 November 2020, the Attorney-General Suella Braverman appearing personally. On 16 December 2020 the Court of Appeal dismissed: (1) the Attorney-General's application for permission to refer the sentences as unduly lenient; (2) Long's application for permission to appeal against his sentence; and (3) Bowers and Cole's applications for permission to appeal against their convictions. Bowers and Cole's applications for permission to appeal against their sentences were granted, to enable the Court of Appeal to correct an error made in their sentencing for the offence of conspiracy to steal. Their sentences in respect of the manslaughter convictions were not altered. As their sentences for conspiracy to steal and for manslaughter were to run concurrently, their overall sentences were not affected. Legacy Harper's funeral was held on 14 October 2019 at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. Members of the public lined the streets to watch the funeral procession, and over 800 people attended the service including Home Secretary Priti Patel and Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran—both of whom later paid respect to Harper in the House of Commons. On 27 October 2019, 5,000 motorcyclists took part in a "ride of respect" between RAF Benson and Abingdon Airfield. On 28 January 2020, Harper was given a posthumous award by the Police Federation of England and Wales. In June 2020, Thames Valley Police have named the newest horse of their mounted section "Harper" as a tribute. Harper's Law In August 2020, Harper's widow launched a campaign for a new law which would require life imprisonment for criminals whose actions result in the death of any police officer, firefighter, nurse, doctor, or paramedic. Separately, Harper's mother launched a campaign to require killers of police officers to receive minimum jail terms of 20 years. On November 24, 2021, the Ministry of Justice announced that they would introduce "Harper's Law", a bill extending mandatory life sentences to "anyone who commits the manslaughter of an emergency worker on duty – including police, prison officers, firefighters and paramedics – while carrying out another crime unless there are truly exceptional circumstances." The law is expected to be added to the statute book in 2022. Both the Home Secretary Priti Patel and the Justice Secretary Dominic Raab credited Lissie Harper's campaign with convincing them to pass the law. Harper's Law will not affect the sentences of the three men already imprisoned for killing Andrew Harper. On December 4, the government confirmed that Harper's Law would be implemented "as soon as possible". See also List of British police officers killed in the line of duty Footnotes References 2019 deaths 2019 in England 2020s trials August 2019 crimes in Europe August 2019 events in the United Kingdom British police officers killed in the line of duty Crime in Berkshire Deaths by person in England Manslaughter in the United Kingdom Murder trials Sulhamstead Trials in London

62050220

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Atatiana%20Jefferson

Killing of Atatiana Jefferson

Atatiana Koquice Jefferson, a 28-year-old woman, was shot to death in her home by a police officer in Fort Worth, Texas, United States, in the early morning of October 12, 2019. Police arrived at her home after a neighbor called a non-emergency number, stating that Jefferson's front door was open. Police body camera footage showed officers walking outside the home with flashlights for a few minutes while one of them yells, "Put your hands up! Show me your hands!", while discharging his weapon through a window. Police stated that they found a handgun near her body, which according to her eight-year-old nephew, she was pointing toward the window before being shot. On October 14, 2019, Officer Aaron Dean, the shooter, resigned from the Fort Worth Police Department and was arrested on a murder charge. On December 20, 2019, Dean was indicted for murder. Jefferson was black and the officer who shot her is white, prompting news outlets to compare Jefferson's shooting to the September 2018 murder of Botham Jean in nearby Dallas. People involved Atatiana Jefferson Atatiana Koquice Jefferson, a 28-year-old African American woman, was a pre-medical graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana. Relatives said she worked in human resources. She lived in the house to care for her mother and nephew. Aaron Dean On October 14, 2019, Interim Police Chief Ed Kraus identified Officer Aaron Dean as the shooter. Dean was commissioned as an officer with the Fort Worth Police Department in April 2018 after completing the Fort Worth Police Academy in March, 2018. At the time of the shooting, Dean had been with the department approximately 18 months. Prior to the shooting, the only substantial entry in his Fort Worth police personnel file was about a traffic collision. In 2004, Dean received a citation from the Arlington, Texas police for assault by contact, a class C misdemeanor, while at the University of Texas at Arlington for touching a woman's breast in the campus library. The incident was discussed during his videotaped job interview with the Fort Worth Police. He pled no contest and paid a fine. According to the Fort Worth Police Department, a Class C misdemeanor would not prevent employment with their department as a police officer. Dean's training records from his first year on the job note concerns from supervisors. These concerns included that he had "tunnel vision" and "needs improvement on communicating with the public and fellow officers." Dean's most recent performance evaluation was made in spring 2019, where he received high marks from a supervisor. Shooting Welfare call Just prior to 2:30 a.m on the morning of October 12, 2019, police received a "welfare call" from the neighborhood of Hillside Morningside, noting that the front door to someone's home was open. According to Jefferson's family, prior to police arriving at her home, she was playing video games in her home with her nephew. Body camera footage Body camera footage released by the Fort Worth Police Department shows that two officers had walked quietly around the side of the home. Officer Aaron Dean had walked into Jefferson's backyard. Seeing Jefferson in the window of her home, the officer yelled "put your hands up! Show me your hands!" and then fired a single shot through Jefferson's window. Describing the video, the BBC wrote that Dean fired "within seconds" of seeing Jefferson. The BBC also wrote that the footage does not appear to show police identifying themselves or whether she was armed. The footage also does not show any indication if Dean could see the gun that Jefferson held, as the view through the window was obstructed by the reflection from his flashlight. The officer partnered with Dean told authorities that she could only see Jefferson's face through the window. Nephew's account Jefferson's eight-year-old nephew told the authorities that while playing video games they heard noises outside the window. Jefferson took her gun from her purse and pointed it at the window, before she was shot. The nephew's account was used as the basis for the arrest warrant. Interim Chief Kraus stated that it, "makes sense that she would have a gun if she felt that she was being threatened or there was someone in the backyard." According to the Jefferson family attorney Lee Merritt, the firearm was lawfully owned and Jefferson had a concealed carry license. Death Jefferson was killed by the shot and pronounced dead at 3:05 a.m at the scene. Police officers stated that they attempted to provide emergency medical care to Jefferson and were unsuccessful. Investigation Police officials stated that the officer fired after perceiving a threat. Fort Worth Police Chief Ed Kraus stated that Dean resigned before he could be fired for what Kraus said included violating departmental policies on use of force, de-escalation, and unprofessional conduct. The separation paperwork for Dean was to be sent to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, and it would reflect that he was dishonorably discharged from the department. Manny Ramirez, the president of the Fort Worth Police Officers Association, said Dean has never been the subject of a police investigation. Kraus said Dean has refused to cooperate with investigators and has not allowed Kraus to question him. Dean has not given an oral or written statement to investigators. Ramirez said he and other officers with knowledge of the situation were dumbfounded as to why Dean would have fired his weapon in this situation. Ramirez also said there was no way to explain Dean's actions. Arrest, indictment and trial Based on footage from Dean's body camera which captured the shooting, a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was arrested at his attorney's office on October 14, 2019, and charged with murder. He was given a $200,000 bond, which he posted, and was released about three hours later. Kraus said that Dean had not provided a written statement or answered questions. On October 25, 2019, Tarrant County District Attorney Sharen Wilson said evidence will also be presented to a grand jury for a formal indictment. Dean is the only officer to face a murder charge in Tarrant County for a shooting committed while on duty. He was indicted by a grand jury on a murder charge on December 20, 2019. In October 2020, a Tarrant County judge set a tentative date of August 2021 for Dean's trial. After being initially delayed due to a backlog in the courts stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic the trial rescheduled in November 2021 to begin on January 10, 2022. A month later, the trial was delayed again due to two defense witnesses being unavailable in January. The trial is now set to begin in May 2022. Dean's defense attorneys have filed a motion for a change of venue, claiming that local media coverage has made it impossible for their client to receive a fair and impartial trial in Tarrant County. Reactions Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price called the event "tragic" and promised a "complete and thorough investigation" by police chief Ed Kraus. CBS News reported that the investigation would then be forwarded to the Law Enforcement Incident Team for the Tarrant County District Attorney. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People called Jefferson's death unacceptable. The neighbor who called for the welfare check told reporters that he never intended for an aggressive law enforcement response. He stated: "No domestic violence, no arguing. Nothing that they should have been concerned with, as far as them coming with guns drawn to my neighbor's house. There wasn't any reason for a gun shot that I know of." Jefferson's funeral was paid for by two professional athletes; former Dallas Mavericks player Harrison Barnes and Philadelphia Eagles player Malik Jackson. A GoFundMe was also created by the family lawyer on behalf of the family. The case has been cited as a cause of loss of trust in law enforcement. During a press conference in the days following the shooting, Kraus became emotional as he compared the erosion of public trust to ants working to build an anthill, when “somebody comes with a hose and washes it away and they just have to start from scratch.” References 2010s in Fort Worth, Texas 2019 controversies in the United States 2019 in Texas African-American history of Texas African-American-related controversies Black Lives Matter Deaths by firearm in Texas Deaths by person in the United States Fort Worth Police Department Law enforcement in Texas October 2019 events in the United States African Americans shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States History of women in Texas

62415321

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Greg%20Gunn

Killing of Greg Gunn

The killing of Greg Gunn occurred on the morning of February 25, 2016, in Montgomery, Alabama. Gunn, a 58-year-old African-American man, was shot and killed near his home after fleeing from a stop-and-frisk initiated by Aaron Cody Smith, a white police officer. Smith was charged with murder and indicted by a grand jury in 2016. The case came to trial in late 2019 following a change of venue to Ozark, Alabama. Smith was found guilty of manslaughter, and, in January 2020, was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Background Gregory Gunn lived with his mother in the Mobile Heights neighborhood in Montgomery, Alabama. The neighborhood had experienced a number of burglaries around the time of the incident. According to Montgomery Police officer Aaron Cody Smith, Gunn matched the description of a burglary suspect: "dark clothing, black male". Confrontation Around 3:20am on February 25, 2016, Gunn was walking home unarmed from a card game when he encountered Smith, who was patrolling the neighborhood. Smith stopped Gunn and performed a stop-and-frisk; during the encounter, Gunn fled. Smith pursued, initially attempting to use a Taser to disable Gunn, and when that failed he began striking Gunn with his baton. According to Smith's later testimony, Gunn then picked up a painter's pole, which caused Smith to fire his service weapon in what he described as self-defense. Smith shot seven times, hitting Gunn five times and killing him. Trial Smith was placed on administrative leave following the incident and was arrested and charged with murder a week later following an Alabama Bureau of Investigation inquiry. A grand jury indicted him for murder in November 2016. He was originally going to be tried in Montgomery, but the trial was moved to Ozark in the white-majority Dale County at the request of his defense attorneys. In the request to move the trial, Smith's defense attorneys said that racial prejudice in Montgomery, media coverage of the shooting, and the actions of city officials would all affect the jury. They also described Smith as "the first and only Montgomery Police Officer ever to be arrested and charged immediately after an officer-involved shooting." Eight judges recused themselves from the trial. During the trial, Smith testified that Gunn had grabbed a metal painter's pole during the fight, at which point he escalated to using his gun. Prosecutors argued that Gunn could not have picked up the pole based on photographs from the crime scene which showed a hat in Gunn's hand. A state investigator also testified that Gunn's fingerprints were not found on the pole. They also emphasized that Smith had given several different accounts of the fight in the years between the shooting and the trial. Smith had not turned on his body or dashboard cameras before the stop, so several details of the incident were unclear. On November 22, 2019, a jury found Smith guilty of the lesser included charge of manslaughter. Following the verdict, Gunn's brother Franklin said: "They brought this case to a very conservative county, expecting a different outcome...But I believe that we have seen the best of Alabama today. One bad apple in a bunch has been weeded out." On January 29, 2020, Smith was sentenced to 14 years in prison. He was released on an appeal bond in March 2020 while appealing the conviction. In May 2021 the appeal was denied. Wrongful death suit The Gunn family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in federal court against the city of Montgomery in February 2016. The suit was settled in April 2020. See also Shooting of Bernard Whitehurst List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States, February 2016 References 2016 controversies in the United States 2016 in Alabama African-American history of Alabama African-American-related controversies February 2016 events in the United States History of African-American civil rights Mass media-related controversies in the United States Montgomery, Alabama Race and crime in the United States Trials in the United States Law enforcement in Alabama

62833357

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Geetha%20Angara

Killing of Geetha Angara

On the afternoon of February 9, 2005, the body of Geetha Angara, a chemist, was found in a water tank at the Passaic Valley Water Commission treatment facility in Totowa, New Jersey, United States, after the tanks had been drained. She had not been seen since the previous morning when she had gone to the water tanks to take samples; items she had been carrying when she was last seen alive were also found. The items, a radio and broken beaker, were found in the water, below an access panel that was slightly ajar. Broken glass was found on the floor near that panel. An autopsy found bruises on Angara's neck consistent with choking, as well as on her waist and elbows, suggesting she had been involved in a violent struggle, but not a deadly one. The cause of death was determined to be drowning, as she was alive when she had gone into the water. Investigators classified the case as a homicide, believing the killing had been intentional; they put Angara's death as having occurred the day before. Since access to the plant was tightly controlled, police believed that the responsible party was someone else in the plant that day. After interviewing all of Angara's coworkers over the next few months, detectives found some possible motives and narrowed a list of possible suspects down to eight men. Three were ultimately considered suspects, but after further investigation the case went cold, and they have not been publicly identified and no arrests have been made. Investigators have also considered the possibility that the death was purely accidental, based on the work of a Scottish pathologist who argues that injuries very similar to those associated with strangulation can occur as victims drown in very cold water such as that Angara was found in—the theory is that the plate over the tank might negligently have been left open following some sample collection for water testing. Struck by similarities with a 1968 killing of a woman, also in Passaic County, alone while in a high-security industrial complex on a weekend, they looked for leads in that case's file. In 2007, Angara's family, frustrated by the lack of progress, successfully pushed for the state's Attorney General to review the case, but that effort did not result in any new leads or information either. Background Born in Chennai, India, in 1961, Angara earned bachelor's and master's degrees in chemistry from Loyola College, Chennai, the first woman in the school's history to do so. As the top student in the class, she earned a gold medal. In 1984, she emigrated to the U.S., where she earned additional master's degrees and a doctorate in organic chemistry from New York University. Angara married another Indian émigré who worked in banking, and the couple shortly had the first of their three children, settling at first in Clifton, New Jersey, a suburb in Passaic County. After a year at Merck analyzing compounds, in 1992 Angara began working for the Passaic Valley Water Commission (PVWC), a public utility owned by Clifton and the neighboring cities of Passaic and Paterson, which provides of water daily to 800,000 customers in those cities and 14 other communities in that region of North Jersey. Seven years later, the family moved to Holmdel, to the south in Monmouth County, where they believed the school system was better. In 2003 an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, "Brotherhood", used the PVWC plant as one of its filming locations. It centered on a coverup of lethal fraternity hazing; one scene had a character's body found floating in a tank. "Brotherhood" was the show's first episode aired in 2004. Angara had been considering leaving the PVWC, but changed her mind after she was promoted to senior chemist of the plant and earned a plant operator's license. In that position, she took the lead in transitioning the Totowa plant from the chlorination it had been using to purify its water to an ozone-based process. She was proud of her work on that project, but some of her coworkers had resented both her promotion and the switch, her husband later recalled. Angara did not socialize much with her coworkers, other than a few she worked with closely, preferring to concentrate on her work. In August 2004, the ozone system, to the extent it had been installed, failed briefly due to poor welding. In late January 2005, the discovery of a pinkish substance in the treated water, during a week Angara was out sick, heightened tensions in the PVWC workplace, since Angara was asked to retrain some coworkers as a result. Angara had also begun the process of applying for another license, which aroused more antipathy among those coworkers who disliked her. Another coworker later told People this attitude was at least in part racially motivated: "Ninety-eight percent of the plant is white, and not all of them like seeing immigrants do well". Death On the morning of February 8, Angara arrived at 7:30 a.m. and worked until a 9:45 a.m. breakfast with her immediate coworkers. One, a subordinate of hers, told her that the plant's filters and clarity sensors needed to be calibrated, an assertion supported by plant records. The group left for another building shortly before 10 a.m.; Angara returned to the building where she usually worked at 10:30. Angara was carrying a clipboard, beaker, and a two-way radio. She left a sandwich on her desk, apparently intending to eat it when she returned from a task her coworkers said she had done many times without incident. It was the last time Angara was seen alive. The subordinate who had reminded her of the need to calibrate the instruments went into the basement, noticing broken glass on the floor in one area about 15 to 20 minutes later. By 11 a.m. the subordinate was asking other workers in the lab if anyone had seen Angara. Angara's absence would not otherwise be noticed at work until 9:20 p.m. that night, when a worker on the night shift noted that her car was still in the parking lot; another worker noticed that her sandwich was still on her desk where she had left it and her coat was still in the closet. Her coworkers returned to work from their homes to search the building for her. Repeated calls to her cell phone from her family in Holmdel, where she was supposed to give her daughter a ride to an afternoon basketball game, had gone unanswered. Workers at the plant called the Angaras to say they could not find her at the plant and it did not appear she had ever left. Before midnight, she had been reported missing to police. Workers searching the basement found an area where one of the , aluminum floor panels that opened onto the million-gallon () tanks was slightly ajar, and the 12 screws which normally held it in place were broken or missing. On the floor nearby were some shards of broken glass consistent with the beaker Angara had been carrying. These were swept up and thrown away. At 2 a.m. on February 9, PVWC officials shut the plant down so that the tank below that panel could be drained. When it was, Angara's radio and clipboard were found. Over the course of the day, the other tanks were drained. At 6:30 p.m. Angara's body was found in the clear well, a different tank it had drifted into. Before refilling the tanks and restoring service, the commission issued a boil-water order to customers as a precaution; this was lifted at the end of the following day. Investigation Angara's body was autopsied by the Passaic County coroner's office. The pathologists found that she was alive when she went into the water and reported the cause of death as drowning. Her neck, however, had deep bruises, suggesting a strangulation attempt prior to death. Other bruises on her waist and elbow suggested a struggle. Six days after Angara's death, county prosecutor James Avigliano announced that the case would be investigated as a homicide. Detectives' case theory was that whoever had killed Angara had likely incapacitated her first (exactly how, if not just through the strangulation, has not been made public since only the killer would know that; some accounts suggest she was struck on the head, but with only bare hands), and then opened the access panel and dumped her in, then hastily replaced the panel. An alarm system that would have gone off when it detected significant displacement in the water was not functioning. The tank was unlit and there was no ladder that would have allowed Angara to climb up into the between the water surface and the basement floor; the water itself filled the tank to a uniform depth of leaving no place to stand. The circumstances made it difficult to find forensic evidence that might lead to the killer. Angara's body had been immersed for over a day, and the heavy chlorination in the water eliminated any trace evidence, such as DNA or fingerprints, that another person might have left on it or her clothing during the final struggle. The glass fragments from the beaker on the floor near the panel had been irretrievably disposed of. Many firefighters and police officers, as well as plant workers, had walked through the putative crime scene before the body was found, leaving it severely compromised. While there were many security cameras elsewhere in the plant complex, there were none in the basement above the tanks. Loud machinery in the area where Angara was attacked would have muffled any sounds like a scream, struggle, or broken glass. This paucity of evidence was offset by the limited pool of suspects. Access to the treatment plant complex was tightly controlled, with only one driveway and a manned security post where all entrants had to check in, monitored by a camera (although once they had been cleared, they could move about the complex freely). Most of the property was otherwise fenced off, except for the south side on the Passaic River. Security records showed that no one was in the complex that day who had not been cleared. Of the plant's 83 other employees, 50 had come to work that day. Police believed one of those people had killed Angara. Since the autopsy showed she had not been sexually assaulted, they ruled out that as a motive. They also dismissed any attempt to emulate the Special Victims Unit episode. Instead, after learning of the animosity some of her coworkers had for Angara, they looked to that. Two women were known to have widely disliked Angara, but no one thought they were capable of killing her over that. Detectives found that many of her coworkers thought well of her, saying that in addition to being devoted to her work and cheerful, she was modest, asking them not to address her as "Doctor" and simply use her first name instead. Her job responsibilities as senior chemist did not include hiring or firing authority, making it unlikely that a workplace dispute could have arisen from those possibilities. Investigators began to consider the possibility that the killing was not planned and instead had arisen from either an argument or Angara witnessing something the killer did not want anyone to witness; they had also ruled out the discoloration and ozone issues as a motive, and no longer believed the displacement sensor's breakdown was a factor. From the strength required to lift and replace the access panel, and struggle with the , chemist, police came to believe the killer was male (although the county coroner argued that a woman in sufficient physical condition could have done those things as well). The Passaic County prosecutor's office assigned 13 detectives to work the case; they spent 4,000 hours interviewing all the plant's employees and getting DNA samples from those who had worked there that day. Workers did their jobs in pairs as a safety precaution while the police kept a close eye on what happened at the plant. The investigation exacerbated tensions among employees. A month after Angara was killed, two electricians started arguing about overtime. One threatened to take the other "off the grounds and smash his head in", according to police. After the other electrician complained, he was suspended. By that time investigators had narrowed their focus to a group of eight men, finding that many of the employees had a generally favorable impression of Angara. They still had not identified what might have moved one of them to kill her. "Either there is some very powerful motive out there that someone has kept completely to themselves, or it may suggest this wasn't a planned killing", such as a confrontation that got more heated, chief assistant prosecutor John Latoracca told The New York Times. One year after the crime, detectives had narrowed that group down to three suspects, one of whom was the coworker who had first taken note of Angara's absence after walking down to the basement. James Wood, chief homicide detective for the prosecutor's office, told The New York Post, that another suspect was in his opinion about to confess before retaining counsel and refusing to speak with police further. "None of them have solid alibis; they all had access to the place she was", Wood added. Investigators believed that the case was an instance of an impulsive act rather than a planned killing. "This killer isn't smart, just lucky", Wood said. Police had asked all three suspects to take lie detector tests, with different results. One passed, another was inconclusive, and a third refused. Re-interviews following the lie detector tests did not produce anything. Divers looked through the tanks to see if anything had been missed. Federal and state environmental regulators reviewed the plant's records, at the request of police, for anything unusual they might have missed. By the middle of 2006, no new leads had emerged, and the case went cold, one of two out of Passaic County's 30 homicides that year that went unsolved. At the request of the Angara family, the state Attorney General's office had the state police review the case in 2007, but nothing new developed from that. After Angara's death, the PVWC contracted for improved security, including armed guards patrolling inside and outside the plant at all hours. In 2007 the family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the PVWC and some of its employees. They alleged that the plant had a history of safety violations and accidents, for which the state had cited it 55 times, but the commission had done nothing to correct them. After two years, a judge ordered the parties to mediation. Ten years after the killing, when the Angara family had lobbied state senator Joe Kyrillos to support their call for another state-level review, police suggested that they might have been mistaken about the three suspects. "[W]e looked into the additional things that became areas of concern in interviewing these folks", chief assistant prosecutor Latoracca told The Star-Ledger, "and based on that, we thought that while there were reasons they came across as hinky, we ultimately didn't believe they actively killed her". Alternative theories Police have considered two alternative possibilities related to the crime. Connection to unsolved 1968 homicide Early in the case, investigators noted that an unsolved 1968 killing, also in their jurisdiction, bore some similarities to the Angara case. On August 31 of that year, the body of 22-year-old Joan Freeman, from what was then known as West Paterson, was found in a hallway at the Hoffmann-La Roche plant complex that straddled the border between Clifton in Passaic County and Nutley in neighboring Essex County. She had been attacked suddenly from behind, struck several times on the head with a wooden mallet, after which the attacker slit her throat; any one of the wounds inflicted would have been enough to kill her, the coroner said. Passaic County authorities investigated the case since it was determined to have occurred on their side of the county line. Like Angara, the case combined minimal evidence at the scene with a limited pool of suspects. Freeman, a secretary at the plant, had also been working alone, doing overtime recording employees' work hours from their time cards, on a Saturday in a second-floor library in one of the 86 buildings on the drug company's campus, when she was killed. There were no fingerprints on the mallet, and the knife used to cut her throat was never found. The campus itself was, like the Totowa treatment plant, fenced off with access permitted only to those who had been cleared to enter by security. Like Angara, detectives pored over Freeman's personal life but could not find anything which could give rise to a motive. The county prosecutor's office, state police, and Clifton police devoted 16 investigators, including two full-time, to interview 300 people who might have been able to be on campus that day, including lie detector tests. But they were unable to narrow down any specific suspects. "Many times I went home and couldn't sleep", one of detectives recalled later. "We just didn't get that lucky break". The case is still open; detectives review the files occasionally. "The events are similar in nature", county prosecutor Avigliano told The Star-Ledger. "A woman was murdered in a secure facility." His office's detectives studied the case both to see if anyone who had worked at Hofmann later worked for the PVWC, and to see if they could learn from how the investigators handled the Freeman case. Accident In May 2006, over a year after Angara's death, it was reported that some of the investigators had begun to consider the possibility that it was in fact an accident. They had contacted Scottish forensic pathologist Derrick Pounder of the University of Dundee, one of the few experts in the field of drownings, particularly those that occur in cold water. His research has found that in a small percentage of such cases, the victim experiences bruising on the neck and petechiae on the eyeballs that closely mimics injuries otherwise seen as strong indicators of premortem strangulation. Pounder never examined Angara's body (and could not have, since it had been cremated shortly after her death in accordance with Hindu funerary traditions), nor any of the records from the autopsy. County prosecutor Avigliano noted that five medical examiners in Passaic County, who had had access to the body and records, had all agreed that the death was a homicide; but that belief was not unanimous among those who had been part of the initial investigation. The county's chief homicide detective Wood retired in 2006 after having worked on the Angara case for 18 months. By the time of the third anniversary of Angara's death, he had come to believe, in part after considering Pounder's research, that the case was an accident, the result of negligence rather than malice. He said that the plate may have been removed before Angara came to the room where it was. An unnamed plant worker told The New York Post that on the day of Angara's death, the state had ordered some testing as a result of the pinkish discoloration. Normally the necessary sample could be collected by machines along the path, but one supervisor was "very old school. We still tested by taking water directly from the tank. And that required removing the plate", the worker said. Wood believes that someone forgot to replace the plate. When Angara came into the dimly lit area, she did not see it and fell in, after which the person who should have replaced the plate did so in a hurry. "I don't think anyone will ever admit to taking that plate off or putting it back on because they know they're going to be held liable for it", Wood told The Star-Ledger. In 2015 Angara's daughter disputed that theory. Her mother was exceedingly cautious, she said, and it was unlikely that she would have failed to see a dark, wide hole in the floor. At the time, plant workers said they had never seen one of those panels left open, either. "I think you would have to ignore a lot of facts to believe it was an accident", Angara's daughter said. The family has also questioned why it seemed Angara's coworkers failed to notice her absence for the rest of their day. At that time the county prosecutor's office described the case as "open but inactive"; chief assistant prosecutor Latoracca, who was by then in private practice as a criminal defense attorney, said he understood why Wood and some other detectives had come to believe Angara's death was an accident but reiterated that he had faith in the medical conclusions that her death had been caused intentionally. See also Deaths in February 2005 Crime in New Jersey List of unsolved murders List of drowning victims List of incidents of violence against women Death of Elisa Lam, 2013 case where a woman drowned in a Los Angeles hotel's water tank Notes References 2005 in New Jersey 2005 murders in the United States Deaths by drowning February 2005 crimes February 2005 events in the United States Female murder victims Formerly missing people Incidents of violence against women Murder in New Jersey Totowa, New Jersey Unsolved murders in the United States Violence against women in the United States History of women in New Jersey

62874350

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Keane%20Mulready-Woods

Killing of Keane Mulready-Woods

Keane Mulready-Woods of Drogheda, County Louth, was an Irish teenager who disappeared on 12 January 2020 and whose dismembered body was then found in Drogheda, Co. Louth. Remains were found in Dublin, Ireland the following week. Background Early life He grew up in Drogheda and attended St Oliver’s Community College. He was from a working-class family. He was a fan of motocross, owned his own scrambler and was described by his cousin as the "best scrambler rider in Drogheda". Involvement in crime He was tempted into petty crime in his mid teens by local criminals with promises of wealth and prestige. His involvement escalated, as he was involved with one of the factions in the Drogheda feud. The faction began using petrol bombs and pipe bombs to threaten rival criminals and their families. It was also heavily involved in the illegal drug trade in the town and it used intimidation to enforce collection of debts. Disappearance He was last seen around 6 pm on 12 January 2020 at St Dominics Bridge in Drogheda. He had recently called his mother to ask her to leave money out for his taxi home later that evening. His sister posted a message on Facebook the afternoon of the following day, asking if anyone had seen him. Human remains found Coolock On 13 January 2020 a local man found a sports bag with human remains at the junction of Moatview Gardens and Moatview Drive in Coolock. The bag had been thrown from a dark coloured passing car. The remains were found around 10pm. The bag also contained flip-flops, which were taken as a warning not to cross Lawlor, whose flip-flops had been stolen in the mugging. Drumcondra Further human remains, believed to be a head and hands, were found in a burnt-out car in Trinity Terrace, Drumcondra in the early hours of Wednesday 15 January. Drogheda The torso of the teen was finally found on a site next to Rathmullen Park in Drogheda on 1 April 2021. A DNA test confirmed the identity of the torso relating to the teen. Identification On the night of 15 January, Gardaí confirmed that DNA tests had confirmed that the limbs found in Coolock were those of Keane Mulready-Woods. On Friday 17 January Gardaí confirmed that the partial remains found in the car had been identified as those of Keane Mulready-Woods. Aftermath Garda investigation Gardaí are investigating links between the death of Keane Mulready-Woods and a criminal feud in Drogheda which has claimed three lives. There are incident rooms in Coolock, Mountjoy and Drogheda Garda stations with the investigation being coordinated from the latter. In the early hours of 20 January, a main suspect in the case was arrested. Gardaí had watched both Dublin Airport and Dublin Port closely because they feared he would flee to England. He was expected to appear in court on charges of breaching bail conditions. The arrest warrant is not related to the death of Keane Mulready-Woods, but to a separate case. He is connected to a crime feud in Drogheda. Gardaí suspect that the killers intended to dump the remains in front of the homes of the leaders of the gang the teenager was associated with as a warning. They also suspect that this plan was abandoned after those with the remains nearly encountered Gardaí. Gardaí believe the deceased was killed in Drogheda and have searched the banks of the River Boyne near to a house where they suspect he was killed. Detectives working on the case have no cause of death to base their inquiry on as the fatal injury is believed to have been dealt to the torso, which was still missing as of February 2020. They have not ruled out the possibility that the torso was disposed of deliberately so as to frustrate the investigation. Prosecutions have proven to be difficult if remains of the deceased are not found or only partial remains have been found. It has been done in the murder of Elaine O'Hara but Gardaí described that case as an exception and that prosecutions in such cases were "extremely difficult". Two men were arrested on 20 February 2020. Funeral A funeral was held on Thursday 13 February 2020 at Holy Family Church, Ballsgrove, Drogheda. Father Phil Gaffney conducted the funeral service and condemned the killing as well as the feud during the homily. He described the deceased as "young and naive enough to fall in with the wrong people, not knowing or anticipating the dire consequences". He also said "I hope that his death will be a warning to other young teenagers who are being groomed by the ruthless criminals; that the promise of money and gifts will inevitably end in tragedy". He also criticised people who took illegal recreational drugs as fuelling the violence of the feud. There was a significant Garda presence at the funeral. Several hundred people attended the funeral mass. Gardaí had requested that media did not enter the church during the funeral service. Media had gathered outside. When the funeral cortege arrived, a young man broke off from the crowd outside the church and approached the media, telling them to leave. He said if they were still outside the church after the funeral was over he would break their cameras. After the funeral, two men ran over to the media calling them "scum" but they were stopped by Gardaí. The deceased was buried in Calvary Cemetery, Drogheda. Gardaí were prepared to keep an eye on social gatherings related to the funeral after the burial. At the time of his funeral his torso had not been recovered. Charges On 28 February 2020 a 50 year old man was charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of another person in relation to the death of Keane Mulready-Woods. Belfast shooting On 4 April 2020 Robbie Lawlor, aged 36, was shot dead around 11:50am outside a house in Etna Drive, Ardoyne in north Belfast. He was suspected of ordering the murder and dismembering of Keane Mulready-Woods. The man was originally from Dublin, but had lived in County Meath and was heavily involved in organised crime, including the Drogheda feud. He had travelled to Belfast the morning he was shot and the PSNI and Garda Síochána believe he had travelled to Belfast in the hours before he was shot, possibly to collect debts. As well as being a suspect in the death of Keane Mulready-Woods he was suspected of being responsible for a number of other killings. He had been threatened by one faction in the Drogheda feud but was also at odds with a major Dublin criminal who is suspected of several murders including that of Alan Ryan. Three men suspected of the murder were arrested and questioned by the PSNI at Musgrave police station. Three suspects were arrested on Saturday, a fourth was arrested on Sunday. The shooting was condemned by Detective Sergeant Jason Murphy, as a murder, as a danger to the local community and due to the additional pressures caused by coronavirus pandemic. The shooting was also condemned by Minister for Justice Naomi Long and Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly. Lawlor was well known to Gardaí for being involved in serious and organised crime. He had over 100 convictions and had been released from prison in December 2019. He had been warned by Gardaí that his life was in danger before he went to Belfast. Lawlor was mugged after leaving a gym in December 2019, which was filmed by his assailants. The assailants stole his gym bag and flip-flops and posted photos of them wearing the latter after the mugging. The assault was allegedly at the behest of a criminal foe of Lawlor. The presence of flip-flops in the bag of Keane Mulready-Woods remains dumped in Coolock was widely interpreted as a threat not to cross Lawlor. The PSNI suspect that a single gunman shot Lawlor. Charges in relation to Mulready-Woods death In October 2020 a 50 year old man from Drogheda was charged with impeding the prosecution or apprehension of another person in relation to the death of Keane Mulready-Woods. The trial is scheduled to begin on 17 January 2022, due to a backlog caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. On 8 December 2020 a man was arrested in connection with the death of Keane Mulready-Woods. Two more men, both in their early 20s, were arrested in relation to his death on 10 December and detained in Dundalk and Mountjoy Garda stations. The man arrested two days before continued to be held in Drogheda Garda station. Further arrests On 17 February 2021 a 29 year old woman who was associated with Paul Crosby was arrested by Gardaí investigating the murder and dismemberment of a 17 year old on 12 January 2020 in Drogheda. She is suspected of playing a central role in the logistics of the murder, including cleaning up the crime scene. A 23 year old man described as "a very minor player" was also arrested and suspected of helping clean up the crime scene. The murder is suspected to have been carried out by the "anti-Maguire" gang in Drogheda. The 29 year old woman was with Paul Crosby on 13 January 2020 when a gunman tried to target Crosby but shot the driver of their taxi, leaving Crosby uninjured. On 19 February 2021, Paul Crosby was arrested in Mountjoy Prison and taken to nearby Mountjoy Garda station by Gardaí investigating the same murder. He was brought from prison to the station under a section 42 warrant, which means he can be detained for 24 hours. On 2 May 2021 three men were arrested as part of the investigation. A man in his late 20s was arrested on 8 May 2021 and being details under section 42 of the Criminal Justice Act 1999. On 17 May 2021 Paul Crosby appeared before Drogheda District Court sitting in Dundalk Court charged with the murder of Keane Mulready-Woods. He was remanded into custody to appear again at a later date. Men sent forward to Special Criminal Court On 24 May 2021 two men charged with the murder of Keane Mulready-Woods were sent forward to face trial in the Special Criminal Court. References Crime in Dublin (city) Crime in Drogheda Crime in Belfast 2020s murders in the Republic of Ireland

63041375

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Carnell%20Russ

Killing of Carnell Russ

Carnell Russ was a 24-year African American mill worker killed by white Star City, Arkansas police officer Charles Lee Ratliff on Memorial Day, May 31, 1971. Russ' death led to a change in federal law regarding the future prosecution of civil rights cases. Events of May 31 to April 1, 1971 Russ, his wife Clementine, six of their nine children, and Clementine's cousin, were driving to their home in Monticello, Arkansas, after spending the weekend with his in-laws, when Russ was stopped for speeding by state trooper Jerry Green around 5:45 p.m. Russ was allegedly driving 75 mph on a stretch of Highway 81 through Lincoln County with a 60 mph speed limit. Green told Russ to follow him in his car to the Lincoln County Courthouse in Starr City, about six miles away. At the jail, Russ was met by Starr City police officers Charles Lee Ratliff and Norman Draper. Russ was told his bond was $23. Ratliff having declined to take a check, Russ returned to his car and retrieved $23 from his wife. Russ asked for a copy of the ticket which Ratliff would not provide, leading Russ to refuse to pay. According to Ratliff, when the officer took Russ by the arm, Russ jerked away and crouched in a fighting position and blows were exchanged. Ratliff claimed he struck Russ on the head with his service weapon and the weapon accidentally discharged, and Russ was shot between the eyes. Clementine Russ later said that Trooper Green told her that her husband had said "some smart word" to Officer Ratliff, which caused the officer to pistol whip her husband. Russ died at the University Hospital in Little Rock at 2:20 a.m. Subsequent investigations An autopsy showed that Russ had been struck on the mouth and on the head. A firearms expert testified that Ratliff's gun was designed not to fire unless the trigger was pulled. Ratliff was later tried for voluntary manslaughter. In January 1972, an all-white Lincoln County jury found him innocent. Two years after his death, Russ' family filed a wrongful death lawsuit. An all-white jury again found Ratliff innocent of all charges. The NAACP then filed suit against the U.S. Attorney General Edward Levi for failing to prosecute the Russ killing. The federal government's policy had been not to prosecute crimes that had already been adjudicated in state courts. The Carter Administration changed this policy to allow the FBI to investigate crimes "on their own merits" whether or not they had previously been prosecuted at the state level. In April 1979, a federal jury awarded the family $288,000 in damages. Ratliff died before payment was made. The Carnell Russ Foundation was subsequently established in Russ' memory, with the aim of promoting community unity. References Sources 1971 deaths African Americans in Arkansas Police brutality in the United States Civil rights in the United States Law enforcement in Arkansas African Americans shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States Star City, Arkansas

63275465

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Ingrid%20Escamilla

Killing of Ingrid Escamilla

On 9 February 2020, Ingrid Escamilla Vargas was murdered by her partner, Erik Francisco Robledo Rosas, at her home in Mexico City after an argument. The act outraged the public opinion of Mexico for the brutality with which it was perpetrated and for the subsequent dissemination in the media and social media of images of the victim's body. Background Mexico is the second country in Latin America where femicides occur with more frequency, with an average of 10.5 femicides committed every day. The states with the highest incidence are Veracruz, State of Mexico, Nuevo León, Puebla and Mexico City. Of the total of these crimes, 3% are criminally investigated and 1% of convictions are obtained. Ingrid Escamilla Vargas (born c. 1995) was a 25-year-old woman originally from Puebla. She studied a master's degree in tourism business administration. Erick Francisco Robledo Rosas, 46, a civil engineer by profession, was her partner. Both lived in a home in the Vallejo neighborhood of Gustavo A. Madero in the north of Mexico City. They had a relationship of five years. Prior to the crime, Robledo Rosas was subject of a complaint filed for domestic violence against his ex-wife. Event The crime against Ingrid Escamilla occurred after an argument in which Robledo Rosas went into a rage when questioned for drinking alcohol, which triggered a fight in which he received several slashes. Robledo Rosas stabbed Escamilla in the neck multiple times, killing her, then removed her skin and various organs which he then tried to flush down the toilet of his house. When he did not succeed, Robledo Rosas wrapped the remains a green bag and left his home in order to discard the bag on the side of the street. Robledo Rosas's son, who reportedly suffers from autism, reportedly witnessed the murder. Robledo Rosas called the child's mother, his ex-wife, to confess that he had killed his partner. When the woman found out, she called the police, who found Robledo Rosas next to the body of Escamilla. Robledo Rosas was arrested by police and consigned to a public ministry. Videos on social media showed Robledo Rosas arrested in a patrol car with bloodied clothes and descriptively confessing the crime to the agents. Escamilla's body was handed over to her relatives on 10 February and buried on 11 February in the pantheon of the municipality of Juan Galindo, where the victim was originally from. Before being buried, Escamilla was given a lying in state in the municipal presidency of Juan Galindo, from where she was a collaborator. The funeral was attended by about 300 people who demanded justice. On 12 February 2020, a judge based in Mexico City found elements of guilt in the investigation provided by the Attorney General of Mexico City (FGJCDMX), for which Robledo Rosas was imprisoned preventively. After Robledo Rosas announced in his preliminary hearing that he would commit suicide, he was ordered to carry out a psychological assessment at the Men's Center for Psychosocial Rehabilitation of the South Preventive Prison for Men in Mexico City. Diffusion of images On 10 February 2020, the headlines of the sensationalist newspapers ¡Pásala! and La Prensa appeared with the note of the murder, also showing photographs of the victim as it was found by first responders to the scene, such as police officers and members of expert services; likewise, these images were disseminated on social networks such as Twitter and Facebook, which generated outrage and a debate about the role of the media and the lack of a gender perspective around the work of the media by probably crediting a structural and entrenched phenomenon in the media industry. According to experts, this social phenomenon would distort the prosecution of crimes and their qualification as femicides. The Mayor of Mexico City, Claudia Sheinbaum, announced that the dissemination of the images would be sanctioned. Therefore, an internal investigation on six public servants who may have leaked the photographs of Escamilla was opened. The prosecutor of Mexico City, Ernestina Godoy Ramos, supported Sheinbaum and described the leak as an offense not only to the victim and her family but "an offense to society." He also announced the proposal for a specific law that punishes the dissemination of images of crime victims by public officials. Prior to this crime there was a recommendation of the Commission of Human Rights of Mexico City to the capital authorities on the leak of images of victims occurred in a multiple homicide in Colonia Narvarte. The claim was supported by the Undersecretariat of Human Rights of Mexico City, belonging to the capital administration. On 12 February, social media users such as in Twitter and Facebook began a campaign to put photographs not related to the crime, mentioning the name of the victim in order to remove the leaked images from searches and dignify the victim's memory. On 14 February, the newspaper La Prensa published a letter on its front cover where it responded to the criticism. Its director, Luis Carriles, indicated that the newspaper followed all the protocols in force about the treatment of femicides. Reactions The Mayor of Mexico City Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the events and expressed her solidarity with the families of the victim. The National Commission to Prevent and Eradicate Violence against Women in Mexico requested sanctions for those who disseminated images of the body of Ingrid and requested that those who carry out work on these facts duly comply with the Ley General de Acceso de las Mujeres a una Vida Libre de Violencia General ("Law on Women's Access to a Life Free of Violence"). On 14 February 14 demonstrations and protests were held in at least ten states of Mexico in repudiation of the crime of Ingrid Escamilla. In Mexico City, protesters went to the offices of the newspaper La Prensa to repudiate the publication of the victim's images. Some of them set fire to a vehicle owned by the newspaper. On February 16, feminist groups organized a march that reached the outskirts of Ingrid Escamilla's home, where they held a protest and placed an offering in memory of the victim. There, her relatives asked the media for respect and dignified treatment. "Every time they are going to publish a photo, they are going to write a line, think, think it a bit, make it a clean communication, one that is not yellow," said Victoria Barrios, Ingrid's aunt. Civil society organizations, activists and researchers published an open letter against gender-based violence directed at the media. "We express our total rejection of the exhibition in social media and networks of the body of the victims. In no case is it justifiable. The act of these newspapers and the viralization of photographs and videos is irresponsible, inhuman and revictimizes Ingrid and his family, in addition of perpetuating violence against women.", they said. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned the crime and the subsequent dissemination of photographs. The human rights organization Article 19 condemned the leak of the images "since they contravene the protocols of action in the investigation of femicides and international human rights standards. Therefore, these actions by FGJCDMX personnel are a violation of human rights of victims and women". The Archdiocese of Mexico called on the Mexican authorities to provide justice in this case and requested that the crime not go unpunished. See also Murder of Fátima Cecilia References 2020 crimes in Mexico Deaths by person in Mexico Deaths by stabbing in Mexico People murdered in Mexico

63656109

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Anthony%20Avalos

Killing of Anthony Avalos

Anthony Avalos (May 4, 2008 – June 21, 2018) was a ten-year-old American boy tortured and killed. When he was discovered, his body showed signs of physical abuse and malnutrition. His mother, Heather Barron, and her boyfriend, Kareem Leiva, were charged with murder with a special circumstances. According to Sheriff Jim McDonnell, the arrest of Leiva was made after he made suspicious comments during an initial police interview. Alleged homophobia The deputy director of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, Brandon Nichols, stated that Anthony had recently told his mother, "he liked boys and girls.” In the aftermath of Anthony's death, several of his relatives revealed that Barron and Leiva had demonstrated repeated evidence of their intense homophobia. Barron called Anthony a “faggot” in front of relatives, and Leiva admitted that he did not feel comfortable being in near proximity to homosexuals. Abuse During his autopsy, Anthony's body showed clear signs of sustained abuse. He had bruises and burns all over his body, and he was extremely malnourished. According to court testimony, Anthony's aunt, Crystal Diuguid, divulged to her therapist that Anthony's mother was beating, starving, and locking him for hours in a room without any access to the bathroom. He was six years old at the time. The therapist called a child abuse hotline to report the abuse. Caseworkers responded to 13 complaints of abuse regarding Anthony between February 2013 and April 2016, including sexual abuse when he was four years old. In a statement, Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Jon Hatami said: "There were injuries to Anthony's side and his hip area, both his left hip and his right hip, and his arms, and even injuries to his feet." In another statement, he said, "At one point Anthony could not walk, was unconscious lying on his bedroom floor for hours, was not provided medical attention, and could not eat on his own.” Over the last few days of his life, Anthony was tortured repeatedly. He was whipped all over his body, was held upside-down and dropped on his head, sprayed with hot sauce in his eyes, nose, and mouth, and forced to kneel on rice for several hours. A 911 call was made one day before Anthony was murdered. Department of Child and Family Services For more than four years, from 2013 to 2017, Anthony had been under the supervision of the Los Angeles DCFS. In that period of time, at least 13 known calls (by teachers, counselors, relatives, and police) were made to the child abuse hotline regarding Anthony's welfare. DCFS followed up eight times. According to a review by CBS News of released documents from DCFS, records from Maximus Inc., court records, and interviews from family and relatives, child protective workers missed numerous warnings of life-threatening abuse and repeatedly failed to intervene. Charges On August 28, 2019, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced it was seeking the death penalty against both Barron and Leiva. Both pled not guilty to intentional murder with infliction of torture on the victim. In addition to the murder with a special circumstances charge, Barron was charged with an additional abuse charge of one of her other sons. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office under District Attorney George Gascón subsequently dropped the death penalty for Heather Maxine Barron and Kareem Ernesto Leiva. References 2010s trials 2018 deaths 2018 in Los Angeles 2018 murders in the United States Child sexual abuse in the United States Child abuse resulting in death Deaths by beating in the United States Incidents of violence against boys June 2018 crimes in the United States June 2018 events in the United States Murder in Los Angeles Psychological abuse Torture in the United States Violence against men in North America

63687539

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Aniah%20Blanchard

Killing of Aniah Blanchard

The killing of Aniah Blanchard occurred in October 2019. Blanchard, the 19-year-old stepdaughter of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter Walt Harris, was reported missing on October 24. She had last been seen at a Chevron gas station in Auburn, Alabama, the previous night. A witness from the gas station claims to have seen Blanchard's kidnapping. Blanchard's body was found in Macon County, Alabama, one month after her disappearance. The cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound. A suspect, identified as Ibraheem Yazeed, was arrested and charged with Blanchard's murder. As of January 2021, Yazeed is being held in Lee County Jail without bond. A judge has decided that there is probable cause for a grand jury to hear the case. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. Blanchard's death attracted national attention and media coverage and led to the creation of "Aniah's law," which reforms Alabama's bail system. Disappearance, investigation, and arrests Blanchard was reported missing to the Auburn Police Department on October 24, 2019. She had last been seen by a family member on the evening of October 23. Blanchard and her roommate exchanged several Snapchat messages in the late-night hours. At 11:09 p.m., Blanchard informed her roommate that she was close to being home. At 11:40, Blanchard told her roommate that she was with a man named Eric, whom she had just met. Blanchard's phone activity ended at 11:47 p.m. On June 3, 2020, Auburn police detective Josh Mixon testified at a preliminary hearing that the phone died or was powered off in the area of the Clarion Inn on South College Street. Blanchard's roommate and parents found her behavior to be "uncharacteristic;" and it is unclear if Blanchard herself had, in fact, sent the messages. Surveillance video showed Blanchard in the Chevron gas station in Auburn in the late-night hours of October 23. Though Blanchard's phone has not been recovered, police were able to use records to trace her phone's movement. The phone left a Murphy Oil gas station and traveled in the direction of Longleaf Drive and Cox Road in Auburn towards a subdivision. It then went down Wire Road to Shug Jordan Parkway back to the area of the Chevron gas station. From there, it went north on South College Street towards Auburn Camp Road for a brief period before going dark in the Clarion Inn area. Blanchard's vehicle was last seen on video on a tag reader near Interstate 85, just south of Veterans Boulevard and South College Street. Blanchard's disappearance resulted in an extensive effort to locate her. By October 30, a task force of several law enforcement agencies—including the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences—was formed. The disappearance and the subsequent effort to find Blanchard received national media coverage. On October 25, authorities found Blanchard's damaged vehicle. The black 2017 Honda CR-V, which police have reported seemed to be "in disarray," had been abandoned near an apartment complex in Montgomery and contained evidence of "foul play"—specifically, blood in the front passenger's seat. The blood, which was confirmed by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences to be that of Blanchard, "was indicative of someone suffering a life-threatening injury." In addition to blood, investigators found a bullet hole in the passenger side door and shell casings in the left cup holder. Police have also reported that there was an odor of cleaning solution, such as ammonia or Clorox. On November 6, the Auburn Police Department released an image from a surveillance video of a "person of interest." The following day, the person of interest was identified as 29-year-old Ibraheem Yazeed of Montgomery. Surveillance video showed that he was in the store at the same time as Blanchard. He is seen buying alcohol and looking in Blanchard's direction. He was also captured exiting the passenger side of Blanchard's vehicle. Surveillance video from another gas station shows his re-entering the passenger's side of her car. Blanchard and Yazeed are then seen leaving the station together. In addition to surveillance footage, a witness allegedly saw Blanchard and Yazeed interacting outside the store near her car. The witness also claims to have seen him force her into the car against her will and then leave with her in the vehicle. According to detectives, the witness told a companion about the event but was told to mind his business. Yazeed allegedly told another witness that he had Blanchard's vehicle but would not allow the witness to see Blanchard at that time. The witness also claims that Yazeed said he shot a girl after she "went for the gun." At the time of Blanchard's death, Yazeed was free on a $295,000 bond. He had been charged with possession of marijuana, robbery, kidnapping, and attempted murder. The charges are connected to an alleged crime in January 2019, during which four assailants robbed and beat two men in a hotel in Montgomery. One of the victims, a 77-year-old man, was reportedly left "unconscious, unresponsive, severely injured and near death." The suspect is also accused of attempting to kill two police officers in 2012 by ramming his car into theirs and was arrested in 2017 for aggravated battery on a police officer. In June 2020, Yazeed was charged with the 2018 murder of Stephen Hamby. He was also charged with the attempted murder of a woman who was shot in the face during the incident in which Hamby was killed. On November 7, police issued an arrest warrant for Yazeed on suspicion of first-degree kidnapping. A tip led police to Pensacola, Florida; and the Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force located him near Interstate 10's Pine Forest Road exit. The suspect fled on foot and refused to comply with Marshall's verbal commands, leading them to "physically remove him from his hiding spot." He was taken to the Escambia County Jail and subsequently agreed to be extradited back to Alabama. He has been held in the Lee County Jail without bond since then. He was moved to solitary confinement after his attorneys filed court documents claiming that he was facing death threats. A judge has determined that there is enough probable cause to proceed to grand jury hearings. The judge also issued a gag order preventing Yazeed's attorneys, prosecutors, and witnesses from speaking to the media about the case. On November 22, police arrested Antwain "Squirmy" Fisher, alleging that he disposed of evidence and provided transportation for Yazeed. Fisher had previously served three years in prison for his part in a drug-deal-related murder. On November 25, police arrested a third suspect, David Johnson, Jr., and charged him with hindering prosecution. Charges against Fisher and Johnson were later dismissed. In regards to the dismissal of Fisher's charges, District Attorney Brandon Hughes stated that "it was determined that Mr. Fisher's conduct did not rise to the level of accomplice liability as was originally charged and as is required under Alabama law." In June 2020, it was revealed that Fisher had spoken to investigators about the crime. According to Fisher, Yazeed came to the home of David Johnson, Sr., on October 24, 2019, between around 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. Fisher claimed to have seen Blanchard's vehicle parked near some bushes during this time. Yazeed allegedly told Fisher that he needed more gas for Blanchard's vehicle. Fisher took Yazeed to the gas station where they purchased gasoline before going back to Johnson's residence. Yazeed allegedly informed Fisher that he needed to pick something up and Fisher drove him north on Interstate 85 towards Shorter. Fisher said that the pair stopped in Montgomery, where Yazeed obtained the item he wanted, a type of assault rifle. The two then allegedly went to a cemetery off I-85. There, Fisher claimed to have seen Yazeed drag what appeared to be two legs wrapped in a comforter. Yazeed is said to have spent some time in the woods before returning to the vehicle. Fisher said he confronted Yazeed, saying something to the effect of "tell me that's not a body,” to which Yazeed replied, "it won't come back on you and your family.” On November 25, human remains were found in Macon County, in the woods off County Road 2. Investigators discovered a skull, which appeared to have a bullet hole in the top. Along with the remains was clothing similar to what Blanchard had last been seen wearing, as well as a lead projectile. On November 27, the remains were identified as Blanchard's. An autopsy determined that Blanchard was killed by a gunshot wound. The charges against Yazeed were then upgraded from first-degree kidnapping to capital murder. He currently faces two counts of capital murder, one for committing a murder in a car through the use of a deadly weapon while the victim is in a vehicle, and the other for committing a murder during a kidnapping in the first degree. District Attorney Hughes's office is seeking the death penalty. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for March. It was later moved to April but was again postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. During the hearing, which was finally held on June 3, Auburn police detective Josh Mixon gave testimony about the case. Defense attorneys disputed the prosecution's claim that the crime was committed in Lee County. Upon hearing the evidence, Judge Russell Bush found probable cause to send the case to a Lee County Grand Jury. On March 23, Yazeed allegedly assaulted several corrections officers. He was charged with second-degree assault. Victim Aniah Haley Blanchard (born June 22, 2000) was from Homewood, Alabama. She is the daughter of Elijah Blanchard, a Birmingham businessman, and Angela Haley-Harris, a registered nurse. Haley-Harris is currently married to UFC heavyweight fighter Walt Harris. Blanchard graduated from Homewood High School, where she played softball. At the time of her death, she was a student at Southern Union State Community College and was studying early childhood education. She was planning to transfer to Auburn University. A scholarship in Blanchard's memory has been established by Homewood Public Schools. In June 2020, a bench at the Patriot Park in Homewood was dedicated to her. Aftermath Blanchard's disappearance and death attracted national attention and media coverage. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey issued a proclamation authorizing a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. UFC president Dana White pledged an additional $25,000 to Ivey's award, and an anonymous source offered $5,000. The reward later rose to over $105,000, with much of the money coming from the UFC and UFC supporters. Blanchard's death led to the creation of Aniah's law, which reforms Alabama's bail laws. Alabama's Constitution guarantees the right to bail for all defendants, except those charged with capital offenses. Aniah's Law would expand the exception to other serious crimes including arson, burglary, domestic violence, aggravated child abuse, assault, robbery, kidnapping, human trafficking, rape, sodomy, sexual torture, terrorism, and murder. Prosecutors would be allowed to request a hearing regarding bail, which a judge could grant or deny. If the hearing is held, the defendant would be allowed to testify, present witnesses, and cross-examine witnesses. The judge could choose to either allow or deny bail. Blanchard's parents and step-parents have spoken to legislators in support of the proposed law. In February 2020, the Alabama House of Representatives voted 104–0 in favor of Aniah's law. See also List of kidnappings List of solved missing person cases References 2010s missing person cases Deaths by firearm in Alabama Deaths by person in the United States Formerly missing people Kidnapped American people Missing person cases in Alabama October 2019 events in the United States History of women in Alabama Violence against women in the United States

63948073

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Breonna%20Taylor

Killing of Breonna Taylor

Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old African-American woman, was fatally shot in her Louisville, Kentucky, apartment on March 13, 2020, when white officers Jonathan Mattingly, Brett Hankison, and Myles Cosgrove of the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) forced entry into the apartment as part of an investigation into drug dealing operations. Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, was inside the apartment with her when the plainclothes officers knocked on the door and then forced entry. The officers said that they announced themselves as police before forcing entry, but Walker said he did not hear any announcement, thought the officers were intruders, and fired a warning shot at them. The shot hit Mattingly in the leg, and the officers fired 32 shots in return. Walker was unhurt but Taylor, who was behind Walker, was hit by six bullets and died. According to police, Taylor's home was never searched. Walker was charged with assault and attempted murder of a police officer, but the charges were dismissed with prejudice 12 months later. On June 23, 2020, the LMPD fired Hankison for blindly firing through the covered patio door and window of Taylor's apartment. On September 15, the city of Louisville agreed to pay Taylor's family $12 million and reform police practices. On September 23, a state grand jury indicted Hankison on three counts of wanton endangerment for endangering Taylor's neighbors with his shots. None of the officers involved in the raid have been charged in Taylor's death. Cosgrove was determined to have fired the fatal shot that killed Taylor. On October 2, 2020, recordings from the grand jury investigation into the shooting were released. Two of the jurors released a statement saying that the grand jury was not presented with homicide charges against the officers. Several jurors have also accused Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and the police of covering up what happened. The shooting of Taylor by police officers led to numerous protests that added to those across the United States against police brutality and racism. When a grand jury did not indict the officers for her death, further civil unrest ensued. Persons involved Breonna Taylor worked for University of Louisville Health as a full-time ER technician and was a former emergency medical technician. Her funeral was on March 21, 2020. Kenneth Walker was Taylor's boyfriend, who was present with her in the apartment at the time and fired the shots at what he thought were intruders. Jonathan Mattingly is an LMPD police officer who joined the department in 2000, became a sergeant in 2009, and joined the narcotics division in 2016. Brett Hankison is a former LMPD detective. Hankison joined the department in 2003. The LMPD fired him on June 23, 2020. Myles Cosgrove is an LMPD police officer who was transferred to the department's narcotics division in 2016. Background The LMPD investigation's primary targets were Jamarcus Glover and Adrian Walker (not related to Kenneth Walker), who were suspected of selling controlled substances from a drug house approximately away. Glover said the police had pressured him to move out of his residence for unspecified reasons. Glover and Taylor had been in an on-off relationship that started in 2016 and lasted until February 2020, when Taylor committed to Kenneth Walker. In December 2016, Fernandez Bowman was found dead in a car rented by Taylor and used by Glover. He had been shot eight times. Glover had used Taylor's address and phone number for various purposes, including bank statements. Jamarcus Glover's statements In a variety of statements, Glover said that Taylor had no involvement in the drug operations, that as a favor she held money from the proceeds for him, and that she handled money for him for other purposes. In different recorded jailhouse conversations Glover said that Taylor had been handling his money and that she was holding $8,000 of it, that he had given Taylor money to pay phone bills, and that he had told his sister that another woman had been keeping the group's money. In the recorded conversations and in an interview with The Courier-Journal of Louisville, Glover repeatedly said that Taylor was not involved in any drug operations and that police had "no business" looking for him at her residence, and denied that he had said in the recorded conversations that he kept money at her residence. Taylor was never a co-defendant in Glover's case. Incident Warrant LMPD obtained a "no-knock" search warrant for Taylor's apartment at 3003 Springfield Drive in Louisville. The search warrant included Taylor's residence because it was suspected that Glover received packages containing drugs there, might have been "keeping narcotics and/or proceeds from the sale of narcotics" there, and because a car registered to Taylor had been seen parked in front of Glover's house several times. Specifically, the warrant alleges that in January 2020, Glover left Taylor's apartment with an unknown package, presumed to contain drugs, and took it to a known drug apartment soon afterward. The warrant states that this event was verified "through a US Postal Inspector". In May 2020, the U.S. postal inspector in Louisville publicly announced that the collaboration with law enforcement had never actually occurred. The postal office said it was actually asked by a different agency to monitor packages going to Taylor's apartment, but after doing so, it concluded, "There's no packages of interest going there." This public revelation put the investigation and especially the warrant into question and resulted in an internal investigation. The warrant was applied for by LMPD detective Joshua C. Jaynes among a total of five warrants approved the preceding day by Jefferson County Circuit Judge Mary M. Shaw "within 12 minutes", and which was stamped as filed with the court clerk's office on April 2. All five warrants contain similar language involving a justification for no-knock entry that concludes with "due to the nature of how these drug traffickers operate". Christopher Slobogin, director of Vanderbilt University's Criminal Justice Program, said that unless police had a reason to suspect that Taylor's residence had surveillance cameras "a no-knock warrant would be improper." Brian Gallini, a professor at the University of Arkansas, also expressed skepticism about the warrant, writing that if it was appropriate in this particular search, "then every routine drug transaction would justify grounds for no-knock". Detective Jaynes attested in the affidavit that, But Sergeant Timothy Salyer, supervisor of the Shively, Kentucky, police department's Special Investigations Unit, told LMPD internal investigators in May that due to "bad blood" between the United States Postal Inspection Service () and the LMPD, inquiries related to the drug trafficking investigation had been routed through the Shively . In his interview with internal investigators, Jaynes said that before the raid on Taylor's apartment Mattingly told him that the Shively PD had reported that the United States Postal Service had not delivered any suspicious packages to that address. Jaynes was reassigned from his duties with the LMPD in June. According to The New York Times, before the execution of the no-knock warrant, orders were changed to "knock and announce". Police entry into the apartment Shortly after midnight on March 13, 2020, Louisville police dressed in plain clothes knocked on Taylor's door before forcing entry using a battering ram. There is dispute as to whether the officers announced themselves before forcing entry. Walker contends that Taylor asked, "Who is it?" several times after hearing a loud bang at the door. Hearing no answer, he then decided to call his mother instead of the police. After calling his mother he dialed 911 and armed himself. The police officers involved have testified that they announced themselves multiple times before using the battering ram to enter the apartment. The New York Times interviewed roughly a dozen neighbors and alleged that only one of them, who was on the exterior staircase immediately above Taylor's apartment, heard the officers shout "Police!" once and knock at least three times, while approximately 11 other neighbors heard no knock or announcement, including one who was outside smoking a cigarette. According to a statement by Attorney General Cameron, an independent investigation concluded that the no-knock warrant was indeed served as a knock-and-announce warrant, which was corroborated by one independent witness who was near Taylor's apartment. But on September 30, this witness's lawyer said that police announced themselves "only in passing" and implied that the witness was quoted out of context or that video was deceptively spliced. According to VICE News, the witness originally said "nobody identified themselves" when interviewed by police a week after the shooting. But when the police called him two months later, he said he heard, "This is the cops." Shooting and aftermath Walker said that he and Taylor believed intruders were breaking into the apartment. He initially told police during his arrest that Taylor had opened fire, but later reversed his statement, stating that he had fired the warning shot in self-defense. According to officials, the shot struck Mattingly in the leg. Walker's legal team asserts that because forensic photography shows no blood in the part of the apartment where Mattingly says he was shot, because a court-sealed photograph of the single hollow-point bullet from Walker's firearm shows no blood, and because, based on consultations with pathologists, they believe that a hollow-point bullet would have done "considerably" more damage to Mattingly's thigh, the evidence suggests Mattingly was shot by police officers. A Kentucky State Police ballistics report is inconclusive, saying that "due to limited markings of comparative value", the bullet that hit Mattingly and exited his thigh was neither "identified nor eliminated as having been fired" from Walker's gun. But it was fired from a 9mm pistol like Walker's, whereas all officers were carrying 40-caliber guns. Police then fired 32 rounds into the apartment during two "flurries" or waves of shots separated by one minute and eight seconds. Mattingly, the only officer who entered the residence, fired six shots. At the same time, Cosgrove fired 16 shots from the doorway area in a matter of seconds. Hankison fired 10 times from outside through a sliding glass door and bedroom window, both of which were covered by blinds or curtains. The officers' shots hit objects in the living room, dining room, kitchen, hallway, bathroom, and both bedrooms. Taylor was struck by five or six bullets in the hallway and pronounced dead at the scene. Cosgrove fired the shot that killed her. Walker was uninjured. According to police grand-jury testimony, the warrant was never executed and Taylor's apartment was not searched for drugs or money after the shooting. More than a month after the shooting, Glover was offered a plea deal if he would testify that Taylor was part of his drug dealing operations. Prosecutors said that that offer was in a draft of the deal but later removed. Glover rejected the deal. On November 19, 2020, Glover's associate Adrian Walker was fatally shot. The Louisville police stated that they had no suspects in the killing. Investigations Autopsy and death certificate An autopsy was conducted on Taylor, and her cause of death was determined to be homicide. The death certificate also notes that she received five gunshot wounds to the body. The coroner denied The Courier-Journals request for a copy of the autopsy. The newspaper was appealing to the attorney general's office as of July 17, 2020. Investigations into the three police officers The police filed an incident report that claimed that Taylor had no injuries and that no forced entry occurred. The police department said that technical errors led to a nearly entirely blank malformed report. Local and state investigation All three officers involved in the shooting were placed on administrative reassignment pending the outcome of an investigation by the police department's internal Professional Integrity Unit. On May 20, 2020, the investigation's findings were given to Daniel Cameron, Attorney General of Kentucky, to determine whether any officer should be criminally charged. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer also asked the FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office to review the findings. In early June, Fischer called for Officer Hankison to be removed from the Louisville Police Merit Board, which reviews appeals from police offices in departmental disciplinary matters. Hankison was one of five members of the board, which consists of three civilians and two police officers selected by the River City Fraternal Order of Police. On June 19, three months after Taylor's killing, Louisville Metro Police interim chief Robert Schroeder sent Hankison a letter notifying him that Schroeder had begun termination proceedings against him. The letter accused Hankison of violating departmental policies on the use of deadly force by "wantonly and blindly" firing into Taylor's apartment without determining whether any person presented "an immediate threat" or whether there were "any innocent persons present". The letter also cited past disciplinary action taken against Hankison by the department, including for reckless conduct. Hankison was formally fired four days later (June 23); he had ten days (until July 3) to appeal his termination to the Louisville Police Merit Board. That appeal was delayed until the criminal investigation is finished. On September 23, 2020, a state grand jury indicted Hankison on three counts of wanton endangerment for endangering a neighboring white family of three when shots he fired penetrated their apartment. Conviction could include a sentence of up to five years in prison and a fine for each count. Bullets also entered the upstairs apartment of a black family but no charges were filed. Neither Hankison nor the two other officers involved in the raid were indicted for Taylor's death. The Louisville Courier Journal raised questions about whether the grand jury had been allowed to decide whether charges should be pressed against Mattingly and Cosgrove or whether prosecutors decided that the officers acted in self-defense without submitting the issue to the grand jury. Hankison's and Walker's attorneys requested the release of the grand jury transcript and related evidence. On September 28, a grand juror filed a court motion stating that Cameron had mischaracterized the grand-jury proceedings and was "using grand jurors as a shield to deflect accountability and responsibility" for charging decisions. A judge ordered the release of the grand jury proceedings' recording; Cameron's office and Hankison's attorney opposed the ruling. A day later, Cameron said that he did not recommend murder charges to the grand jury, but maintained that he presented "a thorough and complete case". While recordings of testimony and some other parts of the proceedings were released, the juror deliberations and prosecutor recommendations were not released and according to the state attorney general's office were never recorded. On October 22, a second grand juror criticized Cameron, how the grand jury was operated, and how Cameron presented the grand jury's conclusion. The juror agreed with the first juror's statement, including that members of the grand jury wanted to consider other charges against the officers, including homicide charges. But "the panel was steered away from considering homicide charges and left in the dark about self-defense laws during deliberations." These statements contradict Cameron's claims that the grand jury "agreed" the officers who shot Taylor were justified in returning fire after Taylor’s boyfriend shot at them. The first grand juror said the panel "didn’t agree that certain actions were justified". One of the anonymous jurors said that the police "covered it up. That's what the evidence that I saw. And I felt like there should have been lots more charges on them." Federal investigation The FBI is conducting its own independent investigation, announced by its Louisville field office on May 21. After the state grand jury charges were announced, the FBI stated, "FBI Louisville continues its federal investigation into all aspects of the death of Breonna Taylor. This work will continue beyond the state charges announced today." Photographic and video evidence On May 14, 2020, photos were released to the public in The Courier-Journal by Sam Aguiar, an attorney representing Taylor's family. The photos show bullet damage in her apartment and the apartment next door. The Louisville police claimed that none of the officers were wearing body cameras, as all three were plainclothes narcotics officers. On September 4, several news sources, including The Courier-Journal, reported that photographs of police officers taken late that day showed that at least one wore a body camera. In the later photographs, one of the officers who fired his weapon, Myles Cosgrove, was wearing a mount for a body camera; another detective who was present wore a body camera, although it is not known whether it was active. Legal proceedings Neighbor's lawsuit On May 20, 2020, the occupants of a neighboring apartment filed a lawsuit against Hankison, Cosgrove, and Mattingly. The occupants were a pregnant woman, her child and a man. The lawsuit alleged that the officers fired blindly into their apartment and nearly hit the man's head, shattered a sliding glass door, and hit objects in three rooms and a hallway. Kenneth Walker Walker initially faced criminal charges of first-degree assault and attempted murder of a police officer. The LMPD officers said they announced themselves before entering the home and were immediately met with gunfire from Walker. According to their statement, Walker discharged his firearm first, injuring an officer. Walker's lawyer said Walker thought that someone was entering the residence illegally and that Walker acted only in self-defense. A 911 call later released to the public provided a recording of Walker telling the 911 operator, "somebody kicked in the door and shot my girlfriend". Walker was later released from jail due to coronavirus concerns, which drew criticism from Louisville Metro Police Department Chief Steve Conrad. Judge Olu Stevens released Walker from home incarceration on May 22. Commonwealth's Attorney Tom Wine then moved to dismiss all charges against Walker in late May, but that meant that the case could be presented to a grand jury again, once the results of the FBI's and the Kentucky Attorney General's Office's investigations had been reviewed. Wine wanted the charges dropped because the officers had never mentioned Taylor by name to the grand jury, or said had they shot her. Walker's close friends said that his job was to protect Taylor at any cost. On May 26, 2020, Judge Olu Stevens granted Wine's motion to drop all charges against Walker. Rob Eggert, an attorney representing Walker, released a statement saying, "he just wanted to resume his life." At the same time, his attorney said that he could be charged again later as more facts emerge. On June 16, Eggert filed a motion to permanently dismiss the indictment charging Walker with attempted murder and assault. The motion asked Stevens to grant Walker immunity because he was within his rights to defend himself and Taylor under Kentucky's stand-your-ground law. On March 8, 2021, Stevens dismissed the criminal charges against Walker with prejudice, meaning he cannot be recharged for the shooting. The judge denied the motion for immunity, saying it was "moot". In September 2020, Walker filed a suit against the Louisville Metro Police Department, accusing it of misconduct and asserting he did not fire the bullet that injured Mattingly. His lawyer, Steve Romines, has raised claims that Walker fired only one bullet and that the recovered round had no blood on it, demonstrating that it had not hit anyone. Taylor's family On May 15, Taylor's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Jefferson County Circuit Court on behalf of the estate of Breonna Taylor, against the officers who were present as well as the city of Louisville. It states that Taylor and Walker were sleeping in the bedroom before the incident happened, and that the police officers were in unmarked vehicles. The lawsuit states that Taylor and Walker thought the apartment had been broken into by criminals and that "they were in significant, imminent danger." The lawsuit alleges that "the officers then entered Breonna's home without knocking and without announcing themselves as police officers. The Defendants then proceeded to spray gunfire into the residence with a total disregard for the value of human life." The lawsuit was resolved in mid-September 2020. The Louisville Metro Government (LMG) agreed to pay Taylor's estate $12 million, "one of the highest settlement amounts ever paid in America for the wrongful death of a Black woman by police", according to family attorney Benjamin Crump. The officers and the LMG admitted no liability nor wrongdoing and were absolved of any medical expenses related to Taylor's death; the settlement also prevents Taylor's family from suing the city. The city agreed to initiate a housing credits program for police officers to live in the Louisville Metro area, considered by some a fundamental community policing measure, to institute policing changes such as requiring more oversight by top commanders, and to make mandatory safeguards that were only "common practice" before the raid. Jonathan Mattingly Mattingly was one of three officers who took part in the raid that killed Taylor, and the officer allegedly wounded by Walker. In October 2020, Mattingly's lawyer announced that he was filing a countersuit against Walker for his injury. He alleged that the gunshot wound caused severe damage and that Mattingly was "entitled to, and should, use the legal process to seek a remedy for the injury that Walker caused." The lawsuit details that Mattingly underwent five hours of surgery because the shot severed his femoral artery, and alleges battery, assault and emotional distress. The suit also claims that Walker's response to the officers raid via a no-knock warrant was "outrageous, intolerable and offends all accepted standards of decency or morality". Policy and administrative changes Police department On May 21, Police Chief Steve Conrad announced his retirement after intense local and national criticism for the department's handling of the case, to be effective June 30. Conrad was fired on June 1 after the fatal shooting of black business owner David McAtee. The LMPD announced in May that it would require all sworn officers to wear body cameras, and will change how it carries out search warrants. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer indefinitely suspended the use of no-knock warrants on May 29. On January 5, 2021, the LMPD fired Cosgrove, who shot and killed Taylor, and Jaynes, who obtained the warrant for the raid. Legislative proposals In June 2020, Democrats in Congress introduced the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, a broad bill containing measures to combat misconduct, excessive force, and racial bias in policing. The bill would prohibit the issuance of no-knock warrants in federal drug investigations and provide incentives to states to enact a similar prohibition. In June, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced the Justice for Breonna Taylor Act, which would prohibit federal law enforcement from carrying out a warrant "until after the officer provides notice of his or her authority and purpose". It would also apply to state and local law enforcement that receive funding from the Justice Department. On June 10, the Louisville city council voted unanimously to ban no-knock search warrants. Called "Breonna's Law", it requires all officers who serve warrants to wear body cameras, and to have them turned on from at least five minutes before the warrant is served until at least five minutes afterward. Reactions As the shooting occurred during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, at the beginning of an escalating nationwide wave of quarantines and lockdowns, for weeks after Taylor's death there was very little public reaction, little response from government officials, and the LMPD did not provide many details about the shooting or answers to questions about the case. Individuals involved In a September 2020, Mattingly sent a personal email to several hundred of his police colleagues wherein he blamed the city's mayor and police chief for failing "all of us in epic proportions for their own gain and to cover their asses", faulted senior staff and the FBI for being unwilling "to hold the line", and urged his colleagues, "Do what you need to do to go home your family." Mattingly gave an interview in October to ABC News and The Louisville Courier Journal in which he reiterated his accusations that city officials had not come to his and the other officers' defense in the incident's aftermath. In the interview he highlighted the tragedy of the shooting but claimed that it was unlike the murder of George Floyd, saying, "This is not us going, hunting somebody down. This is not kneeling on a neck. It's nothing like that. [...] She didn't deserve to die. She didn't do anything to deserve a death sentence." Politicians and public officials On May 13, 2020, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear responded to reports about Taylor's death and said the public deserved to know everything about the March raid. He requested that Attorney General Cameron and local and federal prosecutors review the Louisville police's initial investigation "to ensure justice is done at a time when many are concerned that justice is not blind". On May 14, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer and LMPD Chief Steve Conrad announced they had asked the FBI and the United States Attorney to review the local findings of the Public Integrity Unit's investigation when it is completed. Protests For weeks after Taylor's death, her family, members of the community, and protesters around the world requested that officers involved be dehired and criminally charged. Many, including Taylor's family and friends, protested outside Mayor Fisher's office. Celebrities and public figures Commentators such as Arwa Mahdawi and Brittney Cooper suggested Taylor's killing would likely not have received so much attention if not for the George Floyd protests, as black women are often neglected. Mahdawi related this to the #SayHerName campaign and Malcolm X's statement "The most disrespected person in America is the black woman" and called for further protest until justice for Taylor is secured. "Arrest the cops that killed Breonna Taylor" has become a common Internet meme. It has been criticized for trivializing the incident by being akin to the meme "Epstein didn't kill himself". In late July 2020, American record producer J. W. Lucas, who is white, made controversial statements on Twitter that seemed to justify the shooting of Taylor, which received extremely negative reactions, including from activist Tamika Mallory, with whom he later had a heated exchange on Instagram Live. Rapper Jack Harlow, whose single "Whats Poppin" Lucas produced, publicly denounced Lucas, saying that he did not know who Lucas was and was not aware of his involvement in the song. The September 2020 edition of O magazine featured Taylor on the cover instead of the usual image of Oprah Winfrey as a way to honor "her life and the life of every other black woman whose life has been taken too soon". It was the first issue in the magazine's 20-year history that did not have Winfrey's image on its cover. Until Freedom and O magazine put up 26 billboards—one for every year of Taylor's life—around Louisville. Winfrey released a video five months after Taylor's death calling for the arrest of the officers involved. Professional sports teams and individual athletes have honored Taylor and called for the end of racial injustice. Before the 2019–20 NBA season restarted, the Memphis Grizzlies wore shirts with Taylor's name and "#SayHerName" as they arrived at the arena. At the 2020 Tuscan Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton wore a T-shirt on the podium with the words "Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor." The governing body, the FIA, considered investigating Hamilton for violating the protocols for political messaging, but decided no investigation was necessary. The September 2020 edition of Vanity Fair featured a painting of Taylor by Amy Sherald on the cover. The issue included an interview with Taylor's mother by author Ta-Nehisi Coates. In September 2020, George Clooney issued a statement in which he said that he was "ashamed" by the decision to charge Hankison with wanton endangerment rather than with Taylor's death. Vandalism On December 26, 2020, a ceramic bust of Taylor that was installed near City Hall in downtown Oakland, California, was smashed, apparently with a baseball bat. The statue stood on a pedestal bearing the words, "Say Her Name, Breonna Taylor". Change.org petition Shortly after Taylor's killing, a petition was started on the public benefit corporation website change.org asking for "Justice for Breonna Taylor." The petition quickly gathered enough signatures to become one of the site's top three most-signed petitions, among others such as those seeking justice for George Floyd and Elijah McClain. See also Pecan Park raid Berwyn Heights, Maryland mayor's residence drug raid Jose Guerena shooting Duncan Lemp shooting Killing of Bernardo Palacios-Carbajal Shooting of Atatiana Jefferson George Floyd protests 2020–2021 United States racial unrest Lists of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States Notes References External links 2020 controversies in the United States 2020 in Kentucky 2020–2021 United States racial unrest African-American history in Louisville, Kentucky African-American-related controversies Articles containing video clips Black Lives Matter African Americans shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States Deaths by person in the United States Law enforcement controversies in the United States March 2020 events in the United States No-knock warrant Protests in the United States Law enforcement in Kentucky

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Emily%20Jones

Killing of Emily Jones

On 22 March 2020, 7-year-old Emily Grace Jones was stabbed at Queen's Park in Bolton, Greater Manchester, England, while riding her scooter and died shortly afterwards. Eltiona Skana, a 30-year-old Albanian woman unknown to the Jones family, was arrested on the scene and later charged with murder. Skana pled guilty to the lesser included offence of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility on 6 November 2020. After a trial at Minshull Street Crown Court from 26 November to 4 December, the charge of murder was withdrawn by the prosecution and the jury was directed to formally return a not guilty verdict for murder. On 8 December, she was given a life sentence, with a minimum term of eight years, for the conviction of manslaughter. On 26 January 2021, Skana's minimum sentence was increased to 10 years and eight months, with the presiding judge stating the previous minimum sentence had been "calculated in error". Victim Emily Grace Jones was born on 18 January 2013 in Bolton. Her parents were credit manager Mark Jones and solicitor Sarah Barnes. The family were from the Doffcocker area. Jones's parents said, "Emily was seven years old, our only child and the light of our lives. She was always full of joy, love and laughter." Killing The Jones family were at Queen's Park in Bolton on 22 March 2020, which was Mother's Day in the United Kingdom. The police coroner's officer Rebecca Gardner described the attack, "Emily was on her scooter playing. As she rode past a wooden bench, a female sat on the bench suddenly attacked Emily, stabbing her in the neck, causing catastrophic injury. Emily was taken to Salford Royal Hospital, but despite best efforts to save Emily her death was diagnosed at 15:56 hours that day." Coroner Alan Walsh stated, "In my 20 years as a coroner this is one of the most tragic deaths that I have dealt with." On the morning of the attack, the perpetrator had bought a pack of three craft knives, one of which she used to kill Jones, from a shop in Bolton town centre. Immediately after the stabbing, the perpetrator attempted to flee the area, but was tackled to the ground by a member of the public and restrained until authorities arrived. Trial A 30-year-old woman who was unknown to the Jones family was arrested on the scene. She was detained under the Mental Health Act and placed in a high-security facility. An inquest into Jones' death was opened on 1 April, and adjourned to 3 July. On 20 May, the suspect was identified as Eltiona Skana (born 24 February 1990), who is originally from Albania. She married in February 2012 and moved to Kuwait, but returned to Albania in September 2013. She then left Albania again and went to Germany, where her sister arranged for an agent to transport Skana through Italy and France and smuggle her into the United Kingdom on a lorry. Skana claimed asylum upon her arrival in the United Kingdom on 13 August 2014. Her asylum application was initially refused in June 2018, but this decision was overturned following an appeal and she was given a residency permit lasting until November 2020, and leave to remain until 2024. Skana later admitted to lying on her asylum application, by falsely claiming that she was a victim of human trafficking. At the time of her arrest, Skana was unemployed and lived in a flat in Bolton. Skana was charged with murder along with possession of a bladed article. She was remanded in custody and scheduled to appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court on 26 May. She did not enter a plea to the charges at her May court appearance. A plea and trial preparation hearing took place on 5 October. Appearing via a video link from Rampton Secure Hospital, Skana did not speak at the October hearing, and her barrister asked that the arraignment happen at a later date. Presiding judge, Mr. Justice Henshaw, adjourned the proceedings until 6 November. At the November hearing, Skana denied the charge of murder, but pled guilty to the lesser included offence of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. An adjournment of the hearing for seven days was requested to give the prosecution time to consider the manslaughter plea. Justice Henshaw granted the adjournment, and added that the case would proceed on the basis of a "full-blown trial". Skana's trial began on 26 November 2020. The court heard that Skana was admitted to a psychiatric hospital in 2015 after threatening her neighbours with a weapon, and was again detained and given further treatment in 2017 when she stabbed her mother in the hand and threatened her sister. Police discovered anti-psychotic medication in Skana's flat after her arrest, which defending barrister Simon Csoka said amounted to "about a month's worth". On the fourth day of the trial, Jonathan Pettet, a psychiatric nurse at Rampton Hospital, said Skana had told him, "'I killed someone, that’s the reason why I’m here.' She said, ‘it was premeditated, I waited in the park, I picked my victim and I killed somebody and tried to run away'." Dr. Syed Afghan, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, said on the sixth day of the trial that Skana had a history of violence when unmedicated. He stated that, during Skana's detainment at Rampton Hospital, it was mutually agreed to discontinue the anti-psychotic medication, after which hospital staff observed Skana behaving strangely. She was seen "laughing hysterically" after she noticed a girl on television who bore a resemblance to Jones, and in another incident Skana became enraged and was "frothing at the mouth". Dr. Afghan resumed the course of anti-psychotic medication on 16 October, and testified in court that there was "ample evidence" that Skana had paranoid schizophrenia. The prosecution initially argued that Skana should be convicted of murder, noting that she had bought a knife on the morning that she went to the park and killed Jones, and stated that Skana was using her history of mental illness as a "convenient excuse" for the crime. On 4 December 2020, following Dr. Afghan's testimony, prosecution barrister Michael Brady said there was "no longer any realistic prospect of conviction" for murder, and asked the jury to find Skana not guilty of that offence. Trial judge, Mr. Justice Wall, scheduled the sentencing for the conviction of manslaughter for 8 December. On that day, Skana received a life sentence, with a minimum term of eight years before eligibility for release. Prior to sentencing, Mark Jones, father of the victim, said what happened to his daughter is a "public outrage". In a victim impact statement, Jones said, "Emily was a vulnerable child full of innocence and wonder, she was just starting off on her path of life and her future was cut short. Our future has also been taken away. How can we enjoy life when the best part of it has been taken away? ... I cannot understand why this has happened. We want people hearing this statement to understand that this should not have happened. How can an innocent child playing in a park be killed in such a monstrous way?" Imprisonment Skana's defence argued during sentencing proceedings that the "public interest aligned" with detention in a psychiatric hospital instead of a prison. Justice Wall ordered Skana to serve her term at Rampton Secure Hospital, and stipulated that Skana should only be released if she no longer poses a risk to the public. He added that, despite her mental illness, Skana had a "significant amount of responsibility" for the crime, which justified a "hybrid" order rather than a hospital order, meaning Skana has the possibility of being transferred from hospital to prison to serve the remainder of her sentence if her condition improves sufficiently. On handing down the sentence, Justice Wall told Skana that "what this means is that you will be detained in hospital until no longer necessary. If or when it's no longer necessary you will be released to prison. Once in prison you will serve the remainder of the sentence that I have imposed." Due to the pre-trial detainment period, 196 days were reduced from Skana's eight-year minimum sentence. In concluding his sentencing remarks, Justice Wall said, "If you are never deemed fit for release you will remain in hospital or prison for the remainder of your life." On 26 January 2021, Skana's minimum sentence was increased from eight years to 10 years and eight months. Justice Wall stated that he reached the original eight-year minimum term by halving the notional determinate sentence of 16 years, but added that "when I passed that sentence I had forgotten from the 1st April 2020 the law as to the minimum period to be served by a violent or sexual offender whose sentence was or exceeded seven years was two thirds, and not one half of the sentence. It is an error to which all in court fell, for which I take full responsibility." Jones's father Mark welcomed the increase of the sentence, but said he will "keep fighting tooth and nail" to prevent Skana from ever being released, "whether it's ten years or 20 it won't be enough for me." He also stated that Emily's death could have been prevented if the Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) NHS Trust had handled Skana differently. The GMMH Trust conducted an internal review and concluded that it could not have foreseen the attack. Mark Jones said the internal review was inadequate, "It was pretty disgraceful to be honest because they outlined all these failings, and there were a lot, and at the end of it their finishing line was, ‘we still think the attack on your daughter was unpreventable’, which is ridiculous. I have spoken to the CEO on a number of occasions and I have told him, ‘I am going to do my utmost. You need to admit liability here and apologise to my family.'" NHS England subsequently began an investigation and review of the GMMH Trust. Memorial Jones was a pupil at Markland Hill Primary School in Bolton. After her killing, the school announced plans for a memorial garden. The fundraising target of £5,000 was reached within 12 hours, and soon surpassed £11,000. Headteacher Louise Close said, "We want a lasting legacy for this little girl who was taken so soon, so quickly and tragically." A separate fundraiser started by Jones's parents raised over £10,000 within 24 hours, with the funds going to the Bolton Lads' and Girls' Club, which provides sports and art activities for children and teenagers across Bolton. It reached over £25,000 by the time of the criminal sentencing in December. References 2020 crimes in the United Kingdom 2020s trials Deaths by person in England History of Bolton Manslaughter in the United Kingdom March 2020 crimes in Europe March 2020 events in the United Kingdom Murder trials Stabbing attacks in England Trials in England Violence in Greater Manchester 2020 in England 2020 murders in the United Kingdom

64147805

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20James%20Scurlock

Killing of James Scurlock

On May 30, 2020, James Scurlock, a 22-year-old black male protester, was fatally shot by a 38-year-old bar owner, Jacob "Jake" Gardner. The shooting took place during the George Floyd protests in Omaha, Nebraska, in the Old Market area of the city, where Scurlock and friends had been among the thousands of protesters who flooded the city's downtown area. Surveillance video of the strip of bars shows a group of people, including Scurlock, approached by Jacob Gardner, his father, and one other male in the street. An altercation began after Gardner's father pushed one of the protestors while asking the group to leave. Another protester ran up and shoved Gardner's father to the ground and then ran away. Gardner, who was nearby, revealed a weapon from his waistband while moving backwards and threatening the group, including Scurlock directly, to "keep the [explicit] away from me". Two people shoved Gardner to the ground, one tackling him, Gardner then fired shots into the air in an effort to warn off the attackers and protect his father. Seconds later, Scurlock jumped on Gardner and had his arm across Gardner’s throat. Gardner then fired the gun over his shoulder in an effort to escape the choke hold, striking Scurlock in the clavicle. After 36 hours Gardner was released from police custody after the county attorney concluded that he had acted in self-defense against Scurlock, who had attempted to place Gardner in a headlock. The decision proved controversial amid accusations of racial motivation. It has been described as exacerbating tensions in the United States, and the case was referred to a grand jury for review; a grand jury returned indictments against Gardner on September 15 on four felony criminal charges, including manslaughter. Special prosecutor Fred Franklin stated that Gardner had been "threatening the use of deadly force in the absence of being threatened with ... deadly force by James Scurlock or anyone who was associated with him." On September 20, 2020, the deadline for Gardner to turn himself in, he committed suicide outside a medical center in Hillsboro, Oregon, where he had moved after the incident. His death is currently under investigation by Hillsboro police and medical examiners. Incident On May 30, 2020, around 11:00pm, James Scurlock and a group of rioters were in the Old Market area of Omaha, Nebraska, during the George Floyd protests. During the protest, Scurlock was filmed vandalizing inside a building, including exterior windows and interior office spaces, on the corner of 13th and Harney Street. Scurlock was then headed east toward the business belonging to Jacob Gardner, a white bar owner. Gardner and his father stood guard near his business, The Gatsby. They later walked east down Harney Street and pushed two people, telling them to leave. Gardner's father was then knocked to the ground by one man. A verbal altercation between Gardner and a group of people he believed had hit his father ensued. Gardner positioned himself in the midst of the protestors. He lifted his shirt, making it known he was carrying a concealed handgun in his waistband. He then withdrew the handgun from his waistband and held it at his side. As he was backing up, he was tackled to the ground by two people. Gardner fired two shots in the air (which he would later describe as warning shots to the police), and his two attackers fled. It was then that Scurlock jumped on Gardner's back as he was getting up and held him to the ground. After both had struggled for around 20 seconds, Gardner fired a third shot behind his back, striking Scurlock in his clavicle. Scurlock was taken to Nebraska Medicine where he died from his injuries. Investigation Initial By Saturday night, Gardner was held in police custody at the Omaha Police Department headquarters while an investigation was conducted. He was released late Sunday night and was not booked into jail while he was in police custody. Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine reviewed the evidence, including interviews and witnesses. At a press conference on Monday, June 1, Kleine announced that no charges would be filed against Gardner at that time. Kleine described what occurred in the incident, showed copies of video evidence for the audience, narrating what took place, and explained the conclusion that Gardner had acted in self-defense. Prosecutors said Gardner had once held an active Nebraska Concealed Handgun Permit, but that it had expired by the time of the shooting. Grand jury The Scurlock family's attorney and Nebraska State Senator, Justin Wayne, asked Kleine to send the case to a grand jury. He explained Gardner should face other charges, such as manslaughter, a concealed carry permit violation, or for firing gunshots within the Omaha city limits. On June 3, 2020, Kleine called a grand jury with a special prosecutor to review the case. He met with Omaha Councilperson Ben Gray and Douglas County Commissioner Chris Rodgers to consider involving the United States Department of Justice. On June 8, Frederick D. Franklin, a federal prosecutor, was appointed to lead the grand jury investigation. Charges and Gardner's death On September 15, 2020, Gardner was indicted by the grand jury on manslaughter, attempted first-degree assault, making terroristic threats and use of a weapon to commit a felony. If convicted, Gardner could have faced a maximum of 95 years imprisonment. His reported deadline date to turn himself in was September 20. On September 20, 2020, Gardner died of suicide in Hillsboro, Oregon. He was found dead of possible gunshot wounds outside a medical center. Gardner had left Nebraska allegedly due to death threats he was receiving there, and initially stayed in Northern California but relocated to Oregon during the wildfires. He had stayed with an uncle in the Portland area prior to his death. On July 28, 2021, Gardner's parents sued the Douglas County Attorney's Office, Kleine and Franklin, alleging that comments made by Kleine and Franklin led to Gardner's suicide. Protests Scurlock's death was reported internationally as exacerbating tensions in the United States. On May 31, there was a Black Lives Matter and George Floyd protest in Kearney, Nebraska, that also included demonstrations in Scurlock's name. Signs included slogans like "Justice for James." It started at the Museum of Nebraska Art and continued to the intersection of Second Avenue and 25th Street. On June 1, 2020, approximately 300 attended demonstrations in Omaha. Many chanted "What about James?" and 80 were arrested. Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts apologized to the Black community after saying "where the hell were you people?" during a heated meeting with local Black leaders. On June 5, 2020, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in memory of Scurlock and to protest unsubstantiated claims of racism and racial inequality. They began at Memorial Park and marched across the Dodge Street Pedestrian Bridge to Elmwood Park. Omaha Councilperson Pete Festersen and Scurlock's family attended the protest. On June 5, 2020, local radio station KFAB posted a video showing Scurlock inside of Old Market businesses vandalizing them just prior to the incident, and interviewed Don Kleine on why his office chose not to release the video. Reactions Videos of the incident were posted on social media. Scurlock's father, James Scurlock II, stated that he wanted justice. He said he did not want people to loot or commit acts of violence in Scurlock's name. The family's attorney Justin Wayne said, "In this community, we prosecute black and brown individuals a lot more for things like we just watched," in reference to the video of the incident shown at the press conference. Governor Pete Ricketts stated that "the loss of anybody's life is a tragedy, certainly a personal tragedy for the family and a tragedy for the community." He said he supported Kleine's decision not to press charges. He suggested the public watch the incident for themselves. Ricketts called for peaceful protests. The Miami Herald reported that Nebraska State Senator Megan Hunt tweeted: "Don Kleine and Douglas County have made a huge mistake. James Scurlock was murdered, and his murderer should be put on trial. With this decision, our justice process never even had a chance to work." On June 1, 2020, the rock band 311 and its vocalist Nick Hexum posted on social media that Scurlock was shot dead by a fan of their group, and that they did not condone the violence shown in the shooting. On June 4, 2020, a spray painted mural of Scurlock was completed in Omaha near 24th and Camden. It was created by a collaboration of over 100 artists. Another mural was created at 16th and Farnam. The owners of the building in which Gardner's bar was located evicted him shortly after the incident, alleging that Gardner had not complied with the terms of his lease. See also 2020–2021 United States racial unrest References 2020 controversies in the United States 2020 crimes in the United States 2020 deaths 2020 in Nebraska African-American history of Nebraska African-American-related controversies Black Lives Matter Deaths by firearm in Nebraska Deaths by person in the United States Filmed killings George Floyd protests in the United States History of Omaha, Nebraska Incidents during the George Floyd protests May 2020 events in the United States Protest-related deaths

64152142

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20David%20McAtee

Killing of David McAtee

On June 1, 2020, David McAtee, a 53-year-old African-American man, was fatally shot by the Kentucky Army National Guard in Louisville during nationwide protests following the murder of George Floyd and the killing of Breonna Taylor. The Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) and National Guard were in the area to enforce a curfew. According to officials, the police and soldiers were fired upon by McAtee, and two Louisville officers and two National Guardsmen returned fire. McAtee was killed by a shot fired from a guardsman. The body cams of the police involved were deactivated during the shooting, in violation of department policy. Hours later, police chief Steve Conrad was fired by Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer. Biography David McAtee was the youngest child of Odessa Riley and James McAtee, and had eight siblings. He owned and operated YaYa's BBQ Shack, a popular barbeque restaurant in Louisville's predominantly black West End neighborhood, a food desert, and was a "beloved fixture" of his community. He had a reputation for generosity, including serving food at no cost in his restaurant to police officers and members of his community who were struggling financially. Having de-escalated potentially violent situations on multiple occasions, he was also known as a calming presence in his neighborhood. He adopted the name YaYa after becoming a Rastafarian around 2010. Shooting At the time of the shooting, a 9 p.m. curfew was in place due to protests following the recent murder of George Floyd and killing of Breonna Taylor by police officers. The LMPD and National Guard were attempting to disperse a crowd of people in and around the parking lot of Dino's Food Mart, a popular social gathering spot at a gas station across the street from McAtee's restaurant. Witnesses in the crowd said the gathering was independent of the protests and was instead part of a weekly neighborhood social occasion at which McAtee served food. They allege that soldiers and police, in their effort to enforce the curfew, had boxed the crowd into the area thus causing a panic, which resulted in people running towards the restaurant. According to an LMPD statement, someone in the crowd opened fire at the armed officers and soldiers, who returned fire. A bullet shot by a National Guard soldier struck McAtee in the chest, killing him at the scene at about 12:15 a.m. Following the shooting, hundreds of people stood near the restaurant, and McAtee's body remained lying at the scene for 12–14 hours while police investigated. After the coroner removed the body and the police departed, president of the Louisville affiliate of the National Urban League Sadiqa Reynolds recruited a local gospel singer to sing "Amazing Grace". Investigation On June 1, Governor Andy Beshear ordered Kentucky State Police to investigate the shooting via a joint effort with the FBI Louisville Field Office and the U.S. Attorney Office for the Western District of Kentucky. On June 2, acting LMPD police chief Schroeder said that security camera footage showed McAtee firing a gun as officers approached his business while clearing out a nearby parking lot. According to Schroeder, questions remained, "including why did he fire and where were police at the time he fired?" On June 4, videographic analysis by The New York Times''' visual investigations unit of surveillance and bystander videos from four separate angles reconstructed a synchronized chronology of the sequence of events leading to McAtee's death. This analysis concluded that police first fired at least two pepper balls from outside McAtee's restaurant toward his relatives and him, in violation of LMPD policy requiring pepper balls be shot at the ground in front of the crowd (rather than into the crowd) during crowd dispersal operations, and that "law enforcement officials shall avoid the use of force" when trying to disperse non-violent crowds. One shot hit and pierced a bottle on an outdoor table, knocking it to the ground, and the other struck the doorway, almost hitting McAtee's niece in the head. At the time, the pepper ball shots may not have been distinguishable from other ammunition. In response, McAtee grabbed his gun and appears to have fired. The Guardian'' wrote that the video shows that McAtee "raises his arm in the air", which is "a motion consistent with firing a warning shot". On June 9, the governor's office said that lab tests from the case concluded that McAtee was killed from a single gunshot by a National Guard soldier. In total, two officers and two guardsmen fired at least 19 shots in McAtee's direction. McAtee was determined to have fired twice with a 9 mm pistol. According to officials, McAtee's shots prompted law enforcement's return fire, which killed him. The officers involved in the shooting were identified as Katie Crews and Austin Allen while the identities of the soldiers were not initially released. In May 2021, Commonwealth Attorney Tom Wine released more information about the shooting. LMPD officer Crews fired eight times, officer Allen fired once, National Guard soldier Andrew Kroszkewicz fired four times, and staff sergeant Matthew Roark fired six times. Aftermath Mayor Greg Fischer fired LMPD Chief Steve Conrad after learning that officers involved in the shooting of McAtee did not have their body cameras turned on. Deputy Chief Robert Schroeder was placed in charge of the department as the interim police chief and declared that the officers' decision to not use their body cameras was a "clear failure to (follow) our policy" and was "completely unacceptable." Many residents and protesters raised concerns about why so many officers and troops were at the location, as the most significant protest that night was roughly 20 blocks away. They have also stated that the group wasn't protesting but were, instead, customers of the store and BBQ cart. Others have raised questions about why rubber bullets had been used in the Highlands but real bullets in the West End. Crews became the subject of a professional standards investigation on June 2 after she posted a photo of a protester offering her flowers during a protest on May 28. The photo depicts Crews standing in a police line with other officers, while a white female protester holds flowers near Crews' chest. Crews captioned the photo with "I hope the pepper balls that she got lit up with a little later on hurt" and claimed that the protester was attempting to elicit a reaction from her with taunts and finished the caption with "Come back and get ya some more old girl, I'll be on the line again tonight." In May 2021, the state of Kentucky announced that they would not file charges against the Louisville Metro Police Department officers and the Kentucky National Guard soldiers. Reactions Metro Council President David James described himself as a close personal friend of McAtee and described him as a good man who loved his neighborhood and city. McAtee's mother told reporters that he was known by the policemen and the community, and that he had fed all the policemen and would join them for discussions while they ate. After the state of Kentucky announced that there will not be chargers file against the officers and soldiers involved in the shooting, people in Louisville protested. Several demonstrators were arrested including McAtee's brother, who was charged with unlawful assembly and obstructing the highway. See also Black Lives Matter Lists of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States Political violence References 2020 controversies in the United States 2020 deaths 2020 in Kentucky African-American history in Louisville, Kentucky African-American-related controversies Black Lives Matter Deaths by firearm in Kentucky Deaths by person in the United States Incidents during the George Floyd protests Law enforcement controversies in the United States Law enforcement in Kentucky June 2020 events in the United States African Americans shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States Protests in the United States Military in Kentucky George Floyd protests in the United States

64202576

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Manuel%20Ellis

Killing of Manuel Ellis

Manuel Ellis was a 33-year-old black man who died on March 3, 2020, during an arrest by police officers in Tacoma, Washington. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department initially claimed that Ellis had attacked a police car and then attacked officers, leading to the arrest. State prosecutors quoted civilian witnesses as saying that Ellis did not attack the police car or officers; they also said it was the officers who initiated the use of physical force on Ellis after a conversation. Video of the incident showed officers repeatedly punching Ellis, choking him, using a Taser, and kneeling on him. State prosecutors stated that "Ellis was not fighting back", citing witness statements and video evidence. A police radio recording showed that Ellis said he "can’t breathe". Ellis told officers "can't breathe, sir" multiple times, according to prosecutors. Ellis was hogtied, face-down, with an officer on him, for at least six minutes, and a spit hood was placed on his head in this position, stated prosecutors. Ellis died at the scene while receiving medical aid from paramedics. In early June 2020, Ellis's death was ruled by county medical examiner Thomas Clark as a homicide due to "hypoxia due to physical restraint", and with "contributing conditions of methamphetamine intoxication and a dilated heart". Prosecutors, in May 2021 documents, quoted Clark as saying that additional evidence that emerged after the autopsy concluded indicated that "Ellis's death was not likely caused by methamphetamine intoxication", and further indicated that restraint caused the death. After Ellis's death, four Tacoma police officers were placed on paid administrative leave; they returned to work two weeks later, with the Tacoma police department stating "there were no known departmental violations". The Pierce County Sheriff's Department conducted a three-month investigation into Ellis's death before disclosing that a Pierce County deputy was present during Ellis's arrest. As a result, in mid-June 2020, Governor of Washington Jay Inslee ordered a new investigation by the Washington State Patrol, while the Washington Attorney General would decide potential criminal charges. In May 2021, Washington prosecutors charged two Tacoma police officers, Christopher Burbank and Matthew Collins, with second degree murder for the killing of Ellis, and charged another Tacoma police officer, Timothy Rankine, with first degree manslaughter. Persons involved Manuel Ellis was a 33-year-old musician with two children. Ellis was black. Ellis's family has said that Ellis struggled with methamphetamine addiction and mental health issues such as depression and schizophrenia. On the night of Ellis's death, he had played drums at his church, Last Day Ministries, then happily called his mother, brother and sister. After church, Ellis spent time with his landlord and her husband, then walked to a convenience store to buy food. Three officers were criminally charged with regard to Ellis's death. They are: Christopher Burbank, who has been with the Tacoma Police Department since December 2015. He is white. Matthew Collins, who has been with the Tacoma Police Department since June 2015. He is white. Timothy Rankine, who has been with the Tacoma Police Department since August 2018. He is Asian. Other officers, who were involved with Ellis's arrest, but were not criminally charged, were: Tacoma police officer Masyih Ford, Tacoma Police officer Armando Farinas, and Pierce County sheriff's sergeant, Gary Sanders. Arrest and death Lead-up to arrest The incident started around 11:21 p.m. on March 3, 2020. The arresting officers were not wearing body cameras because the Tacoma Police Department does not use them. According to state prosecutors in May 2021, on the night of Ellis's death, Tacoma police officers Christopher Burbank and Matthew Collins told other officers that Ellis abruptly and randomly attacked them. Prosecutors cited the other officers saying that Burbank and Collins told them that Ellis first hit their car, then when Burbank and Collins left the car, Ellis attacked them. Burbank and Collins told the other officers that Ellis had used punches and kicks against them, stated prosecutors. Burbank and Collins were subsequently interviewed by investigators from the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, although the duo later refused to be interviewed by investigators from the Washington State Patrol. The News Tribune reported on transcripts and recordings of Burbank and Collins's interviews, giving the following account. The officers said that when they came across Ellis, he was standing in the middle of the intersection at 96th Street South and Ainsworth Avenue South, where he attempted to open the door of a slowly moving car, but failed (of note, the driver of this car was never found by investigators). The officers said that Ellis approached them while they were in their car, and that he was sweating despite the cold weather. Burbank quoted Ellis saying something similar to: "I'm having a bad day, I need some help and I have warrants". The officers said Ellis threatened to punch Burbank, who then closed the car window, leading to Ellis punching the car window. Collins left the car and Ellis assumed a "fighting stance" towards Collins, so Burbank said that he used his car's "door to actually door check him and hit him with the door to draw his attention away from" Collins, which was supposedly the first instance of physical contact between the men. Collins alleged that Ellis used "superhuman strength" to lift him, throwing Collins into the ground and starting a "wild" fight. According to The Seattle Times, the most significant difference between Burbank and Collins's accounts to sheriff's investigators was that "Burbank did not witness Ellis hoist and throw Collins". Several of the police statements were "contradicted by the three civilian witnesses, none of whom ever saw Ellis in the intersection, or saw Ellis strike the officers' car, or saw Ellis attack, punch, or otherwise strike the officers at any point", stated the May 2021 charging documents written by Washington prosecutors; in addition, the prosecutors wrote that the "civilian accounts are supported by video sources." State prosecutors quoted civilian witnesses as giving the following account of the lead-up to Ellis's arrest. Two witnesses said Ellis was walking on a sidewalk and then he approached the officers' car. Witnesses saw Ellis talking to officers in their car in a "peaceful, apparently respectful conversation, with no signs of aggression from Ellis". When Ellis walked away, witnesses saw officer Burbank "abruptly swung open the passenger door of the car, striking Ellis from behind and knocking him to his knees." Then as Ellis tried to get up, Burbank got on top of him, according to the witnesses. It was 11:21 p.m. at this point. Use of force; initial restraint The next proceeding, according to prosecutors citing video evidence, saw officer Burbank grabbing Ellis, lifting Ellis and driving him down onto the ground while punching him, then officer Collins put his weight on Ellis. Video footage from a female witness shows Ellis being repeatedly punched while on the ground. This was done by officer Collins, stated prosecutors. The female witness calls out to the officers: "Stop. Oh my God, stop hitting him. Just arrest him." Then, according to prosecutors, officer Collins applied a "lateral vascular neck restraint" to Ellis, which is a type of chokehold. Video footage from a male witness showed that an officer brought Ellis to the ground from behind with a chokehold. "Ellis was not fighting back", stated the prosecutors, citing witness statements and videos. They quoted one witness as saying that Ellis did not defend himself. The video evidence showed Ellis "struggling at times against the officers’ restraints, but does not show Ellis attempting to strike the officers at any point", stated the prosecutors. Video footage from the male witness then showed: while Ellis is being choked by one officer, the other officer fires a Taser at Ellis's chest. Prosecutors state that it was Burbank who fired the Taser, and that he did so when Ellis raised his hands in a "surrender-type position" while being choked. Another witness tells officers: "Hey, y'all in the wrong right now". Next, video footage from the male witness showed that the officer applying the choke then switches to placing a knee on Ellis's back or neck. The male witness who took the video told The Seattle Times that the officer's "knee was right on [Ellis's] neck, on the back of his neck". After the choke was released by officer Collins, Ellis's head fell limply toward the ground, stated prosecutors. Collins then used his arm to push Ellis's head or neck, resulting in Ellis's face being pushed against the ground, stated prosecutors. The officers pulled Ellis's arms behind his back and pressed down on Ellis's body while they called for backup, stated prosecutors. While the two officers held Ellis's arms and pressed down on his body, Burbank shocked Ellis again with the Taser, stated prosecutors. Three witnesses leave the scene, while Burbank shocked Ellis with the Taser for a third time. At 11:23 p.m., Ellis is heard saying "can’t breathe" from a police radio recording. According to prosecutors, a Vivint doorbell camera across the street recorded Ellis clearly saying: "Can't breathe, sir. Can't breathe!" then less than 15 seconds later, Ellis either says "Breathe, sir?" or "Please, sir?" An officer then tells Ellis: "Shut the fuck up, man", according to prosecutors. Burbank and Collins told county sheriff’s investigators that during the incident, Ellis did not speak, only grunting or growling. According to Burbank and/or Collins's interviews with sheriff's investigators, the first Taser shot by Burbank disabled Ellis for five seconds, after which Ellis threw Collins off him. According to Burbank's interview, even after the second Taser shot by Burbank, the situation was akin to Ellis "doing, almost doing push-ups with [Burbank and Collins] on his back". Burbank told sheriff's investigators that he did not notice Ellis struggling to breathe. Backup arrives; further restraint At 11:24 p.m., with Ellis already handcuffed by officers, Tacoma police officer Timothy Rankine responded to the scene as backup. He arrived together with Tacoma police officer Masyih Ford, according to investigation documents. Ford told sheriff's investigators that he held one of Ellis's feet and told Ellis to relax. According to investigation documents, Collins held Ellis's other foot, while Burbank was on Ellis's back, but Ellis allegedly threw Burbank off. Prosecutors described that Rankine got on top of Ellis's back, in a position almost like sitting on Ellis. After Rankine arrives, Ellis tells the officers: "I can't breathe ... Can't breathe. Can't breathe, sir", stated prosecutors. Officers Rankine and Ford told the county sheriff’s investigators that Ellis did say that he could not breathe, contradicting Burbank and Collins's account to county sheriff’s investigators that Ellis did not speak. Rankine described Ellis making "really strange animal grunting noises", then described Ellis saying he could not breathe in a "very calm, normal voice", so Rankine replied, "if you’re talking to me, you can breathe just fine", stated prosecutors. According to investigation documents, Burbank retrieved a hobble to use on Ellis, while Tacoma Police Sergeant Michael Lim, Pierce County Sheriff's Lieutenant Anthony Messineo, and Pierce County Sheriff's Sergeant Gary Sanders arrived on the scene. According to investigation documents, Sanders helped to place the hobble on Ellis. Sanders told State Patrol investigators that he pulled Ellis's foot to Ellis's waist, placing it into the hobble, resulting in Ellis being "pretty much contained at that point. Thus, Ellis's legs were tied together with a nylon strap that was connected to the handcuffs on Ellis, leaving Ellis face-down in a hogtied position, stated prosecutors. Lieutenant Anthony Messineo told investigators that after Ellis was hobbled, Ellis did not move; Messineo heard "agonal breathing" from Ellis akin to "last breaths" when "someone is dying", stated prosecutors. The officers briefly rolled Ellis onto his side, where Rankine observed Ellis having a high temperature, sweating copiously, and bleeding from his face, stated prosecutors. Then, Rankine rolled Ellis back onto his stomach; Rankine also used his knees to apply pressure on Ellis, stated prosecutors. Rankine claimed that Ellis was violently thrashing around, so Rankine left a knee on Ellis's back, but Lieutenant Messineo and Sergeant Sanders contradicted Rankine's claim, stating that Ellis had stopped moving by that point, stated prosecutors. Messineo told other officers at the scene that Ellis showed signs of excited delirium, stated prosecutors. At 11:25 p.m., Sergeant Lim called for the Tacoma Fire Department to "check [Ellis] out", stated prosecutors. By then, Burbank, Collins and Rankine had not called for medical aid, and they did not tell the dispatcher that Ellis said he could not breathe, that Ellis was experiencing agonal breathing, and that Ellis was possibly in excited delirium, stated prosecutors. At 11:27 p.m., Lim called for an ambulance, while stating that Ellis would need to be "strapped down", stated prosecutors. At 11:32 p.m., Lim requested "priority" medical aid for Ellis. Meanwhile, for at least six minutes, until the Tacoma Fire Department arrived, Ellis was hogtied and face-down while officer Rankine applied pressure to Ellis's back, stated prosecutors. While in this position, a spit hood was put on Ellis's head by an officer around 11:27 p.m, despite the brand of the spit hood warning that such an item should not be used on a person who is "having difficulty breathing", stated prosecutors. The officer who placed the spit hood on Ellis was Armando Farinas of the Tacoma police, stated State Patrol investigation findings published in December 2020. Officers Burbank, Collins and Rankine had "heard Ellis repeatedly plead that he could not breathe", but did not stop the spit hood from being placed on Ellis, and also did not remove the spit hood from Ellis's head, stated prosecutors. In total, 20 officers responded as backup to the scene. Other Pierce County Sheriff's Department officers performed road traffic control duties. Medical attention; death Members of the Tacoma Fire Department arrived at the scene at 11:34 p.m. According to prosecutors, a paramedic saw that Ellis was not conscious and unresponsive, with his breathing deteriorating, his heartbeat weak, and his pupils were fixed and dilated, the latter sign possibly indicating that Ellis was brain dead. According to prosecutors, Rankine was asked by paramedics to remove Ellis's restraints so that they could begin intravenous therapy, but Rankine refused at first. Rankine told county sheriff's investigators that he did not want to remove Ellis's "cuffs in case as he starts fighting again". When paramedics insisted, Rankine acquiesced and removed Ellis's restraints, and paramedics tended to Ellis, stated prosecutors. Around 11:35 p.m., Ellis stopped breathing. Paramedics unsuccessfully attempted resuscitation for almost 40 minutes, including CPR and inserting a tube down his throat; Ellis was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:12 a.m. Later that night, the officers involved had their injuries photographed. Collins had scrapes on his elbows and knees, and he later said that his right knee swelled. Burbank had a minor abrasion on one knee. Rankine and Ford were not injured. Investigations County sheriff's investigations The Pierce County Sheriff's Department handled the immediate investigation into Ellis's death. By March 5, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department claimed that the arrest was caused by Ellis running up to a police patrol car and hitting it, then "as the officers exited their vehicle, they were immediately attacked by" Ellis, described Pierce County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Ed Troyer. Also by March 5, officials also said at that time that Ellis appeared to be in a state of excited delirium. Although the Pierce County Sheriff's Department wanted to interview the involved officers on the night of Ellis's death, the officers' police union delayed the interviews until March 6 to March 9. The Pierce County Sheriff's Department privately identified four Tacoma police officers as being involved in Ellis's death: Christopher Burbank, Matthew Collins, Timothy Rankine and Masyih Ford. The four were initially placed on paid administrative leave, but returned to work after two weeks as "there were no known departmental violations", stated the Tacoma police department. In the week of June 1, 2020, the Tacoma Police Department revealed the identities of the above four officers to the public as those officers involved in the arrest. By June 4, 2020, police said that before Ellis had hit the police car, he had harassed a woman at the intersection of 96th Street South and Ainsworth Avenue, hitting her car window, and tried to open doors of occupied vehicles. Troyer said on June 4 that Ellis had "picked up [an] officer by his vest and slam-dunked him on the ground", "never tried to run, he engaged with the officers and started a fight". The Guardian reported on June 4 that Troyer denied that chokeholds were used during the arrest. Video footage that emerged later showed that Ellis was choked. Also on June 4, Troyer also said that officers "didn't use a Taser" on Ellis, but video footage that emerged later showed they did. The News Tribune reported on June 4 that the Pierce County Sheriff's Department was still trying to find three motorists who were at the scene of Ellis's arrest, despite the sheriff's department impending end of the investigation being within a week's time. The sheriff's department had searched the neighborhood and checked records, but could not find the vehicles or its passengers. When video of Ellis's arrest, taken by a female witness, was posted online on June 4, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department said that this was the first time they had learned of the video, and that they were looking to speak with the witness. KING 5 reported on June 4 or June 5 that Pierce County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Ed Troyer said: "Our guys did a thorough job of investigating this". On June 9, Troyer said that the department would accept an independent investigation: "If there’s any reason there’s a conflict, we would bow out." On June 10, 2020, Pierce County prosecutor Mary Robnett released a statement that on June 9, the Pierce County Sheriff informed her that a Pierce County Sheriff's "deputy was on scene at some point during the detention of Manuel Ellis". This piece of information had not been revealed to the public throughout the three months of investigations by the Pierce County Sheriff's Department. Citing this possible conflict of interest for the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, Robnett requested state investigators "investigate and review this case". Initial medical examiner ruling On June 2, 2020, the Pierce County medical examiner's office ruled that Ellis's death was a homicide. The death was certified as being caused by "hypoxia due to physical restraint", and with "contributing conditions of methamphetamine intoxication and a dilated heart". It was also ruled that it was "unlikely that this death would have occurred due to physical restraint alone without the contributing conditions". Hypoxia refers to inadequate oxygen supply, which in this case was caused by "physical restraint, positioning, and the placement of a mask over the mouth" (in this case, a spit hood). The Pierce County medical examiner stated that Ellis had enough methamphetamine in his system to be fatal, and that "an argument could be made" that methamphetamine intoxication "should be considered the primary factor", but also stated that Ellis had a normal heartbeat when paramedics first found him, while he was close to respiratory arrest. Some of Ellis's chest injuries were "consistent with Taser probes", quoted KING 5 from the medical examiner's report. On June 3, 2020, the officers were again placed on administrative leave. Release of videos On June 4, 2020, the Tacoma Action Collective racial justice organization posted on Twitter around one minute of video footage of Ellis's arrest, consisting of two video clips taken by a female witness. On June 9, over eight minutes of security camera footage were released to the public by the Tacoma Action Collective. On June 14, 2020, another witness video, with almost one minute of footage, was released to the public by a lawyer for Ellis's family. State investigations On June 10, 2020, Governor of Washington Jay Inslee said that due to the presence of Pierce County Sheriff's department officers at the scene of Ellis's death, he did not want the Pierce County Sheriff's department to complete the investigation, and he also did not want the Pierce County prosecutor to make charging decisions. On June 17, Inslee ordered the Washington State Patrol to launch a new investigation into Ellis' death, while the Washington State Attorney General would decide if criminal charges were warranted. Officers Christopher Burbank, Matthew Collins, Timothy Rankine and Masyih Ford all refused to be interviewed or questioned by State Patrol investigators. In June 2020, Inslee's office acknowledged that a Washington State Patrol trooper arrived on the scene after Ellis was handcuffed, and stayed there briefly. Inslee's office described that trooper's involvement as "limited", stating that this trooper had been questioned by the Washington State Patrol and the Washington State Attorney General's Office. Inslee's office further said that the State Patrol "will exclude [that trooper] and others from the area from any part of the investigation." In November 2020, the State Patrol passed their 2,169-page findings to the Washington State Attorney General's Office. In December 2020, it was revealed from the State Patrol findings that officer Armando Farinas was also involved in Ellis's arrest, by placing a spit hood on Ellis's head. Farinas had also refused to be interviewed or questioned by State Patrol investigators. The State Patrol findings also named the Pierce County Sheriff's Department deputy who helped to restrain Ellis as Sergeant Gary Sanders, who was off-duty when he responded to the arrest. Sanders was not suspended for his role in Ellis's arrest, stated the county sheriff's department. The Washington State Attorney General's Office also conducted its own investigations into Ellis's death. Later medical examiner comments After the Washington State Patrol's investigation findings were released in December 2020, The News Tribune reported that an investigator's notes quoting Dr. Thomas Clark, the Pierce County medical examiner at the time of Ellis's death, as saying: “the details of restraint weren't clear at time of autopsy and keep changing"; "this is problematic." In May 2021, in charging documents, the Washington attorney general's office provided additional statements from Clark. The documents stated that Clark received more evidence only after the autopsy concluded, such as heart monitor readings and learning about an officer putting their weight on Ellis's back. Clark now concluded that "Ellis's death was not likely caused by methamphetamine intoxication", with his slow heart rate and "conditions consistent with pulseless electrical activity" not indicating death from methamphetamine intoxication, according to the documents. The attorney general's office also quoted Clark as saying that since Ellis's death was not sudden, but "gradual", this indicated that restraint caused the death. Charges On May 27, 2021, the Washington State Attorney General's Office, using evidence from its own investigation and the State Patrol investigation, charged officers Christopher Burbank and Matthew Collins with second-degree murder, and charged officer Timothy Rankine with first-degree manslaughter. Burbank and Collins's charge pertains to whether they caused Ellis's death while committing assault or unlawful imprisonment; Rankine's charge pertains to whether he recklessly caused Ellis's death. This was the first instance of the Washington Attorney General’s Office charging police officers in regard to illegal use of deadly force. The three officers were taken into custody that day. The officers continued to receive salary in spite of the charges. The next day, the trio left jail after making bail at $100,000 each. A Tacoma construction company owner said he posted the officers' bail, despite not knowing the officers; he expressed a belief that the officers "were doing their job" and would be acquitted in the trial. Reactions 2020 In March 2020, Ellis's sister expressed doubts in relation to Ellis's death, stating that Ellis "wouldn’t hurt anyone". In late May 2020, Ellis's sister and the Black Lives Matter Seattle / King County organization created a GoFundMe crowdfunding effort in relation to Ellis's death. A vigil was held for Ellis in Tacoma on June 3. Just before the vigil, Ellis' brother said: "We just want answers. We want justice. We want [Ellis's] truth to come to light". After learning that Ellis had died due to police restraint, Governor Inslee on June 3 called for a investigation that was "complete" and "not tainted", while also advocating for a continued "push for de-escalation interactions between law enforcement and our community members." On June 4, after the release of the first witness videos, Tacoma mayor Victoria Woodards said that "the officers who committed this crime should be fired and prosecuted". The next day, the Tacoma city council decided to call for an independent review of Ellis's death. The Tacoma Police Union on June 4 objected to the mayor's call to fire and prosecute the officers, stating that she had done so "with less than a minute of short, blurry, partial Twitter videos in hand", "without an ounce of evidence to support her words". The Tacoma Police Union said that the investigation would show that the arresting officers "did no wrong", while the Tacoma Police Management Association said that the mayor had given "an angry theatrical reaction". There were protests in Tacoma on June 5 over Ellis's death. There were further protests on June 18, with "Black Lives Matter" chants. On June 5, a female witness who recorded part of the arrest before leaving, spoke to The New York Times. She disputed the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department's account of Ellis's death, stating that police started the confrontation, not Ellis. She said she "was terrified for his life ... The way that they attacked him didn’t make sense to me. I went home and was sick to my stomach." She further said that she did not know that Ellis died during the arrest until the week of this interview. Lawyers for the officers said that during the arrest: "No one choked Mr. Ellis, not for 8 minutes and 45 seconds, not at all". Video footage that emerged later showed that Ellis was choked. In mid-June 2020, KIRO 7 reported that Michael Staropoli, a lawyer for Tacoma police officers Matthew Collins and Masyih Ford, said that a state-run investigation into the incident would be "fantastic": "We not only welcome that, we embrace it." Staropoli also called for the public to wait for "the full story to come out". Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson said that it was "disturbing that the Pierce County sheriff's office" only revealed its involvement in Ellis's arrest "after more than three months". Ferguson called for the sheriff's office to "answer for its failure to comply with" Initiative 940, which was a state law that went into effect in January 2020, approved by voters in Washington, that required for independent investigations into police killings to avoid conflicts of interest. In August 2020, The Seattle Times reported a male witness who recorded part of the arrest as saying that the arrest was "police brutality". He accused police of "a human rights violation" for kneeling on Ellis's neck. In September 2020, The Seattle Times reported the same male witness as saying that the Tacoma Police Department and the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department's account of the arrest was different from what he saw. The police had said that Ellis initiated the conflict, but the male witness "couldn’t believe it's the same guy" he saw. The male witness concluded that "one story was false". 2021 After the three Tacoma police officers were charged in May 2021, the Tacoma Police Union claimed that the charges were a "witch hunt", that the officers "acted in accordance with the law", and "like every community member, our officers are presumed innocent until proven guilty." See also 2020–2021 United States racial unrest Human rights in the United States Lists of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States Police brutality in the United States I can't breathe, phrase uttered by several African American men before being killed by police Killing of Daniel Prude References External links AG Ferguson charges three officers in the killing of Manuel Ellis by the Washington State Office of the Attorney General 2020 controversies in the United States 2020 deaths 2020 in Washington (state) African-American-related controversies Asphyxia-related deaths by law enforcement in the United States Black Lives Matter Deaths from asphyxiation Deaths by person in the United States Deaths in police custody in the United States Filmed killings by law enforcement History of Tacoma, Washington Law enforcement controversies in the United States Law enforcement in Washington (state) March 2020 events in the United States Political scandals in the United States Police brutality in the United States

64235790

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Javier%20Ambler

Killing of Javier Ambler

On March 28, 2019, Javier Ambler II died while being arrested by police in Austin, Texas, after fleeing from deputies who sought to stop him for a traffic violation. Ambler was tased multiple times by authorities. Video of Ambler's death, recorded by police officers, was obtained and released by news organizations in June 2020. During the arrest Ambler repeatedly stated "I can't breathe" and "please save me" before dying. Ambler's death was recorded by a Live PD television crew, and the recording has since been destroyed, according to A&E Networks. Javier Ambler II Javier Ambler II was a 40-year-old black man, a postal worker, and the father of two sons. His mother described him as a gentle giant and a great father. Ambler's father, who was in the U.S. Army, said that Javier "didn't know white from black or Latino from Filipino... Everything was green, Army green." Ambler lived in Pflugerville and had earlier played football at Ellison High School, Blinn College, and also attended Prairie View A&M University. Arrest and death On March 28, 2019, sheriff's deputies tried to stop Ambler after they said that he did not dim his SUV lights to oncoming traffic. Ambler continued driving, leading to a 22-minute chase. After the 22 minute police chase and several minor collisions, the chase ended when Ambler crashed into a tree, on a North Austin Street. Ambler was unarmed and exited his car with his hands raised. According to the police report, Deputy Jason James Johnson, who was accompanied by a film crew of Live PD, told Ambler to "get down" five or six times, and then tased him. Deputy Johnson as well as other deputies have had accusations of excessive use of force before this incident. According to the police report, Ambler partially fell but tried to stand again, and was then tased in the upper back by Deputy Zach Camden. The report stated that Ambler further resisted, and was tased again by Johnson. According to news organizations deputies pinned Ambler down and tased him 3–4 times. Video evidence released in June 2020 shows that Ambler pleaded with officers that he could not breathe and suffered from congestive heart failure. During the arrest Ambler said "I am not resisting" and "I have congestive heart failure." He called out "please save me" before deputies Johnson and Camden tased him for a final time. Ambler became motionless and unresponsive after officers placed handcuffs on him. During the arrest Deputy Johnson said "give me your hands or I'm going to tase you again," and Deputy Camden said "I'm pretty sure I just broke his finger." Ambler's death was ruled a homicide, caused by congestive heart failure and hypertensive cardiovascular disease "in combination with excessive forcible restraint" According to CBS Austin's reporting, Ambler may have been en route to hospital during the chase, quoting Ambler's former partner that "...per police, it was never a high-speed chase. It was just, he couldn’t stop in distress. This was not something he should have died for." Investigation An internal affairs investigation found that Williamson County stated that its deputies "did nothing wrong" in Ambler's death. In February 2020, KVUE and journalist Tony Plohetski learned of Ambler's death after they were contacted by investigators who were frustrated by failed efforts to acquire more information from the Sheriff's Office of Williamson County. In June 2020, the Austin American-Statesman and KVUE obtained police officer body camera footage of Ambler's death, after months of records requests. A&E then revealed it earlier destroyed its own footage due to a contract between Williamson County and Live PD producers in place at the time of Ambler's death. On September 28, 2020 Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody was indicted on a felony evidence tampering charge. Chody was accused of participating in the destruction of video evidence from his department’s pursuit and arrest of Ambler. A pretrial hearing was held on January 4, 2021. On March 30, 2021, a grand jury in Travis County, Texas indicted both James Johnson and Zachary Camden with manslaughter charges. Two days later, on April 1, Robert Chody turned himself in to Travis County authorities after being indicted for evidence tampering charges. Reactions In the wake of the protests over the murder of George Floyd, A&E had already pulled Live PD from its schedule. On June 9, Live PD host Dan Abrams, who acts as ABC News' chief legal affairs anchor, promised Live PD fans that the show would eventually return. The next day, A&E announced that they had officially canceled the series. Margaret Moore, the Travis County District Attorney, stated that Sheriff Robert Chody had refused to provide evidence. In response, three of Williamson County's four commissioners called for Chody's resignation. Protests against Ambler's death were held outside the Williamson County Court on June 9, 2020. See also Human rights in the United States List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States Police brutality in the United States I can't breathe, phrase uttered by several African American men shortly before being killed by police References 2010s in Austin, Texas 2019 crimes in Texas 2019 deaths 2020 controversies in the United States African-American-related controversies Asphyxia-related deaths by law enforcement in the United States Black Lives Matter Crimes in Austin, Texas Deaths by person in the United States Deaths in police custody in the United States Filmed killings by law enforcement Law enforcement controversies in the United States March 2019 events in the United States People from Austin, Texas Political scandals in the United States Victims of police brutality in the United States Law enforcement in Texas

64266714

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Rayshard%20Brooks

Killing of Rayshard Brooks

On the night of June 12, 2020, Rayshard Brooks, a 27-year-old African American man, was fatally shot by Atlanta Police Department (APD) officer Garrett Rolfe. APD officer Devin Brosnan was responding to a complaint that Brooks was asleep in a car blocking a Wendy's restaurant drive-through lane. At the scene, Brosnan radioed for assistance, and Rolfe arrived some minutes later. Rolfe conducted a breathalyzer exam which indicated that Brooks' blood-alcohol content was above the legal limit for driving. Rolfe and Brosnan began to handcuff Brooks, and Brooks grabbed Brosnan's taser and attempted to run away. Rolfe pursued Brooks on foot, and Brooks turned and fired the taser toward Rolfe's head. Rolfe then fired his gun three times at Brooks, hitting him twice. A third shot struck an occupied car. By the time Brooks was shot by Rolfe, the taser had fired twice, the maximum times it could be fired. Brooks died after surgery. Footage of the incident, recorded from the officers' bodycams, a witness's phone and the restaurant's security system, was widely broadcast. Police chief Erika Shields resigned one day later; that same day, Rolfe was fired and Brosnan was placed on administrative duty. Rolfe was charged with felony murder and ten other offenses; Brosnan with aggravated assault and two counts of violation of oath. On May 5, 2021, the Civil Service Board of the City of Atlanta reinstated Rolfe with back pay, after finding that the City of Atlanta did not afford him his right to due process. People involved Rayshard Brooks was a 27-year-old African American restaurant worker who lived in Atlanta. He had been married eight years and had three daughters and a stepson. In August 2014, he was convicted and sentenced to a year in prison on four counts, including false imprisonment and felony cruelty to children. Two years later he was sentenced to an additional 12 months for violating his probation. In a February 2020 interview, Brooks discussed the two years he spent in prison and his difficulties after being released, such as difficulty finding work. A driving under the influence conviction or drug possession conviction could have led to revocation of his probation and a return to prison. Garrett Rolfe had been a police officer in the Atlanta Police Department since 2013. He was part of APD units specializing in DUI enforcement. In 2016, he received a written reprimand for aiming his gun at a stolen car being pursued. A firearm was later recovered from the stolen car. In May 2019, he was honored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving for making more than 50 DUI arrests the previous year. In early 2020, he undertook training in the use of deadly force and in de-escalation. Devin Brosnan has been an Atlanta police officer since 2018. Death At 10:42 p.m. on Friday, June 12, 2020, Atlanta Police Department officer Devin Brosnan arrived at the Wendy's restaurant at 125 University Avenue in South Atlanta to investigate a report of a man (Brooks) asleep in a car which was blocking the drive-through lane. Brosnan awakened Brooks and told him to move the car to a parking space and take a nap; Brooks fell asleep again without moving the car. Brosnan again woke Brooks and Brooks parked the car. Brosnan checked Brooks's driver's license and radioed for assistance from an officer certified to conduct driving under the influence investigations. Officer Garrett Rolfe arrived at 10:56 and, with Brooks's permission, performed a pat-down search for weapons, a field sobriety test, and a breathalyzer test. Brooks appeared impaired and was confused about where he was. He said he had had one to one-and-a-half drinks and denied driving or being too drunk to drive. The Breathalyzer registered a blood alcohol level of 0.108%, above the legal limit of 0.08%. Brooks asked to leave his car in the parking lot overnight and walk to his sister's house a short distance away. Up to this point, news outlets have characterized Brooks as relaxed, friendly, and cooperative. At 11:23, Rolfe told Brooks: "All right, I think you've had too much to drink to be driving. Put your hands behind your back for me"; he and Brosnan then moved behind Brooks to handcuff him. Brooks tried to break free and he and the officers scuffled on the ground. During the struggle Brosnan drew his taser, but Brooks wrested it from him and fired it; Brosnan says the taser contacted him and he struck his head on the pavement, causing a concussion. Brooks stood up and punched Rolfe, who drew his own taser and fired both cartridges at Brooks with no effect. Brooks fled through the parking lot with Brosnan's taser still in hand. While still running, Brooks glanced back, half-turned, and fired the second shot of Brosnan's taser capable of two shots before being reloadedat Rolfe but "his aim was high". According to prosecutors, Brooks and Rolfe were apart when Rolfe dropped his taser, drew his handgun and shot Brooks once in the midback and once in the buttocks; prosecutors allege the third shot struck a nearby vehicle, narrowly missing its three occupants. Disputed by Rolfe's attorneys, and contrary to GBI findings, prosecutors claimed Rolfe then said "I got him". Two minutes after Brooks was shot Rolfe appeared to unroll a bandage and place it on Brooks's torso. Seven minutes after Brooks was shot, an ambulance arrived and he was taken to the hospital, where he died following surgery. Brosnan was treated for a concussion. Employment actions The next day, Rolfe was fired and Brosnan was placed on administrative duty. On August 4, Rolfe's attorneys filed a lawsuit against Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Acting Police Chief Rodney Bryant for unlawful dismissal, seeking Rolfe's reinstatement, along with back pay and benefits. On May 5, 2021, Rolfe's firing was reversed and he was reinstated to the Atlanta Police Department with back pay, the Atlanta Civil Service Board finding he “was not afforded his right to due process.” Prosecution Following standard procedure, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) opened an investigation. The county medical examiner ruled Brooks' death a homicide. On June 17, 2020, while the GBI investigation was still ongoing, Paul Howard, the Fulton County District Attorney (DA), announced eleven charges against Rolfe: felony murder, five counts of aggravated assault, four police oath violations, and damage to property. Brosnan was charged with aggravated assault and two counts of violation of oath. Howard argued the taser Brooks had taken posed no danger, as after being fired twice it could not fire again; that Rolfe and Brosnan did not provide timely medical aid to Brooks for over two minutes; and alleged that Rolfe kicked him and Brosnan stood on his shoulders; and that it was a violation of department policy for Rolfe to begin handcuffing Brooks before telling him he was being arrested. The subsequent investigation by the GBI reached conclusions that differed from those of former District Attorney Paul Howard, in some cases finding no evidence for his claims and in others contradicting them. Released portion of the GBI report identified, that based on a toxicology results, Brooks was under the influence of illicit drugs and alcohol, including cocaine, a prescription sedative, and eutylone, several of which were found in Brooks' car, contrary to Howard's statement that Brooks was only “slightly impaired." The report also concluded that officer Rolfe did indeed render timely medical aid to Brooks after the shooting, despite Howard's claim to the opposite. Lastly the report found no witnesses to confirm Howard's claim that Rolfe exclaimed “I got him” after shooting Brooks, and that Rolfe did not kick Brooks, as Howard alleged. Brosnan was released on June 18 after posting a $50,000 signature bond. Around June 18, the Georgia Law Enforcement Organization, a law enforcement nonprofit, began raising funds for Rolfe to pay his legal fees, raising $500,000 by August 13. Rolfe was released on July 1 on a $500,000 bond with conditions. On or about July 14, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr requested that the GBI widen its investigation into the Fulton County DA's office, headed by Howard, to determine whether grand jury subpoenas seeking information about Rolfe were legally issued. Howard was already the subject of a GBI investigation concerning his use of a nonprofit to funnel almost $200,000 of city funds into his personal bank account. On July 20, Rolfe's attorney filed a motion seeking to have DA Howard recused from the Rolfe prosecution on the basis that he would be called as a necessary witness by the defense to answer regarding statements he made that the attorney alleged were “ethically inappropriate" and actions that allegedly "systematically sought to deprive Garrett Rolfe of a fair trial and impartial jury." During the week of August 2, the DA's office applied to obtain a search warrant to gain information about the fundraising site set up for Rolfe, attempting to obtain information including on who had established the site, how much money had been raised, and where the money went, representing it wanted the information to support a possible bond violation charge. One of Rolfe's attorneys condemned the request stating, "...he [DA Howard] sought to uncover the private information of Americans who donated to Garrett Rolfe’s defense because they believed in his innocence." Subsequently, a judge denied the warrant application. On August 4, the day Rolfe's attorneys filed the lawsuit for reinstatement, the DA's office filed a motion to revoke Rolfe's bond, alleging that Rolfe had traveled to Florida without permission. Rolfe's attorneys filed a response with the court stating the bond conditions neither placed Rolfe on house arrest/home confinement, nor was he prohibited from traveling out of state, and that they had, as a courtesy, notified prosecutors of his travel via email prior to traveling. On August 12, the presiding judge refused to revoke Rolfe's bond, but amended it prohibiting out of state travel. Rolfe's firing was reversed and he was reinstated to the Atlanta Police Department with back pay on May 5, 2021. On August 12, 2020, Howard was defeated in his bid for re-election by Fani Willis. After losing the Democratic Primary, Howard remained in office until his term expired in January. In the meantime both officers remained out on bond. Upon taking office in January, Willis formally petitioned Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr to take over the case from her office. Willis stated that her investigation showed her predecessor's decision to prosecute the officers involved may have been politically motivated and involved violations of the rules of ethics lawyers are required to follow by the Georgia Bar Association. Under Georgia state law, the AG is afforded broad discretion in appointing a stand-in prosecutor if the situation arises. In February, Carr rejected Willis’ request in letter, stating “it appears abundantly clear that your office is not disqualified from these cases by interest or relationship.” Attorneys for the Brooks family voiced disappointment both with Willis’ request and Carr's refusal to appoint a replacement prosecutor who would take the case more “seriously.” Carr's decision came as a surprise, and subsequently Willis moved forward with an attempt to recuse herself from the case and attorneys for the Rolfe moved to dismiss the charges against their client. It was reported on March 1 that Willis had petitioned for the trial judge to either appoint a new prosecutor or authorize her office to hire a replacement prosecutor. On June 4, a judge granted a motion for recusal filed by Willis and disqualified her and her office from prosecuting the case, on the grounds that they may be called as witnesses. Special Prosecutor Pete Skandalakis was appointed to prosecute the case. Reactions Demonstrators gathered at the site of the shooting beginning June 12, 2020. On June 13, protesters set fire to the Wendy's restaurant outside which Brooks was shot as well as several nearby cars, and broke a television camera. Natalie White, believed to be Brooks' girlfriend, was charged with first-degree arson in connection with the restaurant fire. Protests continued in the area around the Wendy's, there were problems with armed protesters closing adjacent streets with barriers, and on July 4 an 8-year-old girl was killed when the car she was riding in was shot at by demonstrators. On June 13, Atlanta's police chief Erika Shields resigned; Mayor Bottoms said Shields had resigned in the hope that "the city may move forward with urgency and [rebuild] the trust so desperately needed throughout our communities." On June 15, Mayor Bottoms ordered the Atlanta Police Department to overhaul its use-of-force policies. On January 6, 2021, it was announced Shields would become the new Chief of Police for the Louisville, Kentucky police department. Beginning the day after charges against Rolfe were announced, Atlanta police officers called in sick for their shifts, staging a "blue flu" protest. In the four days from June 17 to 20, about 170 officers called in sick and officers in 3 out of the city's 6 police zones did not respond to calls. On the evening of June 19 every police officer failed to report for duty in Zone 5, leaving only the three supervisors. Atlanta's Acting Police Chief Bryant said that the department had "to shift resources to ensure proper coverage" due to police absenteeism. Total arrests citywide dropped by 71% during the sickout. Mayor Bottoms said the sickout was a reaction to two weeks of strife during which eight APD officers were criminally charged in two separate incidents, sinking morale "ten-fold." On June 18, the Atlanta Police Foundation, a private nonprofit group, announced that all APD officers would receive a one-time $500 bonus for continuing to work through the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent George Floyd protests. On July 6, police and sanitation workers began to remove the memorial to Brooks at the place of his death. The burned Wendy's was demolished. See also 2020–2021 United States racial unrest George Floyd protests in Atlanta Notes References 2020 controversies in the United States 2020 in Atlanta 2020–2021 United States racial unrest African-American history in Atlanta African-American-related controversies Atlanta Police Department Black Lives Matter Deaths by firearm in Georgia (U.S. state) Deaths by person in the United States Deaths in police custody in the United States Driving under the influence Filmed killings by law enforcement June 2020 events in the United States Law enforcement controversies in the United States Filmed deaths in the United States Victims of police brutality in the United States African Americans shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States

64267244

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Charles%20Flynn

Killing of Charles Flynn

On April 4, 1989, 22-year-old Charles Lambert "Chip" Flynn was killed visiting his ex-girlfriend Kim Hallock in Brevard County, Florida. Flynn died from a gunshot wound. Hallock claims that an African-American man named Crosley Green was responsible for Flynn's death. Green was found guilty of Flynn's murder and placed on death row. He was eventually removed from death row. After having his conviction vacated by federal court in 2018, Green was released from prison on house arrest, pending the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals decision to either retry or overturn his conviction based on the prosecutors withholding evidence in his original trial. Background Before the killing, Flynn had just exited a relationship with Kim Hollack. Hollack was hurt by the split. Flynn was also living with his parents and was in a relationship. Green was a minor drug dealer who had just been recently released from Madison Correctional Institution. He was also the carer for his family, after his parents died. Killing On April 3, 1989, around 10:00, Hallock encountered Charles Flynn at her house. They would later drive to a park in Mims, Florida where they would smoke marijuana and have sex. Later at the local baseball field, Holder Park, Hallock and Flynn were sitting in his truck when Hallock notified Flynn of Crosley Green's presence to which he rolled up the windows. Green was armed at the time. Hallock would also take out the gun in the glove compartment and place it near her. Green then reportedly tied Flynn's hands with a shoelace, forced Hallock to give him money and drove them to a Florida citrus grove, all while holding a gun on Hallock and Flynn. Hallock stated that they were robbed at 11:00 and taken to the grove in Flynn's truck at 12:10. Beforehand Flynn attempted to plead with Green asking that he let Hallock go. While driving Green forced them to keep their heads down. While crouching Hallock attempted to untie Flynn's restraints. When at the grove Green removed Hallock from the truck and verbally abused her; such as calling her slut. Flynn, hands still tied, retrieved the gun from the car and fired "five or six gunshots," Hallock, unaware if Flynn shot Green, fled the scene; driving three miles, past a hospital, a pay phone, the house she shared with her parents and other houses before arriving to the house of a friend of Flynn's—David Stroup—to call for help. 911 call and police investigation Around 40 minutes after fleeing the scene, Hallock called the police at 01:13. The officers dispatched to the scene were Brevard County sergeant and deputy: Diane Clarke and Mark Rixey. Due to the unclear directions given by Hallock it took them 30 minutes to find Flynn and initially went to the wrong location. Clarke, therefore, sent another deputy to gain relevant information from her, however, she was uncooperative. Upon arriving at the grove, Clarke and Rixey found Flynn; hands tied with a single gunshot to the chest. The first words he said to them were "Get me outta here. I wanna go home." At no point did he mention a robbery or an assailant. During two separate occasions Flynn stopped breathing while they waited for an ambulance. Clarke, in response, tried to resuscitate him. Flynn died before the ambulance arrived. Flynn's parents soon arrived at the scene however police didn't let them interfere. At the scene, fingerprints belonging to Hallock and Flynn were discovered, the only gun found was the one belonging to Flynn, no gunshot residue was seen on Flynn's hands and the only bullet found was the one that killed him, which was determined to have originated from his own gun. Arrest, trials and investigations Police search for suspect and arrest After Hallock gave a recorded statement to police in which she identified the assailant as a black man and after receiving a tip from a friend of Flynn's—Tim Curtis—the police's prime suspect became Green. Curtis would later admit to lying about knowing Green to be the killer. Hallock was later shown a photo lineup of six photos (Green included). Green's photo was deliberately smaller and darker than the other pictures and positioned so "that your eyes are normally drawn to are right in the middle." Despite Hallock only being "pretty sure" Green was the suspect she managed to identify him. Green was arrested on June 8, 1989, and charged with kidnapping, robbery and murder. Initial trial: 1989-1990 During the trial, which took place from August to September 1989, prosecutors displayed shoeprints which they attributed to Green. Assistant State's Attorney Christopher White who put forward the claim, stated that a police dog alerted them of the scent of those prints and they tracked that scent to the vicinity of a house where Crosley Green sometimes stayed. A police crime scene video of the investigation conflicted with this claim. White could not produce any evidence of these claims and no fingerprints, fibres, hair or blood—originating from Green—were found at the scene. The shoeprints were ultimately found to not belong to Green as they were one size too large and that the print didn't match the actual shoe tread found at the scene. It would later be revealed that White intentionally withheld evidence. Later on in the trial, prosecutors put forward three witnesses who claimed Crosley had confessed to them. One of the witnesses was his own sister, Shelia Green. Sheila would later revoke her statement. Claiming she was pressured to commit perjury by police and if she didn't she would never see her children again. The other witness shared similar stories. One witness in support of Green was put forward. Green was offered a plea deal in which he would admit guilt and receive no more than 22 years. He refused to take the deal asserting that he did not kill Charles Flynn. On September 5, 1990, After 3 hours of contemplation, the all-white jury found Green guilty of first-degree murder and he was sentenced to death. In 2019 the U.S. Middle District Court of Florida deemed this ruling to be unconstitutional. Proposed second trial: 1993-1994 In April 1993, Defense attorney Rob Parker filed a motion for a new trial to place on the grounds that Hallock was doubtful over Green being the perpetrator. This motion was denied. And Green's conviction was upheld by the Florida Supreme Court in 1994. Private investigation: 1999 In the early summer of 1999, Chicago investigator Paul Ciolino and four other investigators began to review the case (without pay) and interview witnesses, jurors and others connected to the case, per request of Nan Webb, a Viera housewife and anti-death penalty activist. They had previously made contact with Webb in 1996. Ciolino would meet with Assistant State's Attorney Christopher White and Brevard County Sheriff Phil Williams to discuss the case and aid in the investigation. Ciolino and the investigators would discover evidence discounting the shoeprints and witness testimonies as well as learning that the truck, Green reportedly hijacked was a manual stick which Green could not drive. Due to this evidence they were able to propose a new trial. Which State Attorney Norman Wolfinger allowed. It, however, seems that this trial did not go through. State investigation: 2000 In 2000 the state of Florida conducted their own investigation. In the investigation, they tested new items for the possibility of DNA. A report from CBS in the same year stated that no DNA evidence had been found that connected Green to the murder. Later reports however contradict this. Due to the possibility of the evidence belonging to Green's genetic family. Green's brother O'Connor who had been in the truck, according to Tim Curtis, has been suggested as to who the evidence belongs to. Continued appeals: 2002-2011 In 2002 Green's attorneys continued to appeal his case. Hoping to win a new trial. In 2003 Green was given a hearing by Florida Judge Bruce Jacobus. In 2005 Green's death sentence was thrown out. This appeal was challenged by the Florida Supreme Court in June 2007. In October of that year, the Florida Supreme Court upheld Green's conviction but stated that he should, however, be resentenced. Green received a life sentence the following year. In 2010 Green's attorneys again petitioned for a new trial. This petition was ultimately denied in 2011. Despite two new alibi witnesses being brought forward. Third trial: 2016-2019 In January 2016 a petition for a new trial was declined due to allegedly missing a deadline. Later that year Green's attorneys filed a motion for a new trial, arguing that there existed evidence of prosecutorial misconduct. U.S. District Judge Roy Dalton Jr., denied the claim saying it is time-barred. In 2017, Green's attorneys win an appeal with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals stating that Dalton's ruling was illegitimate because of a technicality. In 2018 Green was given a new trial due to prosecutor Christopher White withholding evidence from Green's main attorneys. The trial was however appealed by the State of Florida and ultimately halted. In December 2019, Florida Today reported that Green had won a new trial. They later reported that this trial was appealed. 2020 ruling On March 12, 2020, Green's and state attorneys discussed with the US Court of Appeals if the lower court order for a new trial will be upheld. Green's case is expected to be reviewed by a panel of the 11th Circuit, U. S. Court of Appeals sometime in late 2020. Claims of innocence Since his arrest, Green has repeatedly declared his innocence. Upon being questioned by police for the murder of Flynn, Green stated that he watched a baseball game at Holder Park and was at his girlfriend's house and a party on the night in question. Green again restated his innocence in interviews conduct by CBS News in 2015 and 2020. Since his conviction Green's Attorney's have found alibi witnesses willing to corroborate Green's story. Assistant State's Attorney Christopher White however raised questions of their credibility. In 2020 Defense attorney Jeane Thomas stated that there exists at least eight alibi witnesses who can support Green being at the party. Many other people have come out in support of green as well. Paul Ciolino, a private investigator hired to prove Green's innocence, believes that he is, in fact, innocent and that "Crosley Green is systematic of the problem we have with the death penalty with this country" Tim Curtis who first accused Green of being the killer (however would go back on this statement) would change his mind of Green's supposed guilt. Believing him to be innocent. Private detective Joe Moura, also believes Green to be innocent. Stating that there is no evidence to tie Green to the murder. Seth Miller who leads the Innocence Project of Florida has stated that there is "clear evidence of [Green's] innocence," Sergeant. J. Wallace of Hardee Correctional Institution while not calling Green innocent did state that he doesn't think "Mr. Green poses any threat to society," Green's remaining family has come out in support of him. Inconsistencies in the proposed story Many questions have arisen regarding the story put forward by police, mostly regarding Green's ability to drive the car while holding Hallock and Flynn at gunpoint. Ciolino further elaborated on this point by saying: Curtis shared a similar sentiment, saying that "You cannot get in that truck and take off without it stalling," and that "You had to grab the truck literally to climb up in it. It wasn't like an automobile. You had to open the door and climb up in it. You couldn't do it without putting your hands on the truck. Impossible." During Ciolino's investigation he raised more questions such as "How could you come out of this truck with your hands tied behind your backfiring a weapon," Rob Parker, Green's defence attorney also questioned how Hallock would be able to identify Green when the scene was pitch black and Hallock saw him for no more than 30 seconds. The story which Hallock gave to police had several inconsistencies and subsequent alterations to it. In her statement to police, Hallock described Green as having long, Jheri-curled hair which covered his ears. Green at the at time had a buzz cut. She described the gun allegedly used by Green as a semi-automatic despite no shell casing being found at the scene. She reported that Green made her tie Flynn's hands however later claimed he did the tying. She reported hearing five to six gunshots however only the one bullet was found. Suspicion over Kim Hallock Despite never being a suspect herself and as such never going through procedures such as being checked for gunshot residue, photographed and having her clothes collected. The first responders, (Diane Clarke and Mark Rixey) believe her to be responsible for Flynn's death. Clarke and Rixely's belief was based upon, Hallock's behaviour after the shooting, the lack of physical evidence tying Green to the crime scene, the only bullet found at the scene and Flynn's comments upon their arrival. Assistant State's Attorney Christopher White denied these claims but admits that further examination could have been done. Alma Jean Blouse, one of the jurors, admits that in the years after the trial she has had doubts, suspecting that Hallock's testimony was "a made-up story." Both White and Clarke have suggested that possibility of the shooting being an accident done by Hallock. References Notes 1989 in Florida

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Vanessa%20Guill%C3%A9n

Killing of Vanessa Guillén

Vanessa Guillén was a 20-year-old U.S. Army soldier who was bludgeoned to death with a hammer on April22, 2020, inside a Fort Hood, Texas, armory by another enlisted soldier, Aaron David Robinson, a 20-year-old from Calumet City, Illinois. Guillén had been missing since April 22 when some of her dismembered remains were found buried along the Leon River on June30. Upon hearing about the discovery of Guillén's remains, Robinson fled Fort Hood and fatally shot himself when law enforcement attempted to apprehend him in Killeen, Texas, shortly after midnight. Cecily Aguilar, a local woman identified by authorities as Robinson's girlfriend, was taken into custody and is alleged to have assisted Robinson in dismembering and burying Guillén's body. On July2, 2020, she was charged with one federal count of conspiracy to tamper with evidence. On July13, 2021, she was indicted on 11 counts by a federal grand jury. People involved Vanessa Guillén, 20, was from Houston, Texas. She was born in Ben Taub Hospital in Houston on September30, 1999, to parents Rogelio and Gloria Guillén, who originated from Zacatecas State in Mexico. She had five siblings. She attended Hartman Middle School and, according to her family, graduated from César E. Chávez High School in 2018 in the top 15% of her class, played soccer, loved to jog, and enjoyed sports and learning. She joined the Army in June 2018 and trained as a 91F, Small Arms and Artillery Repairer. Guillén was posthumously advanced from Private First Class to the rank of Specialist on July1, 2020. Aaron David Robinson, 20, was from Calumet City, a southern suburb of Chicago, Illinois. Robinson joined the Army in October 2017 and trained as a 12B, Combat Engineer. He held the rank of Specialist at the time of his death. Cecily Anne Aguilar, 22, described by authorities as the girlfriend of Aaron Robinson and estranged wife of another soldier. Investigation Guillén was last seen around 1:00 p.m. on April22, 2020, in the parking lot of her unit, the Regimental Engineer Squadron Headquarters of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment (3CR). Guillen's car keys, identification card, bank card, and barracks key were found inside the armory where she worked. Her family felt Guillén disappeared under suspicious circumstances. The case was investigated under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation with Bell County Sheriff's Office, Killeen Police Department, Belton Police Department, Texas Parks and Wildlife, the United States Marshal Service, and the Texas Rangers in support. Multiple Fort Hood units, including 3CR, began searching within two weeks of her disappearance. Fort Hood is a U.S. Army post approximately in size and home to III Corps and the First Cavalry Division. Before Guillén went missing, she had told her family that she was being sexually harassed by an unnamed sergeant at Fort Hood and that complaints by other female soldiers made against him had been dismissed. Her mother advised her to report him, but Guillén responded that "she could put a stop to it herself" out of fear that her mother would be harmed for making a report. In early June, her mother told reporters she did not trust the U.S. Army's handling of the investigation, and her attorney, Natalie Khawam, said she believed the family was "being kept in the dark" because few details had been released regarding Guillén's disappearance. On June13, 2020, hundreds of people assembled at the gates of Fort Hood to protest what organizers felt was a lack of information on the case. CID reported that they found no evidence that Guillén was assaulted, but said investigators believed foul play was involved in her disappearance. On June17, the League of United Latin American Citizens added a $25,000 reward to the existing $25,000 reward announced by the U.S. Army for finding Guillén. On June 23, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, in whose district the Guillén family resides, met with Fort Hood officials to discuss the ongoing search for Guillén. The authorities said that more than 300 interviews and over 10,000 hours were spent investigating Gullién's disappearance. On July 27, 2020, Gloria Guillen, mother of Vanessa Guillen and an undocumented immigrant, was granted parole in place by DHS, through the assistance of Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia and immigration attorney Luis Gomez Alfaro. Discovery of remains On June30, 2020, Army Investigators were called when contractors discovered partial human remains along the Leon River, in Belton. The area had previously been searched by Texas Rangers, detectives, and cadaver dogs on June20 after a burn mound was discovered nearby. Investigators theorized that the remains, previously buried under concrete, had been dug up by wildlife. Tim Miller, Director of Texas EquuSearch, stated that it was the most sophisticated burial site he had ever seen. Later that evening around 8:30p.m., authorities re-interviewed Cecily Anne Aguilar, a local area woman who was the estranged wife of a soldier at Fort Hood. Aguilar was reported to be the girlfriend of Aaron David Robinson, a junior enlisted soldier. Robinson was one of the last known people to see Guillén on the day of her disappearance and had previously been interviewed by authorities in the case, where he'd stated their contact that day was about equipment she was working on. Aguilar told police that Robinson told her about killing a female soldier at Fort Hood. At the request of law enforcement, Aguilar placed a controlled telephone call to Robinson, who said "baby they found pieces" and texted Aguilar multiple news articles, to which he never denied anything in response. According to a criminal complaint filed in the Western District Court of Texas, Aguilar allegedly helped Robinson dismember and dispose of Guillén's body on April22, 2020, after Robinson told her he had bludgeoned Guillén to death with a hammer inside the armory in which he worked. Arrests On the evening of June30, Robinson escaped the custody of an unarmed guard from his unit and fled the base after hearing the news of the discovery of remains. Robinson had been detained by his unit at the request of an Army Criminal Investigation Command agent under the pretense of violating COVID-19 pandemic quarantine rules. In the early hours of July1, 2020, Killeen police located and attempted to make contact with Robinson, who produced a handgun and killed himself before he could be taken into custody. Gloria Guillen, mother of Vanessa has contradicted this report. She stated publicly that she has spoken to witnesses who heard two shots at the moment of Robinson's death. She believes Robinson was executed by police and the Army to cover-up the crime and its accomplices in the highest ranks of the military. Aguilar was arrested by Texas Rangers and held at the Bell County Jail. On July2, Bell County officials stated Aguilar would be transferred to federal custody due to being charged with one count of conspiracy to tamper with evidence by the United States Attorney's Office Western District of Texas. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark Frazier and Greg Gloff are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States Government. Timeline April 22: According to law enforcement, Guillén is murdered with a hammer inside a building's armory by Robinson, who then uses a trunk to remove her body from Fort Hood and gets help from Aguilar in dismembering the remains before burying them along the Leon River. April 23: CID was notified by a commissioned officer in the 3CR Provost Marshal that then PFC Guillén was reported missing. April 24: CID issues a missing soldier letter for Guillen. Fort Hood Military Police issue a Be on the Lookout (BOLO) advisory to surrounding law enforcement agencies. Military personnel along with civilian and military police began a search. April 26: According to law enforcement tracking of cellphone data, Robinson and Aguilar return to the Leon River site and further break down Guillén's remains. April 28: CID interviews Robinson for the first time. April 30: Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy makes the following statement in a COVID-19 press briefing: "I'd like to start out this morning by talking about a missing soldier, Private First Class Vanessa Guillen, in hopes of increasing the public's awareness and assistance in finding her. Private First Class Guillen went missing on April22 from Ford Hood, Texas. In concert with local law enforcement efforts, the Army will continue aggressively searching for her. Our hearts go out to her family, and we will not stop looking for her until we find her." May 18: Two witnesses are interviewed who observed Robinson struggling with a "tough box" outside of the armory. May 19: Robinson consents to a search of his cell phone by law enforcement using a Universal Forensic Extraction Device product. June 19: Aguilar is interviewed for the first time. June 21: Cell phone data from both Robinson and Aguilar lead law enforcement officials to an area near the Leon River. Law enforcement officials locate the burned lid of a Pelican transport case, but fail to find a body. June 30: At about 1:00p.m., contractors working on a fence near the Leon River discover partial human remains (that would later be confirmed to be Guillen) and notify law enforcement. CID and partner agencies discover human remains. At about 8:30p.m., Aguilar was interviewed again and told law enforcement officials about the killing. Robinson fled Fort Hood. July 1: In the early hours, shortly after midnight Robinson killed himself when approached by law enforcement in Killeen, Texas. July 2: FBI formally submits a criminal complaint for Aguilar. Fort Hood and CID hold a press briefing. July 5: Remains are confirmed to be Vanessa Guillén. July 10: U.S. Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy announced that he would order a "full independent review" of the case. July 13: Cecily Aguilar is indicted on 11 counts relating to the death of Vanessa Guillen by a federal grand jury. July 30: Vanessa Guillen's family meets with President Donald Trump to discuss with him about Vanessa Guillen's murder and to convince the family about the confidence of the full independent review of the case. December 8: Following the independent review, McCarthy announced in a Pentagon press briefing, that 14 "senior officers" from corps to squad level were disciplined for "leadership failures". Memorials A mural in honor of Guillén was created in her hometown of Houston by a local artist. The mural portrays her with the flags of both the United States and Mexico, the latter due to her Mexican American ethnicity. Another mural is dedicated to her at Taqueria del Sol in the Park Place neighborhood. Multiple people also wrote corridos (songs) about her. On July6, 2020, at city hall in Richmond, California, a memorial of candles along with tea lights spelling out “Vanessa” were displayed in front of a makeshift altar. Hundreds of people gathered to honour Guillén and other victims of sexual violence and mistreatment within the military. On April19, 2021, Lieutenant General Robert P. White, commander of III Corps and Fort Hood unveiled that one out of the 27 gates that grant entry to Fort Hood will be renamed "The Vanessa Guillén Gate" with a plaque in her honor. The gate is also the main entry point to the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, where Guillén worked in an arms room as a small arms repairer. Later developments Guillén's family called for justice and improvement of the way claims of sexual harassment are handled by the military. On July10, 2020, the Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy announced that he would order a "full independent review" of Guillén's case. On July30, 2020, Guillen's family met with President Donald Trump regarding her murder and to convince the family about the confidence of the "full independent review" of her case. On December8, 2020, McCarthy announced the results of the investigation, disciplining 14 U.S. commanders and other leaders at Fort Hood, citing multiple "leadership failures". The investigation found that there was a "permissive environment for sexual assault and sexual harassment at Fort Hood." Among those disciplined by McCarthy were Major General Scott L. Efflandt, Colonel Ralph Overland and Command Sergeant Major Bradley Knapp. The Army suspended Major General Jeffery Broadwater and Command Sergeant Major Thomas C. Kenny, pending the outcome of a new investigation into the 1st Cavalry Division's command climate and program for preventing and responding to sexual harassment and assault. Disciplinary measures were also taken against soldiers and leaders assigned below brigade level, but as a matter of policy, the Army does not "...release the names of the battalion level and below commanders and leaders who received administrative action." During the December8 Pentagon press conference McCarthy said that Guillén's murder "shocked our conscience and brought attention to deeper problems" at Fort Hood and across the Army more widely. He said it "forced us to take a critical look at our systems, our policies, and ourselves." Broadwater did not receive any disciplinary action following an investigation of the 1st Cavalry Division's command climate and turned command of the Division over to Major General John B. Richardson in July 2021. Broadwater was subsequently assigned as deputy commander of V Corps at Fort Knox, Kentucky. On January26, 2022, President Joe Biden signed an Executive Order that established sexual harassment as a specific offense under the UCMJ. See also List of solved missing person cases Me Too movement Murder of Tracie McBride – Kidnapping and murder of a soldier from a military base in Texas Sexual harassment in the military References External links Find Vanessa Guillén website US Army crowdsources ideas to combat sexual assault crisis By SARAH BLAKE MORGAN February 26, 2021 2020 in military history 2020 in Texas 2020s missing person cases 2020 murders in the United States 21st-century history of the United States Army April 2020 events in the United States Female murder victims Formerly missing people Fort Hood Missing person cases in Texas People murdered in Texas United States military scandals April 2020 crimes in the United States History of women in Texas Violence against women in the United States

64325921

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Andres%20Guardado

Killing of Andres Guardado

Andrés Guardado was an 18-year-old Salvadoran-American man shot in the back and killed by a Deputy Sheriff from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department near Gardena and West Compton on June 18, 2020. Guardado ran from two uniformed police officers into an alley, where he died after being shot by deputies. Seven shots were fired and Guardado was hit in the upper torso. Police say that Guardado produced a handgun during the chase. Investigators do not believe it was fired. Accounts of the incident are disputed between police and witnesses. Police stated they were searching for footage of the incident. Store-owner Andrew Heney reported that several cameras at the scene, including a digital video recorder that stored surveillance footage, were taken and destroyed by police. Local protests emerged in response to the killing of Guardado and involved protestors and media reporters being tear gassed and shot by rubber bullets at the sheriff's station in Compton. The incident was widely reported as the second police killing involving the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies within two days of one another, the other being Terron Jammal Boone, who was identified as the half-brother of 24-year-old Robert Fuller. Guardado's death came in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and subsequent protests. According to a whistleblower, the police who killed Guardado were trying to join a violent gang within the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. In November 2020, the L.A. county coroner's office ordered an inquest to be conducted in the case. This was the first inquest ordered in the county in over thirty years and was noted to be a challenge against the power of county law enforcement. Background Guardado's family had fled violence and political instability in El Salvador from the Salvadoran Civil War. Guardado lived with his family in Koreatown, Los Angeles and had recently graduated high school. He was working two jobs and was a student at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College to become a registered electrician or mechanic. He was described by friends and family as fun-loving and optimistic. Guardado worked as an unlicensed security guard for Street Dynamic Auto Body in Gardena. The Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, which licenses security guards in the state of California, show no records in the Department of Consumer Affairs database of Guardado being licensed to work security. Being younger than twenty-one, Guardado did not hold a firearms permit to be an armed security guard. Incident Police accounts of the incident relay that at 5:52 p.m. on June 18 two officers from the Compton Sheriff's station made contact with Guardado. They were reportedly out on patrol when they saw Guardado talking to someone in a car blocking a driveway, so they stopped their vehicle. Police say that Guardado ran away and allegedly produced a firearm at some point in the chase, although this is disputed by his family and employer. The chase was taken southbound on Redondo Beach Blvd. and through a nearby alleyway. At around 5:53 p.m., Guardado was shot at six times by one or multiple sheriff's deputies and hit in the upper body. Guardado died on scene. Store-owner Andrew Heney stated that Guardado "got down on his knees and surrendered with his hands behind his head but was still shot seven times in the back." The shooting occurred near a business located in the 400 block of Redondo Beach Boulevard near S. Figueroa Street. A gun was reportedly recovered on the scene. The gun recovered at the scene was a "ghost gun" (a term used to describe an illegal firearm with no serial numbers imprinted on the gun) with a standard capacity magazine. Both of those are felonies in the state of California. It was unclear what "prompted the use of force" and what Guardado was "suspected of" to initially prompt the chase. Heney stated, "the police came up, and they pulled their guns on him and he ran because he was scared, and they shot and killed him. He’s got a clean background and everything. There’s no reason." A witness on the scene stated, "I turned around and saw two male white officers running up into the body shop where not even less than a second later I heard rapid gunshots, [I heard] about four to five shots fired [and] never heard them say ‘freeze’. I never once heard them say 'stop.' Nothing like that." The deputies reportedly were not wearing body cameras. Lt. Charles Calderaro stated that deputies "are hoping to find surveillance video from nearby businesses." The sheriff's officers are accused of destroying several cameras at the scene and taking possession of the DVR that stored footage filmed by the surveillance cameras. In an interview, Heney is quoted as saying that the deputies "illegally got into everything, then they had the place locked down and then they got the warrant.". Reactions Community A small group, including Guardado's family, quickly gathered on scene after he was shot and killed. The scene became intense when family members showed up and became distraught at the news of Guardado's death. Deputies could be seen "shoving people away, including a man carrying a child." Family and local activists were devastated and outraged by the incident, who state that Guardado was shot in the back several times by the police. His sister, Jennifer Guardado, stated: "Even if this is the last day I breathe, I'm not holding this back because I feel it in my soul that my brother was murdered, and this was covered up." Prominent Los Angeles activist Najee Ali referred to the killing as an execution and "a continuation of the L.A. County sheriff's murdering black and brown men." Ali stated that "he ran away because he did what all young Black and Latino men do sometimes when they see the police: They run. They run because they're scared for their lives. They run because they know their lives might be at risk, and he knew exactly what was gonna happen. And sure enough, he died." By Friday June 19, "a makeshift memorial for Guardado grew outside the store where he worked, with people stopping by to hang posters and leave flowers and candles." A protest was organized by Union del Barrio. Stanley Leiba, Guardado's childhood friend stated "You expect kids you grow up with to live forever." On June 21, about 500 people showed up at the intersection of Figueroa Street and West Redondo Beach Boulevard to protest. One person stated, "We are marching because we're tired of this corruption. We know that boy was no threat. Black lives matter. Brown lives matter. We are going to keep marching until justice is served." Salvadoran flags were waved at the protest while protestors chanted "Why'd you kill that kid?" Protestors were reportedly tear gassed and shot with rubber bullets after tensions heightened. Six people were arrested. Government Compton City Attorney Damon Brown reported that the city sent a letter to the sheriff's department, "demanding that it remove the involved deputies from the Compton station and replace them with "officers who would treat our residents with the respect and dignity that they deserve.'" Congresswoman Nanette Barragán and Maxine Waters called upon Xavier Becerra, the Attorney General of California, to conduct a full independent investigation into the shooting. In a joint statement, the congresswomen stated, "Another day and another Black or Brown kid has been shot in the back by police. These killings must stop. We demand it. The American people demand it ... Change must come now. For weeks, the American people and the world have marched to demand accountability, put an end to aggressive and violent police tactics and equal justice for Black and Brown communities. We must show them their pleas are being heard. Now. That begins with making sure we get justice for Andres Guardado." This was described as an expression of Black-brown unity. At a press event, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva spoke out against conducting an independent investigation, stating "that the attorney general's office did not have the resources to investigate every shooting." LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas also called for an independent investigation, supported by the Guardado family. Press reports and public statements Los Angeles Times investigative reporters wrote the two deputies who were involved in the chase and shooting were Miguel Vega, who opened fire, and Chris Hernandez, who did not shoot. Vega has a history of allegations, mostly unproven or yet to be resolved, including tampering with evidence, making false statements to investigators (an action for which he was given a four-day suspension) and complaints for use of unreasonable force. Neither officer has yet given a statement to investigators and have separate attorneys representing them, according to the LA Times report. CNN reported that Vega's lawyer is most often associated with the policeman's union in Los Angeles. Neither officer has yet officially given a reason for the use of deadly force, although Hernandez' lawyer Tom You has told CNN that Andres Guardado was prone on the ground when he was shot. The lawyer claims Hernandez told investigators the following: "Guardado prones out, he's on the ground but he has access to his firearm. My client can see (only) half of Guardado's body because his view is blocked by a wall. Because Guardado is not listening to commands and reaches for the firearm, Vega is in fear for his life." According to reports from the Los Angeles Times, the homicide investigators requested a security hold on the autopsy until all interviews were completed. Panish Shea & Boyle, the law firm representing Andres Guardado's family released a statement demanding the release of Andres Guardado's autopsy results after the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department placed a security hold on them. The coroner's office as well as an independent autopsy determined Guardado's cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of death was certified as homicide. The final autopsy also showed that Guardado was shot in the back five times. Autopsy reports An "emergency hold" was placed on the autopsy report by Sheriff Villanueva, preventing the release of details pending the conclusion of the investigation conducted by the Homicide division of the LASD. An independent autopsy released by Guardado's family shows Andres Guardado was shot 5 times in the back. Deputies interviewed by LASD internal investigators Forensic evidence from the family's private autopsy let the public know with certainty that the teen was shot multiple times in the back, confirming many of the contemporaneous statements that had circulated after the shooting. But further details of the trajectory of the bullets were not included in the basic information related by the family. Public uproar increased, and the next day the two involved deputy officers, having refused to file an initial police report, finally agreed to be interviewed by the internal investigation being conducted by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's office, through the department of Homicide. Although the results of the interviews are not yet public, the separate lawyers for Miguel Vaga (the shooter) and his partner gave statements to the press immediately after. The investigators had been waiting, as is policy, for the officers to volunteer to tell their story, rather than compelling them to do so. (Up until this time, any accounts put forth by the LASD had been arrived at through general statements unattributed to either deputy, but simply proffered as statements from the department, generally counted in vague terms such as "at this time, shots were fired.") Through their separate lawyer's subsequent statements, a narrative was given to the press that it was necessary to shoot the teen in the back because he was "reaching for a weapon," after being instructed to place a gun on the ground, which it's said he had done. Only Deputy Vega's lawyer told the full account. His partner did not contradict the narrative, but neither did he fully back it up, claiming he was unable to witness what happened, even though security footage suggests he could not have been far behind. It's unclear if the partner corroborates the existence of a firearm until after the shooting. Without waiting for his partner to catch up, the narrative put forth by the lawyer for Deputy Vega says that Vega holstered his weapon and was approaching to cuff the individual, who was prone on the ground but also reaching for the alleged handgun. In this moment, the lawyer claims the deputy instructed the teen verbally not to reach for the gun, then pulled his own pistol back from his holster and quickly shot the teen many times because the suspect was still reaching for the pistol. It is against training and policy for an officer to re-holster his weapon and not wait for his backup to act in this manner. All of the statements given by Vega's lawyer seem to address concerns brought forth by the family autopsy report. If his non-corroborated account were true, he likely fired in self-defense and would be cleared by a fair and impartial investigation, even though his behavior was odd and didn't follow training in keeping the suspect covered until his partner could arrive, only a few short steps behind in an alley with no obstructions. Coroner's Autopsy report When this narrative was made public, the Los Angeles County Coroner's office defied the "emergency hold" placed by Sheriff Villanueva and released the entire autopsy report, which included diagrams and descriptions of the fatal wounds and the trajectories of the various bullets, which seem to indicate the teen was not prone but rather kneeling when one of the fatal shots struck him in the back. This bullet travels downward into his torso and lodged in his heart, undoubtedly being a fatal shot. The other four (also judged to be fatal) shots in the back traveled upwards, as though fired into a prone body from a standing shooter who is nearly point blank range. Whatever actually occurred in the alley of the workplace, the forensic evidence seems to boldly contradict the statement as given by the shooter's lawyer to the press. There's no plausible explanation for one bullet to travel down and four to go up into the body unless the body was either not always prone, or the shooter took his time and stood first ahead of the body and then behind, or vice versa. Coroner's Inquest On November 10, 2020, the L.A. county coroner's office ordered an inquest which was previously voted on by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors in September. The inquest will be conducted by Court of Appeals Justice Candace Cooper and will begin on November 30. It is notably the first inquest to occur in the county in over thirty years. Dr. Jonathan Lucas, who is the county’s chief medical examiner-coroner, stated "an inquest ensures that our residents will have an independent review of all the evidence and findings of our office and of the cause and manner of death of Mr. Guardado.” Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas stated:For far too long we have accepted the status quo — we haven’t sufficiently challenged law enforcement’s incessant demands that investigations remain shrouded in secrecy. This board must not sit by and allow the county’s law enforcement department to entrench itself in traditional patterns of behavior that profoundly harm not only vulnerable communities but the entire justice system. When the inquest was held, Deputy Miguel Vega declined to appear. A statement was given that he was "out of the country" temporarily. His partner was also summoned but refused to appear. Inexplicably, Homicide investigators summoned to testify did comply but when asked to take the stand met almost all questions by invoking their individual Fifth Amendment right to not incriminate themselves and refused to provide any details to the inquest. The judge heard testimony from those who conducted the autopsy and took time to consider how best to respond to the seeming stonewall from the Sheriff's department. No eyewitness to the shooting appeared. In the end, the inquest closed quietly leaving the determination that the death was from "homicide" and presenting few if any new details to the public other than an indication that the "turf war" between the LASD and the Coroner's office was ongoing. Suspension, lawsuit According to the LA Times, in April 2020 partners Vega and Hernandez were involved in an incident that eventually led to an investigation and suspension, but not until six months had past, and the death of Guardado happened. A 24 year-old skateboarder had vocally defended other younger skaters as the Deputies verbally abused them, and says he was placed quickly into the back seat of the patrol car, unhandcuffed and without a seat belt. A car wreck ensued when Vega drove at excessive speed chasing other kids on bicycles through an alley causing injury requiring hospitalization and stitches. A lawsuit claiming the Deputies were abusive, threatening and reckless was filed, and a LASD investigation quickly led to the two being taken off patrol duty but the investigation is said to be ongoing. Sheriff Villanueva is named in lawsuit for his negligence in supervision, and a recent court decision upheld his inclusion. The suit is pending. Whistleblower According to a sworn testimony of a whistle blower, Guardado was murdered by the police as part of an initiation into a violent police gang within the department, The Compton Executioners. The same whistle blower had previously filed a complaint regarding the existence of this "gang". Eyewitness surfaces In April 2021, a college newspaper published a story with an interview identifying the eyewitness driving the white Lexus parked at the curb of the alley where Guardado was chased and shot. She claims the deputy chasing Andres fired his pistol on the run, and to have seen that Andres was unarmed. "He never pulled out a gun, when he was running," the witness is quoted, continuing "That's when they start shooting." Additionally, she claims to have witnessed two separate volleys of pistol fire, one on the run that caused Andres to fall to the ground and a second that she only heard as she drove away. (The self-defense story related to the press by Vega's attorney differs from this strongly, claiming all shots were fired after Guardado was prone on the ground.) The same student newspaper story also says that the witness was arrested around August 1 by Compton-based LASD deputies near her home in Hawthorne but that she was carried to a Sheriff's station in Lakewood instead, some sixteen miles away from the nearest station house where she was held for two days and questioned by LASD detectives, whom she claims tried to intimidate her into changing her statement. "They were trying to press me, like saying I've seen Andres with guns before and there's pictures of him. They tried to come at me stupid, like scientifically, they can prove that's not what happened." This witness was never identified publicially by LASD and so was not called to the Coroner's inquest. The April 2021 story has not been followed up on by other media as of the one-year anniversary of the shooting and the LASD has not announced any end to their investigation, having previously claimed it was still open, "ongoing" pending finding all the witnesses. References 2002 births 2020 deaths 2020 controversies in the United States 2020–2021 United States racial unrest Deaths by person in the United States June 2020 events in the United States Law enforcement controversies in the United States Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Los Angeles Police Department Latino people shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States

64382877

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20C%C3%A9dric%20Chouviat

Killing of Cédric Chouviat

On January 5, 2020, Cédric Chouviat, a 42-year-old French delivery man, died after his arrest by Parisian police after using his cellphone while on his scooter and contempt of a police officer. A coroner later ruled that he had died of asphyxia and a broken larynx. During the arrest, after Chouviat called one of the officers "a fool" and an officer went behind him and locked his arm around Chouviat's neck causing him to fall to the ground. While on the ground officers continued to restrain him and handcuffed him, during which he suffered a heart attack and was administered aid after officers noticed his skin turning blue. Incident Police reportedly stopped Chouviat, as it appeared that Chouviat was using his cell phone while driving his mobile scooter, near the Eiffel Tower on January 3. In one of the videos Chouviat, can be heard mocking the police officers who stopped him by calling them "clowns" and stating that "without your uniform, in the street you are nothing at all". His comments caused the officers to insult and mock Chouviat with one officer threatens to arrest Chouviat for insulting the officers, while another is recorded shoving Chouviat multiple times. Once the officers arrest Chouviat, they reportedly used a chokehold to subdue him with three other officers pinning him to the ground while Chouviat was wearing his motorcycle helmet. During the arrest, Chouviat is recorded as stating "Stop", "I'm Stopping" and repeatedly stating "I'm suffocating". The incident was documented in at least thirteen different videos that were filmed by Chouviat, bystanders and one of the officers involved in the arrest. Investigation On January 7, the Paris Public Prosecutor opened a judicial inquiry for involuntary manslaughter, and the organization that investigates the police also opened an investigation into the death. A lawyer for two of the officers involved in the arrest claims that the motorcycle helmet worn by Chouviat muffled his voice enough that they did not hear his comments and when shown the videos, the officers were "surprised and devastated" by the audio. Response Lawyers for the Chouviat family released statements at a press conference, calling for the public to maintain calm and that "France isn't the United States, but France is becoming like the United States." The lawyers highlighted the main concern is the techniques that were used by police on Chouviat that caused his death. His family have called for the ban on the use of chokeholds by French police and have compared his death to the murder of George Floyd, with his widow stating; "You have a citizen who's asking to live and is a victim of injustice and violence to the point of losing his life. Its copy-paste." The death of Chouviat was specifically referenced by French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner when he announced a ban on the use of chokeholds during police arrests in early June 2020, but after a string of protests from French police the ban was removed weeks later. References January 2020 events in France Filmed killings by law enforcement Deaths from asphyxiation Deaths in police custody in France Deaths by person in Paris 2020 in Paris Killings by law enforcement officers National Police (France)

64391826

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Bernardo%20Palacios-Carbajal

Killing of Bernardo Palacios-Carbajal

On May 23, 2020, police officers killed 22-year-old Bernardo Palacios-Carbajal in Salt Lake City, Utah. Officers fired 34 shots at Palacios-Carbajal, striking him 13–15 times, after chasing him while he ran away carrying a gun and repeatedly dropping it and retrieving it. The shooting triggered protests coinciding with the worldwide protests following the murder of George Floyd. Bodycam footage was released on June 5. District Attorney Sim Gill announced on July 9 that the shooting was legally justified and that the officers would not face criminal charges. Shooting Shortly after 2 a.m. on Saturday, May 23, 2020, multiple Salt Lake City police officers responded to a call alleging that a man had tried to rob someone at gunpoint outside a strip club in the area of 300 West and 900 South. Officers chased him around the motel and nightclub to a parking lot across the street. Bernardo fell 3 times and picked up the gun each time. Officers Kevin Fortuna and Neil Iversen fired their weapons. Once Bernardo fell to the ground face forward he rolled to his back and officers told Bernardo to show them his hands. Surveillance camera footage shows Bernardo raise his hands brandishing his gun towards officers . They fired again, totaling 34 shots, 13–15 of which struck Palacios-Carbajal, killing him. No officers were injured. Aftermath Protests were planned for the Saturday after the killing, coinciding with worldwide protests following the murder of George Floyd. Several protests marched throughout the city, with protesters also calling for justice for Riche Antonio Santiago, Patrick Harmon, Elijah James Smith, and James Dudley-Parker, four others killed by Utah police. Bodycam footage is required by city law to be released within 10 business days of a police shooting. Bodycam footage from three officers was released on June 5. The city council released a statement on June 7 decrying the shooting, and several hundred gathered at the state capitol to demand justice. The funeral for Palacios-Carbajal was held on June 10, with many attendants going to a protest directly afterwards. By June 13, a memorial had developed at the site of the shooting, and a mural of Palacios-Carbajal was painted next to one of George Floyd. Murals of Michael Chad Breinholt, Darrien Hunt, Dillon Taylor, and Bryan Pena Valencia, four other men fatally shot by Utah police since 2014, were painted on the same wall. People assembled at the new Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office, calling for the dismissal of District Attorney Sim Gill and protesting the police killings of Cody Belgard and Zane James, two other men fatally shot by Salt Lake County police in 2018, before going to a memorial for Palacios-Carbajal. Salt Lake City police turned the shooting investigation over to Unified Police, who submitted their report to Gill’s office on June 16. An unusually high number of police officers had left the department in the preceding weeks. "They felt like they could go on and get an education and get into a different career," said police chief Mike Brown. On June 17, protesters marched to the Salt Lake City government building and chanted, "Mayor, what happened to his fingers?" On June 23, it was reported that the family of Palacios-Carbajal said that some of his fingers were missing when they saw his body. Autopsy photos showed that some of his fingers were mangled. On the morning of July 9, Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill announced the ruling that the shooting was "justified" and there would be no charges. Utah law states that an officer is justified in using deadly force when "the officer reasonably believes that the use of deadly force is necessary to prevent death or serious bodily injury to the officer or another person". Mayor Erin Mendenhall said that the evidence in the case will be delivered to the city's civilian review board and that an internal investigation within the police department will get underway. Shortly after 8 p.m. the evening of July 9, protests broke out in response. By 10 p.m., several windows of the DA's office were broken, buckets of red paint were poured on the property, some reporters covering the event were interfered with and blocked from filming, and police reported members of the crowd using pepper spray on one of the officers, resulting in SLCPD declaring the group an unlawful gathering and dispersing the crowd. As a result, Governor Gary Herbert declared a state of emergency. In the weeks following the initial protests, protesters were charged with misdemeanors and felonies for vandalism, and failure to disperse, among other charges. See also George Floyd protests in Utah Lists of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States Shooting of Abdullahi Omar Mohamed Tennessee v. Garner Fleeing felon rule References Filmed killings by law enforcement Latino people shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States 2020 deaths Deaths by firearm in Utah Salt Lake City Police Department Law enforcement in Utah Law enforcement controversies in the United States 2020 controversies in the United States May 2020 events in the United States 2020s in Salt Lake City 2020 in Utah

64400734

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Luis%20Espinoza

Killing of Luis Espinoza

Luis Armando Espinoza, a 31-year-old Argentinian citizen, died during a police raid in the northern province of Tucumán, Argentina, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in the country. After his body was found, an investigation (Luis Espinoza case, Caso Luis Espinoza in Spanish) revealed that he was shot to death after being wrongly suspected of engaging in an illegal horse race. Covered in plastic and rug, his body was moved to a police precinct. It was then placed inside a car trunk which traveled to the neighboring province of Catamarca where his body was dropped into a ravine. The public opinion traced similarities between his murder and the Santiago Maldonado case. In June 2020, the UN launched an investigation on the crime, through the OHCHR. Victim Luis Espinoza was a 31-year-old rural worker, from the town of Melcho, Tucumán and a father of six. He had seventeen brothers. Arrest and death On May 15, 2020, while Argentina was under a nationwide quarantine because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Luis Espinoza was found by police on the northern town of Simoca, Tucumán, where an illegal horse race was taking place. The conduct of the said activity was in violation of the quarantine policies. The victim was riding a horse along his brother Juan in the vicinity of the race, when nine police officers and a municipal security guards arrived to stop the illegal event. At least four police officers had a struggle with Juan and, when his brother Luis tried to defend him, he fell off his horse and ran; being later shot at his back with a police service gun. The bullet entered through his left shoulder blade, piercing his lung. His body was then moved to the Monteagudo police precinct, where for four hours, it was being readied to be disposed. The corpse was stripped into a flag pole with plastic bags and a rug. He died in some moment between the shooting and the moving to the police precinct. His body left the precinct inside the car trunk of Rubén Montenegro, deputy commissioner, and he was transported 75 miles to the border of the Catamarca province, where he was dropped into a ravine. On May 16, 2020, Luis' family tried to file a police report for his disappearance, in the very same precinct where his dead body was taken. The policeman declined the chance to file a report before 72 hours since his disappearance. After several days, the policeman admitted of having a silence pact and later on, informed the location of the body. It was found in La Banderita, Catamarca, on May 22, 2020, inside a 492 feet-deep ravine. Once the corpse was found, an autopsy and ballistics report established that the bullet causing the deadly wound came from a police service gun, a Jericho 941 (an Israeli tactic .9mm pistol) that belonged to José Morales, one of the accused policemen. The usage of this weapon by the Tucuman security forces had been under question two years prior to the Luis Espinoza case, since it is not a common weapon for security forces in any other area of Argentina. This resulted in a criminal case for fraudulent administration against the province civil servants, which was dismissed. Indictments Several security forces members were accused for Luis Espinoza's crime, under the crimes of forced disappearance followed by death and kidnapping. José Morales Rubén Montenegro Miriam González René Ardiles Víctor Salinas Carlos Romano José Paz Gerardo González Rojas Claudio Zelaya Fabio Santillán (municipal security guard) On May 20, 2020, judge Mario Velázquez order the pre-trial detention for the length of six months for six of the ten accused. The prosecutor had requested a 12-months remand. See also Death of Santiago Maldonado List of solved missing person cases References   2020 deaths 2020 in Argentina 2020s missing person cases Deaths in police custody in Argentina Enforced disappearances in Argentina Formerly missing people Missing person cases in Argentina Police misconduct in Argentina Trials in Argentina

64673724

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Deona%20Knajdek

Killing of Deona Knajdek

On June 13, 2021, a man drove a car into a crowd of demonstrators who had gathered as a part of the ongoing Uptown Minneapolis unrest, killing Deona Knajdek and injuring three others. That evening, demonstrators had blocked the intersection of West Lake Street and Girard Avenue. At approximately 11:39p.m.CDT, a man in a Jeep Cherokee drove into the crowd at a high speed, striking a parked vehicle that had been used to block off the intersection to traffic, which then collided with protesters. On June 16, the alleged driver, Nicholas D. Kraus, was charged with second-degree intentional murder and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon in relation to the crash, after allegedly telling investigators that he had accelerated towards the crowd in an attempt to clear the barricades that were protecting protesters. Kraus is scheduled to be tried in March 2022. Background A series of protests and civil unrest in Minneapolis in the United States began on June 3, 2021, as a reaction to the police killing of Winston Boogie Smith. Smith, a 32-year-old black American man, allegedly shot at law enforcement officers as they attempted to apprehend him. Police fired approximately twelve rounds at Smith, killing him. There was no known video evidence of the encounter, and a passenger in Smith's car and protesters disputed the law enforcement account of events. Civil unrest began in the Uptown district on June 3 with two nights of protests that included looting and rioting. Protests were held over subsequent days with demonstrators periodically occupying a street intersection near where Smith was killed. Vehicle-ramming attack The evening of June 13, demonstrators blocked the intersection of West Lake Street and Girard Avenue for an event, with some playing volleyball and lawn games. At approximately 11:39p.m.CDT, a man in a Jeep Cherokee drove into the crowd at a high speed, striking a parked vehicle that had been used to block off the intersection to traffic, which then collided with protesters. One protester was killed, and three others suffered injuries that were not life-threatening. Demonstrators detained the driver until police arrived at the scene. The suspect was treated at a hospital and then booked into a Hennepin County Jail that night on probable cause of criminal vehicular homicide, driving on a cancelled license, and providing false information to police. Victims Family of the deceased identified her as Deona M. Knajdek (some reports also identified her as Deona Erickson or Deona Marie), a 31-year-old woman from Minneapolis. According to her family, the car that was struck belonged to Knajdek, and she had parked it there as a blockade to protect protesters. Her family described her as an active supporter of Black Lives Matter and social activists on issues of police brutality and gun violence. Knajdek was a program manager for The Cottages Group, a home health care provider. She had two daughters, who were 11 and 13 at the time of her death. Knajdek had participated in daily protests over the killing of Winston Smith since June 3. Three other people were injured in the collision. One protester with non-life-threatening injuries and Knajdek were transported to Hennepin County Medical Center by ambulance. Two others later sought medical treatment for non-critical injuries related to the crash. Suspect Nicholas D. Kraus, a 35-year-old man from Saint Paul, Minnesota, is the suspected driver in the attack. Kraus has five prior convictions for driving under the influence spanning 2008–2016, and his license had been canceled in 2013 for safety concerns. He also has prior convictions for driving without a valid license, assault, failure to have insurance, and providing a false name to police. Investigation and charges Kraus allegedly made statements to police in which he repeatedly admitted to operating the vehicle. When questioned, he reportedly gave "illogical and irrelevant answers", which led police to believe he was intoxicated. Kraus later allegedly admitted to investigators that he had intentionally accelerated towards the demonstrators in hopes of clearing the barricades that had been placed to protect the protestors. According to search warrants filed in court on June 15, officials believed that footage captured by a closed-circuit camera appeared to show that the car's brake lights did not activate prior to the crash. Three hours before the June 13 vehicle attack, a demonstrator had climbed a pole and spray painted a surveillance camera located at the intersection of West Lake Street and Girard Avenue. Officials believed the camera would have captured "crucial evidence" about crash, and law enforcement sought the public's assistance to identify a suspect who painted over the camera. A witness reported that the car seemed to accelerate as it approached the demonstration. Minneapolis police said in a statement shortly after the attack that they believed that the driver may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but field sobriety tests were not performed due to his injuries. On June 16, Kraus was charged with second-degree intentional murder and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon in relation to the crash. Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said in a statement that Kraus had been intoxicated during the attack and that he accelerated his vehicle rather than braking. Kraus was held in jail on a $1 million bond. He made his first court appearance on June 17 in Hennepin County District Court and was ordered by the judge to under go a psychological evaluation to determine if he was competent to stand trial. Trial Kraus was found competent to stand trial after a court proceeding on September 10. The court set a October 6 hearing to consider if Kraus was mentally competent at the time of the vehicle crash, but the matter could be revisited at a future date or be determined by a jury at trial. Kraus’ trial is scheduled to begin on March 21, 2022. Memorial and funeral Hundreds of mourners gathered at the site of the attack for a vigil on the evening of June 14, and demonstrations continued that evening and in the following days. Knajdek's funeral was held on June 21 in her hometown of Rush City, Minnesota. See also 2020–2021 United States racial unrest 2020–2021 Minneapolis–Saint Paul racial unrest George Floyd protests in Minneapolis–Saint Paul List of civil unrest in Minneapolis–Saint Paul List of vehicle-ramming incidents during George Floyd protests References Further reading Brooks, Jennifer (June 16, 2021). “Deona Knajdek fought so Minneapolis wouldn't look away from its pain”. Star Tribune. Retrieved June 18, 2021. Marcus, Josh (June 25, 2021). "Deona Marie and the epidemic of car attacks against racial justice activists". The Independent. Retrieved June 25, 2021. 2020–2021 United States racial unrest 2020s in Minneapolis 2020s road incidents in North America 2021 in Minnesota 2021 road incidents Black Lives Matter Deaths by person in the United States June 2021 events in the United States Road incident deaths in Minnesota Vehicular rampage in the United States June 2021 crimes in the United States

64689565

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Amy%20Joyner-Francis

Killing of Amy Joyner-Francis

On April 21, 2016, Amy Inita Joyner-Francis, a female 16-year-old student at Howard High School of Technology in Wilmington, Delaware, was assaulted and killed by another student, Trinity Carr in a school bathroom while two other students allegedly assisted. The incident was widely publicized and started controversy about the appropriate charges of teenagers involved in situations of school violence and assault. Two of the students were convicted of conspiracy and one of the two was convicted of negligent homicide. The latter conviction was later overturned in a ruling that has faced some criticism. A third student was acquitted of a conspiracy charge. Attack On the morning of April 21, 2016 in Howard High School of Technology, Amy Joyner-Francis, a female 16-year old student, was confronted by three female students: Trinity Carr, Zion Snow, and Chakeira Wright, on the second-floor female restroom of the school. It is unknown what precisely happened between the confrontation and the attack, but the motive was allegedly a personal dispute "over a boy". Joyner-Francis was soon assaulted by Carr. Carr hit and kicked Joyner-Francis, landing punches to Joyner-Francis's head and torso while Joyner-Francis clutched for her purse. Carr dragged Joyner-Francis by her hair and repeatedly smashed her head into the sink inside a handicap-accessible stall in the restroom. At some point during the attack, Carr ripped Joyner-Francis's fingernails out. Dozens of other female students watched the killing unfold, and the incident was recorded on the cell phones of at least two students, which would later be used as crucial evidence against the three accused girls in their later trial. Joyner-Francis fell to the floor as Snow began to kick her. Onlookers, including Wright, attempted to pull Carr off of Joyner-Francis, as Joyner-Francis appeared to attempt to cling onto Carr's shirt. Joyner-Francis laid on the floor of the bathroom as her breathing labored and eventually lost consciousness. She died shortly after the attack was over. Joyner-Francis was flown by a state police helicopter to Nemours A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children in critical condition and was pronounced dead. State v. Trinity Carr, Zion Snow, and Chakeira Wright Trinity Carr, the student who assaulted and killed Joyner-Francis, was originally charged with both criminally negligent homicide and third-degree criminal conspiracy, while Zion Snow and Chakeira Wright were only charged with the latter. All three girls were released on bail in May 2016. Trinity Carr, Zion Snow, and Chakeira Wright were tried by Delaware Family Court Judge Robert Coonin. The video of the killing and social media comments were used as crucial evidence, including a comment that one of the girls made on social media about Joyner-Francis's death, saying, "Fuck This Retarted [sic] Nose Having Ass Bitch, She Ugly. We Made Sure We Killed That Bitch! #ripamy Bitches." The comment was considered a confession by the judge. On April 13, 2017, Carr was found guilty of both counts of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree criminal conspiracy and Snow was found guilty on the count of third-degree criminal conspiracy. Judge Coonin commented that, "beyond a reasonable doubt, the death of Amy Joyner-Francis was caused by the action of Trinity Carr." It was determined that Carr and Snow had planned the attack 20 hours prior to it occurring. Wright was found not guilty of third-degree criminal conspiracy, with Judge Coonin saying that the evidence that Wright took part in planning the attack was "insufficient". Coonin also noted that Wright had attempted to pull Carr off of Joyner-Francis after the attack ensued. Carr was sentenced to 6 months in rehabilitation service, 500 hours of community service, and probation until age 21. She did not face jail time as the prosecution had sought. Snow was sentenced to 18 months of community supervision and 300 hours of community service. Overturning of homicide conviction and further lawsuits On March 1, 2018, the Supreme Court of Delaware overturned Carr's negligent homicide conviction, ruling that Carr could not have known that Joyner-Francis would die when she assaulted her. Her conspiracy conviction, however, was upheld. A spokeswoman for the Joyner-Francis family said of the overturning of Carr's conviction, "The most dangerous city in the nation for children between 12 and 17 is Wilmington, Delaware. The overturned ruling by the Delaware Supreme Court regarding the murder of Amy Joyner-Francis supports this fact." Joyner-Francis's parents settled a lawsuit with the New Castle County Vocational-Technical School District for negligence and deprivation of constitutional rights in April 2018. Autopsy An autopsy by the Delaware medical examiner determined that Joyner-Francis's death was a homicide. It was concluded that she died from cardiac arrest, caused by blunt force trauma and complications from a previous heart condition that Joyner-Francis had prior to her assault. It was confirmed, however, that Joyner-Francis would not have died if she had not been assaulted. See also Howard High School of Technology School violence in the United States References 2016 in American law Joyner-Francis, Amy Joyner-Francis, Amy April 2016 events in the United States

64710538

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Patricia%20Alatorre

Killing of Patricia Alatorre

Patricia Jocelyn Alatorre (May 14, 2007 – July 2, 2020) was a teenager from Bakersfield, California who was raped and killed after disappearing on July 1, 2020. Alatorre and her alleged killer had linked up through social media and shared explicit photos of themselves, with the suspect convincing Alatorre to meet up on two occasions. On the second meeting, Alatorre was raped and strangled to death, with the killer having sex with the body before burning it. Armando Cruz was arrested after police found a white pick up truck similar to the one used during the kidnapping. Alatorre's rape and death has been described by the Bakersfield Police Department as one of the worst missing children cases they have ever had. After the killing, residents near the area held a vigil and memorial for Alatorre, raising money for her family and campaigning for her killer's indictment. A mural was unveiled in downtown Bakersfield on October 12, 2020. Background and killing Over the course of the week before her death, Alatorre and Inglewood native Armando Cruz allegedly communicated with each other through social media, sharing explicit photos of themselves with each other. Alatorre and Cruz then allegedly met up with one another, where Cruz convinced Alatorre to perform oral sex. Alatorre disappeared from her home on July 1, 2020 at around 11:00 p.m., entering a white pick up truck near Wible Road and Hosking Avenue which was captured on camera. Cruz allegedly drove her around the area with Alatorre screaming and saying that she didn't want to go with him as he forced himself onto her, sexually assaulting her while strangling her until her death. He then allegedly had sex with the body before burning the body in the car. Investigation The Bakersfield Police Department initially believed that Alatorre had run away from home, but released more information about her disappearance, including an image of a white pick-up truck near where Alatorre was last seen on July 4. The investigation turned into a homicide investigation, and on July 6, the police tracked down the pick-up truck, naming 24-year-old Armando Cruz as a person of interest. Cruz was then arrested after police located a vehicle that matched the white pickup truck seen on the surveillance video. Judicial process On July 7, the Kern Country District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer filed 12 felony charges against Cruz, including aggravated sexual assault. Cruz pleaded not guilty to all 12 felony charges. On July 30, Cruz did not show up to the court hearing, with district attorney Zimmer stating that he did not want to leave his cell and wanted to talk to his lawyer before going to court. The next day, court documents described Alatorre's killing with Cruz admitting that he had sex with Alatorre against her will, and later killed her before dumping her cellphone on California State Route 99. On August 14, 2020, Cruz's defense sought to exclude media and the public from all pretrial hearings to give a "fair trial" for Cruz and due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A month later, on September 28, 2020, the First Amendment Coalition asked the court to reject the request with executive director David Snyder stating that "absent extraordinary circumstances not present in the Cruz case, the public has the right to see how their judicial system works." On October 22, the hearings were postponed until December as the Coalition motioned for the trial to be public. In December, the trial was once again postponed to February 2021. In the February hearing, he did not appear in court while his attorney attempted to change the venue of the trial, but was declined by the judge. On April 21, 2021, the preliminary hearing was postponed to August 12. The multiple postponements of the pre-trial hearings was criticized by locals. Cruz's hearing was pushed back to October 22, and was subsequently pushed to November 4 after presiding judge Charles R. Brehmer scolded the defense team for not appearing. On November 4, Cruz was arraigned on indictment where he pled not guilty, with his next hearing on December 14. Reactions Memorials and vigils On the day Cruz was apprehended, the family and community held a vigil for Alatorre near the neighborhood where she was last seen. The Greenfield Union School District issued a response to her death, offering grief counseling services at McKee. The family planned to hold a vigil every day until she was found and laid to rest. The vigil site continued to be visited by mourners, which prompted concerns for the neighborhood as people mistook the neighbor's houses as her home. A memorial service was held on July 25. On May 15, 2021, the community gathered for a vigil celebrating her 14th birthday. On May 27, the Greenfield Union School District posthumously awarded Alatorre a graduation diploma. On October 12, community members gathered for a "Day of Kindness" in honor of Alatorre, which was also aiming to educate the public about online predators. On All Souls Day, Alatorre's family paid tribute to her. Cruise for Patty On July 10 and 11, residents conducted a car cruise in remembrance of Alatorre, who was a fan of cars. The next day, more than 100 people came to the event to honor Alatorre and raised money for her family. Mural Local artists from the group The Next Steps wanted to paint a mural for Alatorre to recognize her as "Bakersfield’s Daughter." On October 12, the group unveiled a mural between 19th and L street. The mural was installed after a ceremony, with participants bringing either a red rose or a sunflower, Alatorre's favorite flower. References 2020 in California Deaths by person in the United States Deaths by strangulation in the United States Necrophilia Rapes in the United States Incidents of violence against women

64719278

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Tahir%20Naseem

Killing of Tahir Naseem

Tahir Ahmad Naseem, an American citizen from Illinois, was killed on July 29, 2020 in a courtroom in Peshawar. According to the United States Department of State, Naseem had been lured to Pakistan from his home in Illinois by individuals who then used Pakistan's blasphemy laws to entrap him. The U.S. Government has been providing consular assistance to Naseem and his family since his detention in 2018 and has called the attention of senior Pakistani officials to his case to prevent the type of act that eventually occurred. Naseem was shot 6 times by Faisal Khan, a 21-year old local resident. Naseem was a former member of the Ahmadi sect. According to the official spokesman for the Ahmadi community in Pakistan, Naseem had previously renounced his affiliation with the Ahmadi community and embraced Sunni Islam. His death spurred thousands in support of his killer to rally in Peshawar. References July 2020 events in Pakistan Deaths in police custody in Pakistan Murder in Peshawar Blasphemy law in Pakistan

64954532

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Julian%20Edward%20Roosevelt%20Lewis

Killing of Julian Edward Roosevelt Lewis

On August 7, 2020, Julian Edward Roosevelt Lewis, a 60-year-old Black American carpenter, was fatally shot by white Georgia State Patrol officer Jacob Gordon Thompson, on a rural road in Screven County, Georgia. Thompson attempted to stop Lewis for driving a vehicle with a broken tail light. When Lewis failed to stop, Thompson performed a PIT maneuver to force Lewis's car into a ditch and shot Lewis once in the face. On August 14, Thompson was charged with felony murder. People involved Lewis was a 60-year-old Black semi-retired carpenter from Sylvania, Georgia. Thompson, who is white, was 27 years old at the time of the shooting. He joined the Georgia State Police on July 28, 2013. Traffic stop According to a Georgia State Patrol (GSP) report, around 9 p.m. on Friday, August 7, 2020, Thompson attempted to stop Lewis's Nissan Sentra for a broken taillight on Stoney Pond Road near Sylvania, Georgia, in a rural part of Screven County about 60 miles northwest of Savannah. According to a Lewis family attorney, Lewis had gone to a convenience store to buy a grape soda for his wife and was on his way home at the time. Lewis did not stop and Thompson briefly chased Lewis down several rural roads. Thompson forced Lewis's car to stop in a ditch using a "precision intervention technique" or "PIT maneuver". According to Thompson's report of the incident, after Lewis's vehicle stopped, Thompson pulled up alongside and drew his handgun as he exited. Lewis revved his car's engine and Thompson activated the light on his gun. Thompson saw Lewis with both hands on the steering wheel, "wrenching the steering wheel in an aggressive back-and-forth manner towards me and my patrol vehicle." Thompson wrote that Lewis "was trying to use his vehicle to injure me" and that, "Being in fear for my life and safety, I discharged my weapon once." According to prosecutors, Thompson fired one shot "at some point", striking Lewis in the face and killing him. According to an attorney for Lewis's family, Thompson shot Lewis "almost immediately" after the PIT maneuver. Thompson reported that he unsuccessfully tried to help Lewis after shooting him. Lewis was pronounced dead at the scene. Thompson was not injured. According to their attorney, Lewis's family did not learn about his whereabouts or death until around 1 a.m. the next day. Prosecution Thompson was fired, arrested, and charged with felony murder and aggravated assault on August 14, 2020. He was booked into Screven County Jail. An autopsy of Lewis's body is being conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The case went to a grand jury and on June 28, 2021 the case was judged a “no bill” and all charges against Thompson were dropped. Impact A candlelight vigil was held for Lewis on August 14 in front of Sylvania City Hall with funeral services held the following day. According to the Associated Press, Thompson "was charged amid a national outcry over racial injustice" after the recent murders of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, and the killing of Rayshard Brooks at the hands of police. Lewis's family attorney described the decision to fire and arrest Thompson only a week after Lewis's death as a surprise, which he believed was a direct result of protests surrounding the police murder of Floyd and killing of Breonna Taylor earlier in 2020. The Georgia NAACP described the killing as "a case of racial profiling". See also Lists of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States References Further reading GBI press release Statement by Lewis family attorney Statement by Georgia NAACP https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/2020/09/24/gbi-sylvania-man-killed-by-state-trooper-had-drugs-in-his-system/43075595/ 2020 deaths 2020 controversies in the United States 2020 in Georgia (U.S. state) African-American-related controversies Black Lives Matter Deaths by firearm in Georgia (U.S. state) Deaths by person in the United States Deaths in police custody in the United States August 2020 events in the United States Law enforcement controversies in the United States Law enforcement in Georgia (U.S. state) Screven County, Georgia African Americans shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States

64964768

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20George%20Robinson

Killing of George Robinson

On January 13, 2019, George Robinson, a 62-year-old Black man, died two days after a violent arrest by three Black police officers in Jackson, Mississippi. According to a grand jury indictment, the officers pulled Robinson out of a car, threw him headfirst into the pavement, and struck and kicked him multiple times in the head and chest. Robinson was treated at the scene but within hours lost consciousness and later died at a hospital. The state coroner ruled the death a homicide. After an internal Jackson Police Department investigation cleared the officers of wrongdoing, one of the officers continued working for the Jackson Police Department, and the other two were hired by a police department in a nearby town. Following the George Floyd protests a year later, as well as a lengthy grand jury review, all three officers were indicted for second-degree murder on August 5, 2020. People involved George Robinson was a 62-year-old Black man. Desmond Barney, 31 years old as of August 2020, Lincoln Lampley, 33, and Anthony Fox, 35, also Black, were officers in the Jackson Police Department's K-9 unit at the time of the killing. As of August 2020, Lampley is still an officer with the Jackson Police Department, and Barney and Fox are police officers in nearby Clinton, Mississippi. Death According to prosecutors, on January 13, 2019, Barney, Lampley, and Fox were canvassing in a predominantly Black neighborhood in Jackson, Mississippi, looking for suspects in the fatal robbery of a pastor hours earlier. The officers saw Robinson sitting in his car in front of his house and approached him because they thought they had seen him dealing drugs earlier. They ordered him to exit his vehicle, but Robinson, a stroke victim, was slow to comply. According to the indictment, the officers pulled Robinson from his car, threw him headfirst onto the pavement, and struck and kicked him multiple times in the head and chest. The responding ambulance treated Robinson at the scene and released him. The officers arrested Robinson on misdemeanor charges of failing to obey a police officer and resisting arrest before releasing him with instructions to appear at a future court date. Within hours, Robinson's girlfriend saw him losing consciousness and called for another ambulance. Robinson died at a hospital on January 15. The state coroner ruled the death a homicide. The coroner's report and other medical reports stated that Robinson died from blunt force trauma to the head and bleeding from the brain, and that he had several broken ribs. Two other men were later arrested for the pastor's murder. Prosecution The three officers were placed on paid administrative leave while the Jackson Police Department's internal affairs division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated, and were later reinstated. After the Jackson Police Department's internal affairs division cleared the officers of wrongdoing and "multiple agencies looked into the incident and advised that no criminal conduct occurred", Barney and Fox were hired by the police department of nearby Clinton, Mississippi, according to Clinton's mayor. Lampley continued to be employed by the Jackson Police Department. On August 5, 2020, all three officers were indicted for second-degree murder. The three officers posted bond and were freed pending trial. Lampley was placed on desk duty by the Jackson Police Department, and Barney and Fox were "assigned other duties" at the Clinton Police Department. On May 20, 2021 all charges against Barney and Lampley were dismissed in a rare "directed verdict". The charges were dismissed with prejudice, an outcome welcomed by the Clinton Police Department. Robinson's family has filed a civil suit against the city, the three police officers, and the ambulance company that treated Robinson at the scene and released him. Impact A march was held shortly after Robinson's death. According to The New York Times, the officers were charged "amid intense scrutiny of police brutality after the killing in May of George Floyd in the custody of the Minneapolis police". United Press International reported, "The indictment comes as police departments across the country consider reforms in policing in the wake of protests against excessive force and racial bias." However, Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba stated that the indictment of the three police officers actually built on a police accountability policy the city adopted in October 2018 which requires all cases of people who died in the custody of the Jackson police to be turned over the district attorney for a grand jury review. See also Lists of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States References Further reading 2019 controversies in the United States 2019 in Mississippi African-American-related controversies Black Lives Matter Deaths by person in the United States Deaths in police custody in the United States January 2019 events in the United States Law enforcement controversies in the United States Law enforcement in Mississippi Jackson, Mississippi

65026791

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Jonathan%20Zito

Killing of Jonathan Zito

On 17 December 1992, Christopher Clunis stabbed Jonathan Zito to death at Finsbury Park station, London, England. Christopher Clunis Christopher Clunis was born on 18 May 1963 in Jamaica. He was treated as an inpatient at its Bellevue Hospital in 1986. Soon after, he moved to London, where from 1986 to 1992, he received psychiatric treatment at several hospitals. Killing At between 3 and 4pm on 17 December 1992, in Finsbury Park Underground station in North London, England, Clunis used a knife to stab 27-year-old stranger Jonathan Zito three times in the face. Zito was taken to Whittington Hospital, where he died two hours later. The fatal wound pierced his right upper eyelid and brain. Proceedings Clunis was arrested and taken to Holloway Road police station. At 3:45 pm on 18 December, he was charged with murder. On 28 June 1993 at the Old Bailey, he admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. He was ordered to be detained indefinitely in Rampton, a secure hospital in Nottingham. Reaction The killing received a great deal of coverage in the British mainstream media as well as in scholarly publications, including controversy in regard to the inadequate psychiatric healthcare given to Clunis, a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic. References 1992 controversies 1992 crimes in the United Kingdom 1990s crimes in London Controversies in England Crime in the London Borough of Islington Deaths by person in London December 1992 crimes December 1992 events in the United Kingdom History of mental health in the United Kingdom History of the London Borough of Islington Manslaughter in London

65201279

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Daniel%20Prude

Killing of Daniel Prude

On March 23, 2020, Daniel Prude, a 41-year-old African-American man, died after being physically restrained by Rochester, New York police officers. Prude had been suffering from a mental health episode after ingesting PCP and was walking naked in the city's streets. The officers put a spit hood over his head after he began spitting, vomiting, and demanding the officers give him their guns. They restrained him on the street for two minutes and fifteen seconds, and he stopped breathing. Prude received CPR on the scene and later died of complications from asphyxia after being taken off life support. The autopsy report ruled Prude's death a homicide and also included the contributing factors to his death as "excited delirium and acute intoxication by phencyclidine, or PCP". The killing first received attention in September 2020 when the police body camera video and written reports were released along with the autopsy report. Following the report's release, protesters demonstrated outside the Rochester police headquarters and many considered the death to be related to Prude's race. The demonstrations were connected to the Black Lives Matter movement and the string of racial justice events of 2020. On February 23, 2021, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that the empaneled grand jury declined to charge the seven officers involved in Prude's death. The same day, the US Attorney's office for the Western District of New York announced they will review the AG report and other evidence, and rule whether a federal response is warranted. Arrest and death Daniel T. Prude (September 20, 1978 – March 30, 2020) arrived in Rochester, New York, from Chicago on March 22, 2020, to visit his older brother, Joe Prude. Daniel acted erratically upon his arrival, jumping headfirst down a flight of stairs. His brother dialed emergency services for help. Daniel received a mental health evaluation at Strong Memorial Hospital and was released that night. Within several hours, Daniel resumed his erratic behavior and fled his brother's house around 3 a.m. His brother called emergency services again for assistance. Prude shed his long underwear, tank top, and socks while on the street. A passerby recorded a Facebook Live video of Prude after he begged someone to call emergency services, but Prude ran away when the person called. At 3:16 a.m., multiple officers and two emergency medical technicians arrived at Prude's location in southwest Rochester, where he was walking naked and bleeding. One officer exited his car and approached Prude, pointing a taser at him while asking him six times to get on the ground. Prude complied, and was then asked by the officer to put his hands behind his back, to which he also complied. During the arrest, he said, "Yes, sir" several times to the officer. While handcuffed and on the ground, Prude repeatedly said, "In Jesus Christ I pray, amen", among various other comments. At around 3:19 a.m., Prude became agitated, spitting at officers, and yelling, "Give me that gun", until one officer placed a spit hood over Prude's head. Prude demanded that they remove it. One minute later, Prude unsuccessfully attempted to stand up before being repeatedly pushed over by officers, who forcibly held him down for approximately two minutes and 15 seconds. Officer Mark Vaughn used his body weight and both hands to press the side of Prude's head to the pavement. Vaughn's report called this a "hypoglossal nerve technique" which, according to USA Today, "involves jamming fingers into a nerve below the jaw to cause pain and persuade a subject to comply". Officer Troy Talladay applied his knee to Prude's back. Another officer held Prude's legs. At the start of the hold, Prude said, "You're trying to kill me." The officers noticed liquid coming from Prude's mouth as he stopped speaking and moving. As Vaughn released his hold, he said "You good now?" Prude did not respond. Vaughn then pushed on his head with one hand for 45 seconds while the attending officers chatted. Three minutes and ten seconds after the restraint began, one police officer remarked that he had been vomiting during the restraint and his chest compressions appeared to have stopped. The Associated Press reported that police leaders pressed Rochester to keep the video of Prude's death secret, fearing a "violent blowback" if the video came out during the nationwide George Floyd protests. An emergency medical technician asked the officers to turn Prude on his back. Acknowledging that Prude was unresponsive, he instructed an officer to apply CPR, who did so. At 3:27 a.m., Prude was placed into an ambulance. While in transport to Strong Memorial Hospital, his heartbeat resumed, but he remained incapacitated from lack of oxygen and was later declared brain dead. He was taken off life support a week after the arrest, on March 30. The medical examiner's autopsy report ruled Prude's death a homicide as a result of "complications of asphyxia in the setting of physical restraint". The report found contributing factors included "excited delirium and acute intoxication by phencyclidine, or PCP". The report did not mention prior mental health issues or explain the link between the toxicology test and his behavior. Prude's sister claimed Prude smoked a PCP-laced joint at a party prior to his erratic behavior. She sent him to visit their brother when he began acting erratically. Letitia James, the Attorney General of New York, said Prude's death was being investigated. Governor Andrew Cuomo said on September 2, 2020, that he had originally asked James to investigate the case in July, and that it had been under investigation "for months" prior to September. Rochester police paused its investigation when the state took up the case in April, as the Attorney General's office investigates deaths of unarmed people in police custody rather than having them handled locally. Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren said that the city could not be involved in the case until the state investigation finished. On August 20, the family's lawyer, Elliot Dolby-Shields, received 88 minutes of body camera recordings following an open records request. The video contains one brief gap but, according to the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, appears to show the 11-minute incident in full. The newspaper said that the video showed no physical resistance from Prude and no overtly hostile actions from the officers. Shields said that the family "will sue everyone who is responsible for Daniel Prude's death" during a news conference on September 2. Reactions Prude's death originally gained notoriety following a press conference on September 2, 2020, which highlighted the body camera video evidence of his death. It was the first public mentioning of the incident. During the conference, Joe Prude, Daniel's brother, denounced his killing as a "coldblooded murder", asking, "How many more brothers got to die for society to understand that this needs to stop?" During a later press conference, Rochester's chief of police claimed that the delay in releasing video evidence "was not a cover-up" and that he understood the frustration towards Prude's death. New York Attorney General Letitia James called it a "tragedy". The Mayor of Rochester, Lovely Warren, said during the same conference that she was "very disturbed" by the footage of his death, but added, "This is not something that's...in our control at this moment in time." Governor Andrew Cuomo similarly called the video "very disturbing". The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle likened the circumstances to that of George Floyd's murder, which happened two months after Prude's killing, and led to national protests. The December 10, 2020 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine contained an essay in its Points of View section by David A. Paul, M.D., entitled The Death of Daniel Prude — Reflections of a Black Neurosurgeon. Dr. Paul, who also lived in Rochester, learned after Mr. Prude's killing that they had been cousins. Subsequent protests First week On September 2, 2020, in response to the video footage release and subsequent press conference, protesters demonstrated outside the City Public Safety Building (PSB), the department headquarters. Several protesters were arrested and released with appearance summons for entering the headquarters, several attempting to attend a press conference held by the Mayor. Rochester police made another round of arrests during protests the following day that, at times, turned violent. Protesters gathered and chanted near the Public Safety Building, and tensions began rising around 10:30 p.m. with police deploying pepper spray and pepper balls multiple times in a 10-minute span. Some protesters threw rocks and bottles, with some removing and pushing back a protective fence set up outside of the building. Police then moved crowds back away from the building, and later south on Exchange Boulevard, into the Corn Hill neighborhood. Separately, in New York City, a car plowed through a crowd of protesters in Times Square who were also demonstrating against police brutality. On September 4, 2020, protests began peacefully but ended with authorities dispersing crowds with tear gas and pepper balls following incidents of vandalism and violence, according to officials. Protesters started at Martin Luther King Jr. Park downtown and arrived to a blockade set up across the Court Street Bridge by police, one block from the Safety Building. Bottles and fireworks were launched at police by protesters. Police slowly pushed the crowd several blocks down Court Street. Rochester police arrested 11 people during the outbreaks of violence, the department said. According to police, three officers were hurt and were hospitalized but later released. On September 5, 2020, the fourth night of protests over the death of Daniel Prude was the largest yet, and again ended with pepper balls, tear gas and fireworks. Protesters marched from Jefferson Ave to City Hall, and next to Exchange Blvd at Broad Street, to a police roadblock outside of the Blue Cross Arena, north of the Safety Building. Six minutes after arriving, after some threw water bottles, police began dispensing crowds with tear gas, pepper spray, flash bangs and an LRAD. At least one protester launched multiple fireworks at officers from then on that night. Police continued pushing protesters north on Exchange Blvd—which continues north of W. Main Street as State Street—also dispersing a re-assembling crowd in front of City Hall. While most demonstrators left downtown quickly, several hundred remained on State Street for another hour or so. Several dozen stayed until about 1:30 am the next day, pushed 0.5 mile north of the roadblock to outside of Kodak Tower, before officers in squad cars finally dispersed the remaining people. Two U-Haul trucks were set on fire in a parking lot nearby before firefighters extinguished them. Rochester police arrested nine people, including two on felony charges. Three officers were also treated at the hospital for injuries. No official account of injuries to protesters was offered, but on social media there were images of protesters, local press employees and politicians hit by police launched projectiles. On September 6, 2020, roughly 1,000 people came out to protest on the fifth day, which was the first peaceful night since protests started. Rochester police reported no arrests after demonstrators descended on the city's Public Safety Building, a day after nearby demonstrations resulted in numerous clashes between protesters and police. The police presence that night was noticeably subdued, with fewer visible officers outside of the building, and a relaxed perimeter more similar to that as on September 3. The march also used "elders", namely older, respected community members to stand between the police and protesters, to both prevent and reduce the odds of a clash that night. The demonstration came hours after Mayor Lovely Warren and the city's police chief La'Ron Singletary called for calm following tense protests the previous day. Second week On September 7, 2020, six naked or partially naked demonstrators sat silently outside of the Public Safety Building that morning. All had their hands behind their backs and wore spit hoods, in a reference to Prude. That night, 600–1000 people demonstrated on the sixth day of protests. Demonstrators started at Martin Luther King Jr. park and again marched to Rochester City Hall, followed by the Public Safety Building. The events were mostly peaceful, although a tense standoff between officers and protesters occurred. The police presence was initially relaxed, but changed after demonstrators became more agitated one hour after arriving at the Safety Building. Some threw bottles at police and started removing the first layer of barricades, after which an unlawful assembly was declared and dozens of officers moved in position to disperse crowds. Police remained in the same position, not forcing crowds back or using any tear gas or pepper spray that night as had previously occurred. The last protesters left without incident around 1 am. On September 8, 2020, protesters demonstrated for the seventh straight day, which ended peacefully for a third consecutive night. It came hours after Police Chief Singletary and his entire command staff (six other officials) either retired, announced intentions to retire or were demoted to their previously held positions. Protesters started on Jefferson Avenue, walked and demonstrated at the Public Safety Building and later outside of City Hall. Protesters also painted "Black Lives Matter" on Jefferson Ave, "Murderers" on Exchange Boulevard in front of the Safety Building, and "Resign" on Church Street facing City Hall. On September 9, 2020, two men who allegedly attacked police officers in Rochester during the protest on September 5 were arrested. The Justice Department announced criminal charges against two people for civil disorder during the demonstration four days before. Protesters again sat naked or partially naked in front of City Hall on September 10, 2020. More than a dozen people were wearing mesh hoods. References 2020 deaths 2020 in New York (state) 2020–2021 United States racial unrest 21st century in Rochester, New York Asphyxia-related deaths by law enforcement in the United States Black Lives Matter Deaths by person in the United States Deaths from asphyxiation Deaths in police custody in the United States Filmed killings by law enforcement Law enforcement in New York (state) March 2020 events in the United States

65275543

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Dijon%20Kizzee

Killing of Dijon Kizzee

Dijon Kizzee, an African-American man, was shot and killed in the Los Angeles County community of Westmont on August 31, 2020, by deputies of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD). For days, protesters gathered outside the South Los Angeles sheriff's station. By September 6, those demonstrations had escalated to clashes, with deputies firing projectiles and tear gas at the crowds and arresting 35 people over four nights of unrest. Death Two deputies were on patrol in the Westmont neighborhood on August 31, 2020, around 3:15 p.m. The sheriff's department claimed the deputies tried to stop Kizzee, 29, for committing a traffic violation on his bike. They did not disclose at that time what the violation was, but deputies later announced the stop was for Kizzee riding his bicycle on the wrong side of the road and splitting traffic. Kizzee allegedly dropped the bike and ran a block while holding a jacket and other clothing before deputies caught him. During an encounter with two deputies, it is alleged that "a 9mm semi-automatic pistol wrapped in a piece of clothing fell to the ground. Kizzee bent over and reached back to pick up the pistol when each deputy fired, striking Kizzee several times in the torso". The recovered pistol had been reported stolen in 2017. On September 2, the Kizzee family lawyer posted "a grainy cell phone video footage recorded from a house that purportedly shows the deputies pursuing Kizzee. It shows him walking away from the officers before one closes in on him. Kizzee appears to bend over before the deputy backs up rapidly and opens fire." Kizzee was shot around 20 times and then handcuffed. Investigation Video from a nearby surveillance camera was inconclusive, as a wall partially blocked the camera's view. There was no body cam footage as the Department's first body cameras were scheduled to be in service the next month, after years of delay. On September 4, Los Angeles County Inspector General Max Huntsman was blocked from attending the autopsy of Kizzee. Huntsman told an emergency town hall meeting of the Civilian Oversight Commission that he had asked sheriff's officials to observe the proceedings. On September 8, the Sheriff's Department requested a "security hold" on the autopsy. A security hold typically involves the autopsy not being released to the public until after law enforcement has concluded its investigation. The department said it was worried that releasing the information in the midst of the investigation could taint witnesses' stories. The autopsy conducted on September 2 indicated that Kizzee was shot sixteen times, including gunshot wounds to his head, torso and back. The manner of death was ruled a homicide. Reactions Kizzee's family retained civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who has represented families of individuals shot by police, such as Jacob Blake’s family from Kenosha, Wisconsin. Relatives of Kizzee joined other families of people killed by Los Angeles sheriff's deputies to demand a state investigation of the department, claiming the department was rife with corruption. Kizzee's cousin, Jaime Kizzee, alleged that deputies, "...hunted my cousin, and the sheriff's department shot him nineteen times." A community activist, Najee Ali, echoed these beliefs while speaking for the family, stating that Kizzee had been racially profiled and harassed by the officers. Ali said that the Kizzee family and community leaders felt that Sheriff Alex Villanueva should resign his position. Protests Protests continued. By September 6, the demonstrations had escalated to clashes, with deputies firing projectiles and tear gas at the crowds and arresting 35 people over four nights of unrest. August August 31 Immediately after the shooting, hundreds of Black Lives Matter protesters gathered at the shooting scene and then marched to the police station, where they remained into early next morning Vandalism was reported, but no violence nor arrests. Protesters also spray-painted inflammatory messages outside the station. September September 4 A protest which began at 4 p.m. and quickly swelled to about two hundred to three hundred people called for law-enforcement agencies to be defunded and asked attendees to vote Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey out of office. Police fired at least three nonlethal warning shots at 8:30 p.m., but no one appeared to have breached the line. A spokesperson with the Sheriff's Office said protesters started throwing rocks and bottles at deputies. By 8:43 p.m. police declared the crowd an unlawful assembly and gave protesters ten minutes to disperse. September 6 Twelve protesters, two of them minors, were arrested when demonstrations turned violent. According to police, the protesters threw chunks of concrete, bricks and rocks. Protesters wearing helmets and carrying shields also launched mortars at the deputies, according to a police spokesperson. No injuries nor property damage was reported. September 7 Protests turned chaotic when deputies fired several nonlethal projectiles into the crowd. The protests occurred outside the South Los Angeles sheriff's station. Videos showed protesters running for cover as shots rang out and smoke filled the air. No one was injured but six people were arrested. September 8 Another 17 protesters were arrested after an "unlawful assembly" notice was issued around 8:15 p.m. There were no reported injuries. Several protestors and journalists were hit with projectiles. One journalist was hospitalized from injuries sustained during an arrest after being hit 3 times with rubber bullets. September 12 About two hundred people marched from where Kizzee was shot to a location near the South Los Angeles Sheriff's Station to protest, while chanting "Put down your riot gear. I don't see no riot here.". After the group marched back to the shooting location, speakers addressed the crowd, including relatives of Kizzee and Anthony Weber, a 16-year-old shot and killed by police in 2018. See also 2020–2021 United States racial unrest 2020 George Floyd Protests References 2020 controversies in the United States 2020 in Los Angeles 2020–2021 United States racial unrest African-American history of California African-American-related controversies August 2020 events in the United States Black Lives Matter Los Angeles Police Department Deaths by person in the United States Law enforcement controversies in the United States Law enforcement in California

65315808

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Yacoub%20Abu%20Al-Qia%27an

Killing of Yacoub Abu Al-Qia'an

Yacoub Mousa Abu Al-Qia'an (also translit: al-Kiyan, Qi'an, Alkian, and al-Kaeean) was a 47-year-old Israeli Bedouin schoolteacher who was killed by the police while houses in his home village Umm al-Hiran were being demolished in January 2017. Following his killing, the police and several Israeli ministers, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, falsely accused Abu Al-Qia'an of having been a terrorist and affiliated with the Islamic State. In September 2020, Netanyahu apologized to Abu al-Qia'an's family, claiming that the police had misled him. The police were not only faulted on for shooting Abu Al-Qia'an and then not providing medical assistance, thereby, allowing him to bleed to death but also for labeling him a terrorist without proof, for allegedly shooting a sponge-tipped bullet at the head of Arab-Israeli politician Ayman Odeh who was at the scene, and for suppressing evidence that would have cleared Abu Al-Qia'an. Background Abu Al-Qia'an lived in the village of Umm al-Hiran in the Negev desert in southern Israel. Like the other villagers, Abu Al-Qia'an was a Bedouin. Bedouins have the lowest socioeconomic status of any group in Israel. Abu Al-Qia'an worked as a math teacher and was the first Israeli Bedouin with a PhD in chemistry. The villagers in Umm al-Hiran belong to the Abu Alkian tribe. Israel undertook a program of relocating Negev Bedouins in the 1950s, causing the tribe to end up in the Wadi Atir area, northeast of Beersheba, in 1956. The tribe was allowed to settle there and it built two villages; Umm al-Hiran and Atir. Despite permitting the tribe to settle Umm al-Hiran, the authorities classifies it as an unrecognized Bedouin village, meaning that they consider it illegally built. For years they had tried to destroy the village to make room for two planned Jewish towns, Kesif and Hiran, and to transfer the villagers into the nearby Bedouin town Hura. Most of the villagers resisted the attempts to remove them from Umm al-Hiran. In December 2016, the Supreme Court had ordered the evacuation of the Amona outpost (type of Israeli settlement). The outpost was illegally built on private Palestinian-owned land in the West Bank. The Joint List alleged the demolitions in Umm al-Hiram and other Arab towns were carried out to appease the right-wing that was unhappy with losing a settlement. On January 18, 2017 a demolition team, escorted by police, was scheduled to tear down Abu Al-Qia'an's house and other houses in Umm al-Hiran. A non-violent protest had been organized, by, among others, Ayman Odeh, leader of the Arab-dominated Joint List party, to meet the demolition team. Incident Before dawn, Wednesday January 18, 2017, the demolition team arrived at the village to carry out the demolitions. They were met by a large group of protesters. According to a relative of Abu Al-Qia'an, he was sleeping when another relative of his called him to warn him about the imminent demolitions. He took the valuables out of his home and packed them into his SUV. He said he couldn't bear watching his home being razed and got in his car to drive away. At 5:57 am, as he was leaving, driving at a speed of less than 10 km/h, police shot at least four times at his car and hit him twice. The bullet wounds caused him to lose control of his car which accelerated, careened downhill and hit a group of police officers, killing 34-year-old 1st Sgt Erez Levi and moderately wounding another officer. The car came to a stop a few seconds later and its horn started blaring. Medical teams rushed around Levi, pronounced him dead, and attended to the wounded officer. A policeman opened the door of Abu Al-Qia'an's car and partially removed his body to stop the blaring, but he was otherwise left unattended, only 10 meters from the spot where his car had hit Levi. There, he bled to death while police prevented an ambulance from reaching him. According to the autopsy report, Abu Al-Qia'an was hit with two bullets; one in the right knee, shattering it, and one in an artery in his chest, causing his death due to blood loss about fifteen minutes later. Odeh claimed that the police had used extreme levels of violence against the protestors. He was shot in the forehead and in the back with sponge-tipped bullets when he and other protestors tried to approach Abu Al-Qia'an's car and had to be taken to a hospital. The police falsely claimed that Odeh's head injury was caused by protesters throwing stones and accidentally hitting him. During the day, five Arab-Israeli politicians, Hanin Zoabi, Jamal Zahalka, Osama Saadi, Ahmad Tibi, and Aida Touma-Sliman arrived in the village to show solidarity with the protesters. The police prevented everyone else from entering the village. Immediate responses January 18 Witnesses at the scene claimed that Abu Al-Qia'an had lost control of his car after policemen had fired on it. But the police claimed that they had fired at his car because he had attempted a car-ramming attack. Netanyahu wrote: "I send my condolences to the family 1st Sgt. Erez Levi. Erez was an outstanding policeman, the son of a policeman, and he was killed this morning in a ramming attack." Later, adding in a statement that "[h]e was killed in a vehicular terror attack." Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan wrote on Facebook that Levi had been murdered: "Erez [Levi] was murdered while performing his duties at the mere age of 34." He also accused Odeh and other members of the Joint List of being accomplices to the presumed terrorist: "This blood is on your hands too. This is a serious statement, I know. But not serious like your actions on this day, you are a disgrace to the country." Later that day, the police posted an aerial thermal imaging video of the incident on Facebook, writing: "In the film you can see the terrorist standing on the side of the road with the lights of his car off, and the minute he notices the team of [police] he accelerates at them and hits them." In the video, Abu Al-Qia'an's car was seen driving slowly and cautiously along a dirt track until being fired upon by the police. Then the car suddenly accelerated and veered down a steep slope, hitting a group of police officers. Since the video was taken with a thermal imaging camera, it was impossible to see if the lights were on or off. Witnesses insisted that the video corroborated their testimonies, but police and Israeli officials maintained that it showed that the car-ramming was deliberate. Police Deputy Commander Peretz Amar said that the incident was a terror attack: "This is clear. This is a fact. There is no other explanation, and anyone who tries to offer an alternative explanation wasn't here at the time and doesn't understand." "A vehicle driven by a terrorist from the Islamic Movement intended to strike a number of officers and carry out an attack," police spokesperson Mickey Rosenfeld said in a statement. Erdan, referring to the aerial video, attacked the media: "Why, for God's sake, your instincts, your part, is always in favor of the attacker? ... Just this minute the video that was taken from the air and documented the terrorist attack was released. The film refutes the lies. I hope you will have the courage and decency to apologize for the unholy balance you made between the police forces acting in all our names to enforce the law and the violent thieves who are backing a disgusting murder." Levi's funeral was held in the afternoon. At the funeral, Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh asserted that Levi was the victim of a terror attack: "[Abu al-Qia'an] spread incitement at a school where six other teachers have been arrested for they affiliation with the Islamic State ... The terrorist looked for a group of police officers, accelerated and then hit them." Meanwhile, the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel convened in Umm al-Hiran and declared three days of mourning as well as a day-long general strike for the next day. January 19 Erdan in an interview with Israeli Army Radio accused Abu Al-Qia'an of having been a terrorist. He said that police had found newspaper headlines about car-ramming attacks and the Islamic State in Abu Al-Qia'an's home: When asked whether he was jumping to conclusions, Erdan insisted that Israeli media should trust the police's version: "I think that Israeli media, and I specifically mean Israel's media, should first take the version of events of those who represent Israel's citizens and are charged with law enforcement, which is the police, [and the not the version] of outlaws and place them side by side." January 20 On Friday, thousands of Palestinians gathered in Umm al-Hiran to bury Abu Al-Qia'an. However, the police still suspected him of terrorism and therefore refused to hand over his body. Abu Al-Qia'an's brother accused the Israeli police of holding his brothers body hostage, "to make more convincing their ridiculous story that he is a terrorist." On Twitter, Odeh shared a two-minute-long video analysis titled Visual Investigation: Police shooting, car ramming at Umm el-Hiran (Jan 18, 2017). The video had been produced by British Forensic Architecture, led by Eyal Weizman of Goldsmiths, University of London, and Activestills and published the day before by the Israeli peace group +972 Magazine. The police replied to Odeh's tweet: "Manipulative edit will not change reality. The documentation of the killing proves an intention to murder policemen. This has one name: terror. No clip that distorts evidence will change that." In the evening, Channel 10 reported on Abu Al-Qia'an's leaked autopsy report which challenged the police's version of the incident. The report concluded that Abu Al-Qia'an bled to death, leading Ksenia Svetlova of Zionist Union to comment that "it's Azaria case number two," a reference to the Hebron shooting incident where an Israeli medic executed a subdued Palestinian attacker. January 21 Thousands of primarily Palestinian citizens of Israel demonstrated in the northern Wadi Ara against house demolitions and over the killing of Abu Al-Qia'an. Odeh spoke at the demonstrations and called for an official committee of inquiry "to uncover the lies of Netanyahu, Erdan and the police." Investigations In early February 2017, more clips of the killing of Abu Al-Qia'an surfaced. In one of them, he is seen driving with his lights on, contradicting the police's claim that they were off. In August 2017, an investigation by the Israeli Police Internal Investigations Department (PIID) cleared the officer who shot Abu Al-Qia'an of any wrongdoing. Two months later, a new investigation led by State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan was opened. But in April 2018, that investigation too cleared the officer of any wrongdoing. It further stated that it could not rule out that Abu Al-Qia'an had attempted a terrorist attack. Nitzan's decision to close the investigation disappointed members of Abu Al-Qia'an's family. Odeh said that Alsheikh had "orchestrated a campaign of incitement" by accusing Abu Al-Qia'an of terrorism. A third investigation was conducted by Ariel Livneh of Forensic Architecture, based on documents from Shin Bet and the Police Investigations Department. The investigation's report was released in February 2020. It concluded that the only evidence of Abu Al-Qia'an's alleged terror ties were Islamic education material found in his home. It further asserted that Abu Al-Qia'an was shot for no reason and would have survived had he received treatment. But the police denied him that and fired on activists who approached his car, including Odeh. Further evidence of police misconduct came in September when Channel 12 reporte Amit Segal revealed that Nitzan suppressed evidence that would have challenged Alsheikh's assertion that Abu Al-Qia'an was a terrorist. Shooting of Odeh Another point of contention was over Odeh's head injury. He claimed that police had shot him in the forehead with a sponge-tipped bullet, and as he turned around in pain, another time in the back. The police disputed that and, initially, claimed that Odeh was hit with stray stones thrown by protestors and that the officers in Umm al-Hiran weren't even equipped with weapons firing sponge-tipped bullets. The police's story was refuted by a witness, Rabbi Arik Ascherman, who wrote: The police later denied that any statement had ever been issued regarding the circumstances of Odeh's injury. The report of a forensic probe into the Umm al-Hiran incident by the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute was released on January 31, 2017. Regarding Odeh's head injuries, it stated that "the injuries 'were consistent' with injuries caused by sponge-tipped bullets", though "[i]t is not possible to nail down [with certainty] the form of the injurious objects, but at the same time, the location of the injury and the form could have been caused as [Odeh] claimed." Erdan hailed the report as a vindication, asserting that Odeh was a "lying lawbreaker who has fanned the flames and stood at the head of a violent group". PIID opened an investigation into the matter after Odeh filed a complaint. But closed the investigation in September 2018 with the motivation that "[e]ven with the assumption that the object that hit [Odeh] was fired by police, it could not be determined who of the officers had done so." Odeh appealed the closure of the investigation in March 2019. In 2018, Forensic Architecture released a documentary about the killing of Abu Al-Qia'an called The Long Duration of a Split Second. The documentary was based on new evidence obtained by the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel and included body camera footage from the police officers. One of the police officers was heard shouting "Give them sponge! Give the sponge!" The following 47 seconds of the footage was redacted and the group believed that is when Odeh was shot. In conjunction with the release of the documentary, Weizman stated that both the policeman that shot Abu Al-Qia'an and the one that shot Odeh should be put on trial. Forensic Architecture was nominated for the 2018 Turner Prize for their work relating to Al-Qia'an's killing. Apologies On March 6, 2017, Minister of Agriculture, Uri Ariel, became the first politician to issue an apology over having accused Abu Al-Qia'an of terrorism. On September 8, 2020, Netanyahu also apologized to Abu Al-Qia'an's family, claiming that the police had misled him: "I would like to express, in my name, my apologies to the Al-Qi’an family. They [the police] said he was a terrorist. Yesterday, it turned out that he wasn't a terrorist." Netanyahu also used the moment to connect the terrorism allegations against Abu Al-Qia'an with the ongoing corruption investigation against himself. "What we’ve seen is an amazing thing: There are [existing] political investigations, investigations that were tainted from the get-go," he said, implying that he too was the victim of a coverup. Touma-Suleiman accused Netanyahu of opportunism, noting that the evidence exonerating Abu Al-Qia'an had been there for three years: "Netanyahu and his associates were the ones who turned Abu al-Qia’an into a ‘terrorist’ — them and their racist incitement against Arabs." She called for him to resign: "If Netanyahu really wants to apologize, he has only one option — to resign." Bezalel Smotrich of the Jewish Home party also apologized for calling Abu al-Qia’an a terrorist. As of 2020, Alsheikh, Erdan, and Nitzan, who also publicly called Abu al-Qia’an a terrorist has not apologized. Abu Al-Qia'an's widow said the apology was "better late than never" but complained that her family was still homeless after the authorities had demolished their home over three years ago. Abu Al-Qia'an's brother said Yacoub was murdered: "We know the truth. We knew it from the first moment, because we all know who Yaqoub was. Yaqoub — a beloved leader, educator, father and brother — was murdered in cold blood." See also 2017 in the State of Palestine 2020 in the State of Palestine House demolition in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict List of violent incidents in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, 2017 External links Israeli police video of officers killing Bedouin math teacher Ya'akub Abu Al-Qi'an Interview with activist at Umm al-Hiran, January 18, 2017. The Times of Israel Interview with Joint List MK Aida Touma-Sliman at scene of demolitions at Umm al-Hiran, January 18, 2017. The Times of Israel Ramming attack in Umm al-Hiran, January 18, 2017. The Times of Israel Contrary to police claim, Bedouin killed by cops seen driving with his headlights on, February 2, 2017. Haaretz What really happened in Umm al-Hiran?, June 5, 2019. +972 Magazine The Long Duration of a Split Second, June 5, 2019. +972 Magazine References 2017 in the State of Palestine 2020 in the State of Palestine Bedouin Israelis Bedouins in Israel Demolition Israeli–Palestinian conflict January 2017 events in Asia People killed by Israeli security forces

65320497

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Pamela%20Turner

Killing of Pamela Turner

On May 13, 2019, an African American woman, Pamela Turner, was shot and killed by a police officer from Baytown, Texas. The incident occurred at a parking lot of an apartment complex where both Turner and Officer Juan Delacruz (of the Baytown Police Department), were living at the time. Video footage of the shooting was captured by a bystander. Police stated the officer was attempting to arrest her for outstanding warrants when she used his taser on him. On September 14, 2020, a grand jury indicted Delacruz with aggravated assault by a public servant. The family has retained national civil rights attorneys Benjamin Crump and Devon Jacob. References 2020 controversies in the United States 2020 in Texas African-American history of Texas African-American-related controversies Baytown, Texas History of African-American civil rights Law enforcement in Alabama Mass media-related controversies in the United States May 2020 events in the United States Race and crime in the United States Trials in the United States African Americans shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States

65424689

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Matt%20Ratana

Killing of Matt Ratana

Matt Ratana (3 May 1966 – 25 September 2020) was a New Zealand-born British police sergeant who was shot dead inside a police custody facility in London on 25 September 2020. He was nearing retirement having served in the Metropolitan Police for nearly 30 years when he became the first police officer to be fatally shot in the UK since the murders of Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone in 2012. Background Ratana was born in the Hawke's Bay Region of New Zealand and was of Māori descent. Born Matiu Ratana, he was known as Matt to his family and colleagues. He moved to England in 1989, working for the Metropolitan Police for nearly 30 years. Ratana had also served with New Zealand Police joining the British High Commission Wing in 2003 and serving in the Auckland City and Counties Manukau police districts before returning to the UK in 2008. Incident On the morning of 25 September 2020, a 23-year-old man was arrested for drugs offences and possession of ammunition and taken to the Croydon Custody Centre in a police vehicle. Approaching the suspect to carry-out a temperature check for COVID-19 infection, Ratana was shot in the chest. He was taken to hospital, where he died from gunshot wounds. The suspect was also shot and taken to hospital with critical injuries, which were believed to be self-inflicted. No police firearms were discharged during the incident. A non-police revolver was recovered from the scene, which had been missed in the initial pat-down of the subject. The suspect was in handcuffs during the incident, with his hands behind his back. CCTV captured the incident taking place. Investigation The background of the suspect is being investigated by authorities. The suspect had previously been referred to the Prevent programme, an anti-extremism programme developed by the government in an attempt to prevent individuals from joining extremist groups and carrying out terrorist activities. Several crime scenes were established, a cordon was put in place around the Anderson Heights block of flats in Norbury, and a controlled explosion took place in one of the crime scenes in Banstead, Surrey. Louis de Zoysa, aged 23, was arrested on 13 November 2020 on suspicion of murdering a police officer, when he was considered well enough though still requiring hospital treatment. On 29 June 2021 he was deemed well enough to be formally charged with murder. See also List of British police officers killed in the line of duty References 2020 in London 21st century in the London Borough of Croydon Deaths by firearm in London Deaths by person in London History of the Metropolitan Police September 2020 events in the United Kingdom

65544873

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Babu%20Lal%20Vaishnav

Killing of Babu Lal Vaishnav

In October 2020, Babu Lal Vaishnav, a 50-year-old Hindu temple priest was killed in Bukna village, Rajasthan. Kailash Meena allegedly burnt Vaishnav alive after Vaishnav tried to stop Meena from trespassing on land belonging to the village temple. Incident Vaishnav had around 5.2 acres of land which were given to him by the Radha Krishna temple trust as "Mandir Mafi" (for priestly duties in the temple). Vaishnav had planned to build a house on the land. He had the land leveled by an earth-mover to commence the construction of his house. The dominant Meena community disputed this and declared the land as their own. The conflict was taken to the village elders who ruled in favor of Vaishnav. But the accused, Kailash Meena started building his own hut on the land that the priest had leveled. This led to a fight. The priest before dying said six people including Kailash Meena poured petrol on him and set him on fire. Arrests and compensation The main accused Kailash Meena was arrested within 24 hours of the incident by the Rajasthan police. The family members of the priest demanded compensation of Rs 50 lakh and a government job and refused to cremate the body until their demands are met. Reactions The Chief minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot declared that the guilty won't be spared. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar claimed that “law and order have gone for a toss in Rajasthan”. BJP MP Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore attacked the Congress government in Rajasthan and claimed that neither the women nor the priests are safe in this state. See also Death by burning Hindu priest Caste-related violence in India References 2020 deaths 2020 crimes in India People murdered in India Crime in Rajasthan People executed by burning

65550036

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Brendin%20Horner

Killing of Brendin Horner

Brendin 'Choppie' Horner (c.1999 – 1 October 2020) was a 21-year-old South African farm manager for the Bloukruin Estate at Paul Roux, Free State, who was killed by a suspected stock thief or thieves. His body was recovered at DeRots farm outside Paul Roux, and two suspects were taken into custody. Horner's death heightened tensions in South Africa's ongoing farm attacks situation, and the first appearances of the two suspects at Senekal's Magistrate's Court was accompanied by protest action by political and civil rights groups. Murder Horner was reported missing on 1 October 2020 by his girlfriend. After searching throughout the night he was found after daybreak on the 2nd of October by his father, Robbie, and colleague Jaco Kleingeld. A knife placed on top of Horner's cap led them to his body, which was found some 400 metres from his home on the DeRots farm outside Paul Roux. Horner was found tied to a metal fence post with a girdle and a woven, black rope around his neck. He had stab wounds to his head, face, shoulder, arm and hands, and appeared to have been tortured and strangled. Horner had injuries to his fists, which suggested that he fought back, and scrape marks on his body which suggested that he was dragged on the ground. The police was then called to the scene. The autopsy indicated strangulation as the cause of death. At 19:45 on Thursday evening, when Horner was likely dead, security camera footage spotted his Toyota Hilux pickup truck in Fateng Tse Ntsho township in Paul Roux. The next morning the pickup truck was found 15 km away at Duikfontein farm, along the N5 route to Bethlehem. Blood stains believed to be that of two different men were found in the vehicle. The morning after the murder, witnesses noticed three men with blood-stained clothes arriving from a mountain in the vicinity of the murder scene. On the 3rd of October police arrested two suspects, Sekwetje Isaiah Mahlamba (32) and Sekola Piet Matlaletsa (44) at Fateng tse Ntsho, a township outside Paul Roux. Their clothes and shoes were bloodstained and were sent for forensic tests. Court proceedings Magistrate Buti Mlangeni denied bail to André Pienaar (51) who allegedly incited unrest when proceedings commenced on 6 October, finding that Pienaar would likely interfere with witnesses and jeopardise the administration of justice. The Free State High Court overturned the ruling however, and set Pienaar's bail at R15,000. Judge Deon van Rooyen found that a prima facie case existed against Mahlamba, who was not released on bail. Mahlamba was seen arriving from the direction of the crime scene during the early hours of the 2nd, and had allegedly boasted about assaulting a white man at a farm. Bloodstained clothes were also found at his home. Matlaletsa, who has a long list of previous convictions, was released on bail as the state did not have a strong case against him. He was hardly out of custody however, before he was arrested again on an unrelated stock theft charge. Reactions Horner's killing was condemned by agricultural groups. The Freedom Front Plus released a statement in which they condemned the killing of Horner. The Democratic Alliance welcomed the arrests of the two suspects. Lobby group AfriForum called farm attacks a "form of terrorism". Protests in Senekal On 6 October 2020, agricultural leaders and community members protested outside the Senekal Magistrate Court, where Mahlamba and Matlaletsa appeared before Magistrate Mlangeni. Unrest broke out when André Pienaar and a small group of protesters stormed the court buildings in an alleged attempt to get to Mahlamba and Matlaletsa. A police vehicle was overturned and allegedly set alight, as the protesters forced their way towards the holding cells, which they allegedly damaged or tried to set alight. As the protesters entered the court buildings, two gunshots allegedly went off and stun grenades were fired. Various groups and public figures, including Police Minister Bheki Cele, Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola, Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela and POPCRU condemned the occurrences. When the two accused applied for bail on the 16th there were brief clashes between the Economic Freedom Fighters and farmers, but the police separated them. Representatives from various organizations, including Unite Against Farm Murders and Attacks, AfriForum, the ANC Youth League and the Institute of Race Relations had also assembled outside the court. In November 2020 President Cyril Ramaphosa denounced the alleged racial rhetoric and polarization that characterized the protests at Senekal, and subsequently at Brackenfell High School in the Western Cape. References 2020 deaths 2020 in South Africa People murdered in South Africa Hate crimes

65551181

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Alvin%20Cole

Killing of Alvin Cole

On the evening of February 2, 2020, Alvin Cole, a 17-year-old black male, was shot by a Wauwatosa, Wisconsin black male police officer Joseph Mensah, outside Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa. The shooting occurred after Cole refused a command from the police to drop the stolen gun he was holding and Cole fired a bullet as he tried to flee. Two shots were fired when Cole was on his hands and knees, and the remaining three shots were fired by Mensah while Cole was face down on the ground. Mensah was the only officer among the five other officers at the scene who fired his weapon. The demonstrations played out against a backdrop of protests worldwide over the murder of George Floyd. Death Black Wauwatosa officer Joseph Mensah shot 17-year-old Cole outside Mayfair Mall on February 2 after police responded to a call of a reported disturbance at the shopping center. Police said Cole fled from the scene carrying a stolen 9 mm handgun. They cited squad car audio evidence, along with testimony from Mensah and two police officers, that Cole had fired a shot at the police while fleeing and refused commands from the officers to drop the gun. It was determined that Mensah fired his weapon five times. Cole was the third person Mensah had fatally shot in the five years since he became a police officer, and his death sparked protests in Wauwatosa. Mensah is the only officer who has shot and killed anyone since 2010 in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. The teenager's death sparked protests throughout the summer in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, a city located west of Milwaukee. Cole's family is being represented by the prominent attorney Kimberley Motley. Motley is also representing the families of the two other men shot and killed by Mensah: 25-year-old Jay Anderson Jr. on June 23, 2016; and 29-year-old Antonio Gonzales on July 16, 2015. Video There is video of the shooting. Police videos and video evidence from the nearby businesses seem to show police shouting "drop the gun," before shots are fired. Reactions On October 7, 2020 Milwaukee County District Attorney John T. Chisholm announced that Officer Mensah would not be charged because he had reasonable belief that deadly force was necessary. Governor Tony Evers announced earlier on October 7 that he had activated Wisconsin National Guard members as a precaution, which were later confirmed to be "hundreds" of troops. Wauwatosa Police Chief announced on social media that his police department agreed with the decision not to charge Officer Joseph Mensah with a crime. Also on October 7, 2020, an independent investigator, Steven M. Biskupic, a former federal prosecutor, released an 81-page report that stated officer Mensah should be fired. One of the reasons the report recommended termination: the investigator concluded that Mensah made less than truthful statements. The report went on to say that keeping Mensah on as a police officer would be "an extraordinary, unwarranted and unnecessary risk". Subsequent protests Protests have occurred each day since the announcement that Officer Mensah would not be charged. The Wauwatosa Police Department and Wisconsin National Guard have been the main agencies present at each protest since October 7. The city of Wauwatosa issued a nightly 7:00 p.m. curfew on October 7. Some people ignored the curfew and started marching peacefully in the city. Later that evening and past the curfew, a group of protesters confronted a police line. Police said some people were throwing rocks at law enforcement and buildings and that they used tear gas to disperse the protesters. Local media reported windows were broken at several businesses on the city's north side, including a pharmacy, coffee shop, wall coverings store, cleaners and fitness centre. In additional protests on October 8, among the most prominent people arrested were 17-year-old Alvin Cole's mother, Tracy Cole and his three sisters who claimed that they were assaulted and arrested by police according to Attorney Kimberley Motley, who is representing the family. Mrs. Cole and her daughter were taken to the hospital and 24 people were arrested for peacefully protesting, according to police. Police and the National Guard were both actively working to patrol the city. On October 10, Rapper/entertainer Jay-Z and his company Team ROC, offered to pay fines for those arrested during the Wauwatosa protests. The rapper also called for the termination of Officer Mensah. The rapper posted bond for several protesters including the mother of Alvin Cole, Tracy. In a further escalation of protests on October 9, 28 protesters were arrested in a third night of clashes between police and protesters. Police deployed tear gas to stop peaceful protestors. Two arrests were on felony charges, one was a misdemeanor arrest, and 25 were municipal arrests. An unspecified number of protesters were arrested in the fourth night of demonstrations, October 10, after the usual 7:00 p.m. curfew began. According to police, protesters occupied the Wauwatosa City Hall lawn and blocked traffic on the fourth night of demonstrations. The protests began in Washington Park where demonstrators marched to City Hall where a group of hundreds had assembled to protest. The crowd dispersed at 8 pm when National Guard troops police warned the protestors that they were violating the 7:00 pm curfew. The Wauwatosa Police Department released a statement describing incidents from the fourth night of protests and stating that no property damage was reported. On October 11, at 5:30 pm protestors gathered near 69th and North Avenue in Wauwatosa. The police arrived at 7:00 pm and told the crowd to disperse. Several protestors refused to leave and were arrested. The curfew expired on October 12. See also 2020–2021 United States racial unrest George Floyd protests George Floyd protests in Wisconsin Kenosha unrest References External links Edited video of police shooting of Alvin Cole Video from protests and unrest in Wauwatosa 2020 controversies in the United States 2020 in Wisconsin 2020 riots 2020–2021 United States racial unrest Black Lives Matter Deaths by firearm in Wisconsin February 2020 events in the United States Law enforcement controversies in the United States October 2020 events in the United States Post–civil rights era in African-American history Protests in Wisconsin Protests

65653548

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Marcellis%20Stinnette

Killing of Marcellis Stinnette

Marcellis Stinnette, a 19-year-old Black man, was fatally shot by a Hispanic police officer in Waukegan, Illinois, United States shortly before midnight on October 20, 2020. He was the passenger in a vehicle that was stopped by police, who were attempting to arrest him on an outstanding warrant. According to police, the officer opened fire when the vehicle moved in reverse towards the officer. The driver, Tafarra Willams, was also wounded but survived. The officer has been fired, and another officer has been placed on administrative leave. Body camera, dashboard camera, and surveillance video of the incident has been publicly released, and the Illinois State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation have opened investigations. Demonstrations were held in Waukegan in the ensuing days. Initial stop On the evening of Tuesday, October 20, 2020, 19-year-old Stinnette and his 20-year-old girlfriend Williams, who had a child together, were in their parked car outside Williams's mother's house in Waukegan, Illinois, a suburb of about 86,000 people north of Chicago. According to police, a suspicious vehicle was reported shortly before midnight, and when a Waukegan police officer approached the car to investigate, it unexpectedly fled. In an October 27 statement to reporters from her hospital room, Williams disputed the official police account. According to Williams, while she and Stinnette were sitting in their parked car, an officer pulled up without activating his car's lights or siren. Williams said she opened the window and turned on her car's interior lights. The officer referred to Stinnette by name, saying "I know you from jail", and referred to Williams as Stinnette's "baby mother". According to Williams, when Williams asked the officer if they were free to leave, the officer stepped back from the car, and Williams drove away slowly; the officer did not activate his car's lights or follow Williams. Body camera footage of the initial stop by the White police officer released on October 28 shows the officer telling Stinnette that he is under arrest three times, the second time stating that Stinnette had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. The officer has his hand on the car and tells Stinnette to exit the vehicle, when the car "speeds off". It is unclear from the footage whether the car made contact with the officer. The officer does not immediately pursue Williams, instead he calls for backup, identifying Williams and Stinnette by name. Second stop A short time later, a different police officer, who was Hispanic, stopped the car about a half-mile away. According to police, when the officer approached the car, it reversed towards the officer, and the officer opened fire into the car with his semiautomatic pistol. In her October 27 statement, Williams disputed the police's account, telling the press, "There was a crash, and I lost control. The officer was shooting at us. The car ended up slamming into a building." According to Williams, she told the officer she was unarmed, but the officer "kept shooting" and told her to get out of the car. Shot and bleeding, she exited the car. According to Williams, the police covered Stinnette with a blanket while he was still breathing. According to NBC News, dashboard camera footage from the officer's vehicle released on October 28 shows Williams's car, with an officer in pursuit, turning in front of the second officer's car, before stopping on a grass embankment about twenty seconds later. According to CNN, Williams passed another police car, failed to stop at a stop sign, drove onto the opposite shoulder, and hit a telephone pole guy wire. The second officer pulled up next to Williams's car. It is unclear whether the officer exited his vehicle before yelling "get out of the fucking", at which point Williams's car begins to reverse. The car cannot be seen in the dash camera footage at this point, but the audio can be heard of an engine roaring and six or seven gunshots, followed by tires squealing and a crash. Two surveillance videos released on October 28 show Williams's car reversing and crashing into a building, but do not show the officer in the frame. The officer's body camera was not activated at the time of the shooting, and no video released on October 28 shows the shots being fired. Both Stinnette and Williams were taken to the local hospital. Stinnette died shortly thereafter. Williams survived wounds to her stomach and hand. Police said no weapons were found in the car. Investigation The Hispanic officer, who had been with the department for five years, was fired on October 23 for "multiple policy and procedure violations", including failing to activate his body camera, according to the police chief. The White officer, who also had been with the department for five years, was placed on administrative leave. Neither officer had been identified as of October 28. The Illinois State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating the shooting. Lake County State's Attorney Michael Nerheim pledged to release the investigative file to the public if his office decides not to file criminal charges. Williams is represented by civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, who also represented the families of George Floyd and Daniel Prude. The attorneys said the officer's firing was "a first step in police accountability" but that they would press ahead with their own investigation. Protests A rally was held on October 22; demonstrators demanded release of the video footage and federal investigations. The mayor of Waukegan, Sam Cunningham, who is African-American and close friends with the family of the victim, asked for calm. Members of the family of Jacob Blake, who was shot by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, north of Waukegan, attended the demonstration. The shooting occurred just days after third-degree murder charges for Derek Chauvin, the police officer who murdered George Floyd, were dismissed. Another protest had been planned for October 24. Clyde McLemore, head of the Lake County chapter of Black Lives Matter, was among those calling for a federal investigation and the release of police video of the shooting. He also said the protest and march were planned to demand a special prosecutor and the release of the name of the officer involved. He also called for the officer to be arrested and prosecuted to face murder and attempted murder charges. References 2020 controversies in the United States 2020 in Illinois 2020–2021 United States racial unrest African-American-related controversies Black Lives Matter African Americans shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States Deaths by firearm in Illinois Deaths by person in the United States Deaths in police custody in the United States Filmed killings by law enforcement Law enforcement controversies in the United States October 2020 events in the United States Waukegan, Illinois

65695587

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Walter%20Wallace

Killing of Walter Wallace

On October 26, 2020, Walter Wallace Jr., a 27-year-old African-American man, was shot by Philadelphia police officers Sean Matarazzo and Thomas Munz in Cobbs Creek, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The two officers arrived in the area to respond to a domestic dispute. When they arrived, Wallace walked out of his house carrying a knife. The two officers backed away while telling him to drop the knife shortly before they each fired several rounds at Wallace, hitting him in the shoulder and chest. He later died from his wounds in the hospital. Wallace's family stated that Wallace was having a mental health crisis. Wallace's killing gained attention after a cellphone video of the incident was posted to social media platforms, where it went viral. Protests against the killing occurred throughout Philadelphia in late October. Peaceful protests took place, as well as several protests which escalated into violence and looting, leading to arrests, injuries to police and protesters, deployment of the Pennsylvania National Guard, and a citywide curfew. People involved Walter Wallace Jr., a 27-year-old aspiring rapper and father of eight who was married in October 2020 and employed as an Uber Eats driver. According to family members and the family's attorney, Wallace suffered from mental illness, including bipolar disorder, and was taking lithium. Between 2013 and 2020, Wallace pled guilty to several criminal charges, including robbery, simple assault, and resisting arrest, and was repeatedly ordered by judges to undergo psychiatric evaluation and treatment. At the time of the shooting, Wallace was awaiting trial after being charged with making terroristic threats. A funeral service for him was held on November 7, 2020 at the National Temple Baptist Church in North Philadelphia. Sean Matarazzo, a 25-year-old Philadelphia police officer who joined the department in 2018. Thomas Munz, a 26-year-old Philadelphia police officer who joined the department in 2017. Shooting On October 26, 2020, police attended three separate times to Wallace's parents' house on the 6100 block of Locust Street in the predominantly black neighborhood of Cobbs Creek, Philadelphia. Around 3:45 p.m., during their third arrival, Officers Sean Matarazzo and Thomas Munz came in response to reports of a person screaming and a man assaulting an elderly female. Several 9-1-1 calls were made by Wallace's sister, brother, and neighbor, telling dispatchers that Wallace was assaulting his parents. Wallace's sister asked for a medic on the scene as her mother's blood pressure was rising and her father was feeling faint, also informing the dispatcher that Wallace was on probation and had a criminal record. Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said the police dispatch prior to the shooting said, "Tell the officers to use caution in responding to this, it’s an ongoing domestic issue going on up there." It is unknown if the officers were familiar with Wallace prior to their arrival. At 3:48 p.m., the responding officers arrived at the house, standing about 15 feet away from the front. An unknown person from inside the house said, "Put the knife down," three times. Wallace then walked out of his house and onto his porch carrying a knife in his right hand. Both officers drew their guns and yelled for Wallace to "put the knife down" around 11 times. Wallace walked down his front steps and towards the officers. He then turned away from the officers and walked towards the other end of the street. His mother followed him into the street and attempted to grab him before he brushed her aside as officers asked her to move away from Wallace. An unknown woman yelled to the officers that Wallace was "mental" multiple times. Wallace then walked back into the street while Matarazzo and Munz continued to aim their guns at him, repeating for him to "put the knife down”. Wallace refused to adhere to lawful orders and continued walking towards officers while holding the knife. Wallace's mother told the officers not to shoot him moments before shots were fired. An unknown man said "Get him," and "Shoot him," before each officer fired about seven times, with an unknown number of shots hitting Wallace. Wallace's mother ran to him as he was dying, and yelled at officers, "You killed my son!" The shots hit Wallace in the shoulder and chest. One of the officers placed Wallace in a police vehicle and drove him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after arriving. The officers involved in the shooting were moved to desk duty pending an investigation. Investigation Family response The attorney for the Wallace family, Shaka Johnson, said the family had called for an ambulance to get Wallace help with a mental health crisis, not for police intervention, and that Wallace was suffering from bipolar disorder. Wallace's parents said officers knew their son was in a mental health crisis because they had been to the family's house three times on October 26. The family does not want murder charges filed against the officers, and intend to file a wrongful death lawsuit. They also called for the police department's responses to mental health crises to change. Local investigations On November 4, the officers involved in the shooting were identified. Investigations into the shooting by the PPD's Officer-Involved Shooting Investigation Unit and the Special Investigations Unit of the District Attorney's office are ongoing. Cellphone video and body camera footage Wallace's killing first received attention on social media, where a cellphone video of the incident captured by onlooker JaHiem Simpson was posted to social media, subsequently going viral. On October 30, the Wallace family reviewed footage from police body cameras worn by Matarazzo and Munz during the shooting. Johnson stated that, based on the footage, Wallace was suffering from an "obvious mental health crisis" and he was incapacitated after the first shot. On November 4, part of the footage was released to the public, marking the first time in the PPD's history that body camera footage for a police shooting was publicly released. According to District Attorney Krasner, who called the footage "traumatic" and "painful" in a press conference before its release, only the portion of the footage that the Wallace family felt was appropriate to share was released. The department also released a series of 9-1-1 calls made by several individuals, including Wallace's sister and brother, as well as one of Wallace's neighbors. Reactions Wallace's father, Walter Wallace Sr., stated his son had mental health issues and was on medication and asked why the police did not use a Taser instead. Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said the shooting raised "difficult questions that must be answered". Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw noted that neither officer was equipped with a Taser, adding that the department only had around 2,300 Tasers at the time of the shooting, which Outlaw said she intended to increase to 4,500. She also said that she would be creating a behavioral health unit within the PPD as well as a directory for officers that lists mental health resources available during all hours of the day. She added that the department would begin crisis intervention training with dispatchers which would help them better identify crisis-related calls for specially trained officers to handle alongside civilian mental health experts. Fraternal Order of Police President John McNesby showed support for the officers, saying, "Our police officers are being vilified for doing their job and keeping the community safe, after being confronted by a man with a knife. We support and defend these officers." The then-presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris published a joint statement saying, "Our hearts are broken for the family of Walter Wallace Jr... We cannot accept that in this country a mental health crisis ends in death." Protests and rioting Philadelphia Protests and demonstrations against police brutality and institutional racism in response to Wallace's killing took place across Philadelphia throughout late October. Peaceful demonstrations took place, while others escalated into clashes between police and protesters. According to Philadelphia officials, as of October 31, there had been a total of 225 arrests, 60 injured police officers, 617 incidents of looting, 18 damaged vehicles, and 24 ATM explosions. On the night of October 26 into the morning of October 27, protesters marched through West Philadelphia, and video posted on social media appeared to show the police clashing with demonstrators. Those marching shared that the march was peaceful until protesters came upon a group of police officers near the Philadelphia Police 18th District. The violence and unrest then spread to other parts of West Philadelphia and other adjacent city neighborhoods. Police arrested at least 91 people overnight, charging most with looting. According to reports from the PPD, thirty police officers were injured, in most cases by bricks and rocks that were thrown by protesters. Five police vehicles and one fire department vehicle were vandalized. One police officer received a broken leg after being hit by a pickup truck. On October 27, the state and city authorities requested help from the Pennsylvania National Guard, which then mobilized several hundred soldiers. According to police reports, businesses began getting looted right before 9 pm in North Philadelphia, with allegedly 1,000 people looting businesses in Port Richmond. Residents from several districts of Philadelphia were instructed by police to stay indoors to avoid "widespread demonstrations that have turned violent with looting". The Party for Socialism and Liberation held a march from Malcolm X Park in West Philadelphia through the University of Pennsylvania campus to Clark Park, which was attended by around 1,000 people. Protestors at the march called for community control of the police, defunding of the PPD, and the arrest of the officers involved. The march was endorsed by six justice organizations, including the Penn Community for Justice and the city's Black Lives Matter chapter. Violence broke out between police and protesters near a police precinct, with some in the crowd throwing rocks, light bulbs, and bricks at the police, leaving one officer injured. Police officers armed with riot gear lined the streets, and broke up large groups to arrest those accused of throwing projectiles, by hitting them with batons and tackling them. At least 23 officers were injured, nine police vehicles were damaged, and 81 arrests were made on charges of trespassing, assault on police, and disorderly conduct. Video footage from the protests on October 27 also showed a slow-moving SUV being surrounded by police. Officers with batons surrounded the vehicle, broke its windows, pulled its driver and a passenger, Rickia Young and her teenage nephew, from the car, threw them onto the ground, and then pulled Young's 2-year-old son from the backseat. Young had to be taken to the hospital for injuries sustained in the arrest and was later released without charges. The Fraternal Order of Police posted a photo of a policewoman holding Young's son to Twitter and Facebook, claiming that the child had been found wandering the streets and that they were protecting him. The Young's family attorney accused the police union of lying in the post showing an officer carrying the toddler, which was later removed, and according to the police union, they "learned of conflicting accounts of the circumstances" over how the toddler ended up in the hands of police. The city paid Young an out-of-court settlement of $2 million in September 2021. In response to the protests, Philadelphia announced a citywide curfew on October 28 from 9:00 pm on October 28 to 6:00 am the following day. No major protests took place that day. 40 people were arrested for charges including assault on police, burglary, failure to curfew, and vehicle theft. Four police officers were injured, and 11 automated teller machines (ATMs) were blown up. On October 30, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf deployed the National Guard to Philadelphia and stationed them outside City Hall and the Municipal Services Building. Another curfew was imposed, beginning at 9 pm on October 30 and ending at 6 am on October 31. Two men were charged with felony possession of weapons of mass destruction after illegal explosives, bolt cutters and machetes were found in their van. Officials said the two men were attempting to blow up ATMs. A crowd estimated at upward of 1,000 turned out in West Philadelphia for a protest on October 31, with the demonstration originally due to gather at 61st and Locust streets, near the site of the original killing. On November 4, following the release of officers' body camera footage, a crowd of about 300 people gathered outside of City Hall to protest. Reactions Both Wallace's father and his cousin, Anthony Fitzhugh, decried any looting or violence which took place during the protests. US President Donald Trump connected the riots with Mayor Kenney, saying that "the mayor or whoever it is that's allowing people to riot and loot and not stop them is... just a horrible thing" and noting that they took place in "a Democrat-run state, a Democrat-run city". Trump also claimed, "Philadelphia was torn up by Biden-supporting radicals", without providing evidence for the claim, adding, "Biden stands with the rioters, and I stand with the heroes of law enforcement." White House Director of Strategic Communications Alyssa Farah said on October 27 that the White House was "prepared to deploy federal resources" in response to the unrest. White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany similarly suggested in a statement that the White House "stands ready, upon request, to deploy any and all federal resources to end these riots", calling them "the most recent consequence of the liberal Democrats' war against the police". Biden responded to the protests saying, "There is no excuse whatsoever for the looting and the violence. None whatsoever. I think to be able to protest is totally legitimate. It's totally reasonable." Additional locations A group of protestors gathered in Portland, Oregon on October 27, and marched through North Portland. It was one of three separate demonstrations in the city that night, with one crowd gathering at Arbor Lodge Park and marched to Portland Commissioner Dan Ryan's house, and called on him to further defund the Portland Police Bureau. Protests and violence were seen in New York City on October 27, with protesters arrested in Brooklyn after reports of damage to property. Police stated that police vehicles were damaged, and trash cans, American flags and additional objects were set on fire in videos on social media. Officers and protesters met near Boerum Place, a train station in Brooklyn, where several officers were reportedly injured after a car tried to drive through a group of police. See also 2020–2021 United States racial unrest List of incidents of civil unrest in the United States References 2020 controversies in the United States 2020 in Pennsylvania 2020 in Philadelphia 2020–2021 United States racial unrest African-American-related controversies Black Lives Matter Deaths by firearm in Pennsylvania Deaths by person in the United States Filmed killings by law enforcement Law enforcement controversies in the United States Philadelphia Police Department October 2020 events in the United States African Americans shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States Filmed deaths in the United States

65898578

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Jo%C3%A3o%20Alberto%20Silveira%20Freitas

Killing of João Alberto Silveira Freitas

On November 19, 2020, João Alberto Silveira Freitas, a 40-year-old black man, died in Porto Alegre, Brazil, after being beaten by security guards at a Carrefour unit in Passo d'Areia neighborhood. The killing triggered protests across the entire country, scheduled for the day after, November 20, Black Awareness Day. Victim and suspects João Alberto Freitas João Alberto Silveira Freitas (aged 40) was born and raised in Humaitá neighborhood, Porto Alegre. He had four children: the first, a woman, was from his first relationship and the last three from a second marriage. He lived with Milena in a stable union and the two were planning to get married. Giovane Gaspar da Silva Giovane Gaspar da Silva, aged 24 at the time, was one of the security guards arrested for the attack. He was a temporary military police officer, working for Military Brigade of Rio Grande do Sul since 2018 and allegedly did not have license to work as a private security guard. Magno Braz Borges Magno Braz Borges, aged 30 at the time, was another security guard arrested for the attack. He was licensed to work as security guard but his professional bond with Vector, the company responsible for security in the Carrefour unit, was not in database records of Federal Police of Brazil, the agency in charge of regulating the profession. Adriana Alves Dutra Adriana Alves Dutra was a Carrefour Passo d'Areia unit employee. During the occurrence, she was allegedly seen standing beside the men on the ground and seemed to give orders through the radio. Adriana is also reportedly to have threatened people who was filming the action. References Carrefour 2020 in Brazil Protests in Brazil November 2020 events in Brazil

66157913

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Ann%20Heron

Killing of Ann Heron

Ann Heron was a British woman who was murdered on 3 August 1990 at her home in Darlington, County Durham, by an unidentified killer. The case was heavily featured in British media as well as on the BBC programme Crimewatch UK in October 1990, but her murder remains unsolved. A private investigator identified Michael Benson as a possible suspect in 2020. Background Ann Heron was born Ann Cockburn in 1946 in Scotland but moved to England around 1984 when she began a relationship with Peter Heron. The couple got married and lived in Aeolian House on the outskirts of Darlington, County Durham. Peter Heron worked as a company director of a haulage firm not far from his home. Ann Heron had a part-time job helping out as a care assistant at a local care home. Murder On the morning of 3 August 1990, Heron went shopping in Darlington with a friend. Later that afternoon, Heron was sunbathing in her garden. When Peter Heron arrived home from work at 18:00pm, her radio was found still on, along with her book and cigarettes. The family dog was also outside, and the house front door was open. Heron's body was found in the living room of the house. Heron was lying on the floor in a pool of blood and had a stab wound in her neck. Investigation When the police first investigated the crime, they noticed that there were no signs of a struggle. A friend of Heron's who was passing by the house in a bus gave evidence to say they had seen her sunbathing in her garden at around 15:30. Another witness said they thought they saw Heron driving near her home with two unidentified persons in the car around 16:15, but they were not certain it was Heron. A witness came forward in August 1990 to say they saw a blue car that had been seen outside the house around 16:45. The police found no evidence of a robbery or sexual assault. Police believe Heron was murdered around 17:00. Peter Heron discovered her body at 18:00. By 1991, the case had gone cold, despite press conferences and a Crimewatch UK reconstruction. In December 1992, a woman told police a man came to the card shop in Darlington where she worked and boasted about killing Heron. In October 1994, the police received a letter from someone claiming to be the killer. Peter Heron was charged with murder in 2005 but the case against him was subsequently dropped due to a lack of evidence. He also had witnesses to provide an alibi, confirming he was at work during the day. In 2020, investigator Jen Jarvie identified Michael Benson as a "viable suspect". It was reported that around the summer of 1990, Benson was on the run from prison. Benson was described as a violent criminal with a strong criminal history of robbery, burglary and assault with a shotgun, and another with a carving knife. Jarvie also mentioned that Benson owned a blue car, like the one seen outside the house the day Heron was murdered. Benson died in 2011. In popular culture Heron's murder was the subject of a 2021 Crime+ Investigation podcast. The episode, titled The Murder of Ann Heron: Darlington, was published as a part of the podcast series spin-off to the documentary show Murdertown. References 1990 murders in the United Kingdom 1990 in England Murder in County Durham Unsolved murders in England August 1990 events in the United Kingdom Female murder victims

66226253

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Andre%20Hill

Killing of Andre Hill

On December 22, 2020, 47-year-old Andre Hill was shot and killed by Officer Adam Coy of the Columbus Division of Police in Columbus, Ohio. Coy had been called to the neighborhood in response to a non-emergency call from a neighbor who reportedly witnessed someone sit in an SUV and turn the car on and off. Hill was leaving a friend's house when Coy confronted and shot him. Hill was unarmed, and was holding a smartphone. Coy was fired from the Columbus Police less than a week later. The shooting was the second killing by police in Columbus in December 2020, following the shooting of Casey Goodson on December 4 by a Franklin County Sheriff's deputy. People involved Andre Maurice Hill (also identified as Andre' Hill) was a 47-year-old African American man. He had one daughter and a granddaughter. Hill was a supporter of Black Lives Matter (BLM) and was wearing a BLM shirt when he was killed. Adam Coy was a police officer in the Columbus Division of Police. Following the shooting, Coy was fired. Coy had been an officer with CPD for 19 years. During his career, 90 citizen complaints had been filed against Coy, and his police personnel file reflected a number of incidents, going back at least nine years, in which Coy had reacted inappropriately while under stress. He had received "documented constructive counseling" for discourtesy toward citizens (such as swearing), irresponsible driving, smoking while on duty, and failure to use police-car microphones. In October 2012, the division, after an internal investigation and hearing, found that Coy had used excessive force after he slammed a suspected drunk driver's head four times against the hood of a police car, an incident captured on dashboard camera. While the police chief and city public safety director recommended that Coy receive a 200-hour suspension, a grievance filed by the local Fraternal Order of Police resulted in the suspension being reduced to 160 hours. The incident also resulted in the City of Columbus paying $54,000 in a settlement. Incident Coy and another officer, who has been identified as Amy Detweiler, responded to a non-emergency call around 1:49 AM about a car repeatedly turning on and off near 1000 Oberlin Drive. It is unclear if this car had anything to do with Hill. Around the same time Coy and Detweiler arrived at the scene, Hill was leaving a friend's house while holding an illuminated smartphone in his left hand. Bodycam footage shows Coy and Hill walking toward each other. Coy shot Hill several times, as he yelled at him to show his hands. Hill was shot three times in the right leg and once in the chest. Coy did not turn on his body-worn camera before the shooting, but the camera has a 60-second look-back feature that recorded the minute prior, including the shooting, with video but not audio. Hill was taken to OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital where he was pronounced dead. After Hill was shot, several officers handcuffed him while he lay unresponsive on the ground. Video recordings from Coy and others show that none of the multiple officers on the scene made an attempt to render first aid to Hill until ten minutes after he was shot. Investigation and termination The Franklin County's coroner office determined that the manner of death was homicide and the cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation investigated the shooting. On December 28, Coy was fired from the Columbus Division of Police, on the recommendations of Mayor Andrew Ginther and Police Chief Tom Quinlan. Criminal charges On February 3, 2021, a Franklin County grand jury indicted Coy on charges of murder (one count), felonious assault (one count) and dereliction of duty (two counts). The latter two charges are based on Coy's failure to activate his body camera and failing to alert Officer Detweiller that he believed Hill posed a threat. At the request of the Franklin County Prosecutor, the Ohio Attorney General and his designees were appointed a special prosecutor to prosecute the case in lieu of local prosecutors. Coy pleaded not guilty; the court set bond at $3 million. His trial is scheduled for March 7, 2022. On April 23, prosecutors filed an additional charge of reckless murder against Coy. Settlement In May 2021, Columbus city officials agreed to pay a settlement of $10 million, to Mr. Hill's family. If approved by the City Council, this will be the largest settlement ever paid out by the city. According to attorneys, it is also the "largest pretrial settlement in a police use-of-force case in state history". Vigils and demonstrations A protest occurred on December 24 in the neighborhood where the shooting occurred. Demonstrators also protested the death of Casey Goodson, who was killed by police on December 4. Goodson was not killed by a Columbus Division of Police officer, but rather by a Franklin County Sheriff's deputy. Hill's family hired civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump. Crump spoke at a vigil for Hill, as did Hill's daughter. On December 26, a vigil for Hill was held at the Brentnell Community Center in North East Columbus. During the vigil, Benjamin Crump announced that an independent autopsy would be conducted on Hill. On December 28, a vigil was held at a church in Northwest Columbus. "Andre's Law" In February 2021, the Columbus City Council unanimously approved a new city ordinance ("Andre's Law"), requiring city police to turn on cameras during "enforcement actions" (including "all police stops, pursuits, uses of force, arrests, forced entries and any adversarial encounters") whenever they approach people or exit patrol cars. The ordinance also requires officers who use force that causes injuries to render first aid and call emergency medical personnel, unless there is an imminent threat to officers. The law also requires officers to receive CPR and basic first aid training on an ongoing basis. The ordinance provides that failure to turn on a camera or render first aid could result in departmental discipline or—if done with "reckless disregard"—criminal charges for dereliction of duty. In July 2021, State Representative Dontavius Jarrells introduced House Bill 367 to make the Law statewide. See also 2020–2022 United States racial unrest George Floyd protests in Columbus, Ohio List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States, December 2020 References 2020 controversies in the United States 2020 in Ohio 2020–2021 United States racial unrest 21st century in Columbus, Ohio African-American-related controversies Black Lives Matter Deaths by firearm in Ohio Deaths by person in the United States Filmed killings by law enforcement Law enforcement controversies in the United States December 2020 events in the United States African Americans shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States

66255285

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Dolal%20Idd

Killing of Dolal Idd

Dolal Idd was a 23-year-old Somali-American man who was killed in an exchange of gunfire with Minneapolis police officers at approximately 6:15 p.m. CST on December 30, 2020, after he shot at them from inside the car he was driving. The fatal encounter happened in the U.S. state of Minnesota during a police sting operation. Minneapolis police were investigating Idd for illegal possession and sale of firearms. Idd was prohibited from possessing firearms as part of his probation from a prior felony conviction. A confidential police informant intermediated as a buyer for a semi-automatic pistol, and made arrangements for a buyer to purchase the gun from Idd so that police officers could arrest him. Video captured by a police body camera the evening of December 30 showed police officers attempting to arrest Idd who struck several police vehicles with the car he was driving. After the vehicle driven by Idd was blocked by several police vehicles to prevent escape, Idd fired a handgun from inside the car he was driving through a rolled up window that shattered outward and hit a police vehicle containing several police officers. Minneapolis police officers Paul Huynh, Darcy Klund, and Jason Schmit returned several rounds of gunfire, killing Idd at the scene. The shooting on December 30, 2020, took place in the parking lot of a busy Holiday gas station at the intersection of Cedar Avenue and East 36th Street in the Powderhorn Park neighborhood of Minneapolis, from the location where George Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer on May 25, 2020. Floyd's murder resulted in prolonged local unrest and worldwide protests. Idd's death was the first killing by a Minneapolis police officer since that of Floyd. The December 30, 2020, shooting affected the local community still in mourning over Floyd's murder seven months prior, and reignited local debate over police brutality and race relations. In several rallies, protesters questioned the police narrative of the December 30 incident and if police officers could have used better de-escalation tactics to prevent an exchange of gunfire. In the vehicle driven by Idd, law enforcement investigators recovered a pistol and two spent ammunition cartridges on the driver's side, as well as a backpack on the passenger's side that contained ammunition and a Leinad PM-11 machine pistol, the type of gun a confidential police informant arranged to purchase from Idd. The Minneapolis police, citing video footage and witness statements from the incident, said officers returned fire in response to an initial shot by a civilian. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension opened an investigation of the officer-involved shooting. The bureau's preliminary report, issued on January 4, 2021, said that Idd struck several police vehicles with the car he was driving and that he had shot his gun first before police returned fire. Minneapolis police officers Huynh, Klund, and Schmit fired their weapons at Idd during the December 30 incident. Investigators at the scene recovered six bullets and seven bullet fragments from the rounds that the officers fired at Idd. An autopsy report classified Idd's death as a homicide, due to multiple gunshot wounds. The conduct of the officers, and if they were legally justified in using force, was reviewed by the Dakota County attorney's office. The final charging decision memorandum it released on August 6, 2021, said the officers' actions were justified and that no criminal charges would be filed against them. Background Fatal police shootings in Minnesota Idd's death provoked a strong reaction in the local community as it was reminiscent of recent, fatal police encounters, particularly the shootings of black men. Minneapolis police had shot at people 17 different times from 2015 to the end of 2019, killing a person in five circumstances, most notably Jamar Clark, a black man, in 2015 and Justine Damond, a white woman, in 2017. In the Minneapolis suburb of Falcon Heights in 2016, a police officer from another nearby suburb, St. Anthony, shot and killed Philando Castile, a black man, during a traffic stop. Murder of George Floyd and the aftermath Idd's death came as Minneapolis officials attempted to reform the city's policing policies in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, by a white Minneapolis police officer on May 25, 2020. Officials were also addressing a wave of violent crime that followed widespread civic unrest in late May and early June 2020 after Floyd's murder. Idd's death was the 83rd homicide in the city in 2020, a number that eclipsed the previous two years combined. The Powderhorn Park area that featured the George Floyd Square, a street intersection that protesters transformed to an "autonomous zone", had been the location of several violent crimes since Floyd's murder and authorities had investigated firearm dealers that used the barricaded area as cover for illicit activities. People involved Dolal Idd Dolal Bayle Idd (July 18, 1997 – December 30, 2020) was born in Somalia to parents from Kebri Dehar, a city in the Somali region of Ethiopia. His father resettled in the United States from Somalia in 1997, the same year Dolal Idd was born. Dolal Idd was three-years old when he emigrated with other family from Somalia to the United States. The family first resided in San Diego, California, and then moved to the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area, first residing in the suburb of New Hope, to be near extended family who already lived there. The Idd family had 11 children, including Dolal Idd. Idd resided in the Minneapolis suburb of Eden Prairie for most of his adolescent years. In 2015, Idd graduated from Eden Prairie High School according to the Sahan Journal or Minnetonka High School according to the Star Tribune. After high school, Idd travelled with the family to Ethiopia and stayed there for several months. In 2016, Idd had briefly enrolled at Normandale Community College in Bloomington, Minnesota, for the spring semester, and he hoped to study computers or pursue a career as an emergency medical technician. He was also interested in learning more about Islam and the family discussed sending him to Egypt to study the Quran and the Arabic language. Idd accumulated a criminal record in Minnesota over in next few years that included seven misdemeanors and a felony conviction. In 2018, Idd received jail time on three occasions. In 2019, Idd was jailed for several charges, including that he committed theft, carried a firearm without a permit, possessed marijuana, fled a police officer, and committed credit card fraud. As part of a plea agreement, Idd agreed to live at a residential drug treatment center, and spent three months there in 2019. In October 2020, Idd was booked into a Bloomington city jail on felony suspicion of a stolen vehicle. Idd's most prominent criminal case was a July 2018 incident when he accidentally fired a gun in a shower of his parent's home as two children slept nearby. At the time of the incident, family members said that Idd was not allowed in the house as he scared the young children who lived there, and he was believed to have broken in through the basement patio door late at night. Idd fled the house after the gun discharged, leaving behind a box of bullets and a gun magazine. Police arrested him a few hours later when responding to a suspicious vehicle in a parking lot in Bloomington, Minnesota. Idd was found asleep in the vehicle and in possession of drug paraphernalia and a loaded Smith & Wesson 9 mm handgun that had been reported stolen out of North Dakota. Idd was eventually charged in October 2018 and he pled guilty in a Hennepin County court in 2019 of illegally possessing and firing a gun. Idd was sentenced to time already served in jail and placed on probation, and was ordered by the judge not to possess firearms. The probationary period had nearly finished at the time of his death. The 23-year old Dolal Idd's last known address was his parents' home in Eden Prairie, a suburb of Minneapolis, approximately 13 miles from the city's downtown area. Idd's girlfriend said she had been to the family's Eden Prairie home and that Idd lived in the basement. Family members said that Idd moved out of the family's house in early December after his brother, Mohamed Idd, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection to a fatal shooting at an apartment complex in Bloomington, Minnesota, that occurred at 5:30 a.m. on November 30, 2020. According to police investigators, surveillance video also showed that Dolal Idd had been at the same apartment complex a few hours prior to that shooting. After his death, friends and family of Dolal Idd commented about the period of time proceeding his death. They said that he was trying to turn his life around, that he had difficulty securing a job due to prior criminal convictions, and that he was seeing a therapist weekly. They also said that Idd had become increasingly paranoid about the police and fearful that he was being followed. After moving out of his family's home in early December 2020, Idd stayed with a friend, but he left after a couple of weeks. Idd was staying at a hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota, in the days leading up to his death. Passenger An adult, female passenger owned the white Chevrolet Cobalt vehicle Idd was driving during the December 30, 2020 incident. She sat in the passenger's seat as Idd exchanged gunfire with Minneapolis police officers. She identified as his girlfriend. Minneapolis police officers The Minneapolis police officers who fired at Idd during the December 30 incident were Paul Huynh, Darcy Klund, and Jason Schmitt. By the time of the shooting, Huynh had been with the police department for six years, Schmitt for 23 years, and Klund for 33 years. The three officers were members of a community response team that focused on issues such as drugs and street-level crimes, and had been investigating an increase in carjackings in Minneapolis. Klund was the sergeant in charge of the team. Prior to the December 30 incident, the officers had several civilian complaints against them; Huynh had seven, Klund four, and Schmitt 24. None of the officers were disciplined for the complaints. Schmitt received a Medal of Honor for his role as a responder to the I-35W Mississippi River bridge collapse in 2007. In 2014 the police department settled a misconduct lawsuit for $7,000 stemming from a 2007 incident involving Schmitt; he was accused of striking a man with his rifle during an arrest. None of the complaints against Schmitt considered by internal affairs or civilian review resulted in discipline. Early in his career, Klund was reprimanded for berating another officer and he was temporarily demoted from being a sergeant until he was reinstated by an arbitration process. In a separate instance, he was praised for quick response and showing respect to the family of a homicide victim. In mid 2020, Klund was one of several city police officers that signed a public letter that condemned the murder of George Floyd and pledged to improve community trust. Hunyh, the newest member of the team, had been reviewed eight times by internal affairs since 2014; none of the reviews resulted in discipline. He received a few awards for his role investigating robberies. Shooting Sting operation A confidential informant, who had been working with the Minneapolis police for over 20 years, became aware of a person on December 21, 2020, who was attempting to sell an AR-15 style rifle. Upon passing the information to Klund and the community response team, police investigators looked up the unidentified seller's mobile phone number records and discovered the seller had daily communication with Mohammed Idd, an inmate at the Hennepin County jail. The AR-15 was sold to an unknown party before police investigators could take any action. The confidential informant learned that the seller was also in possession of a MAC-10-style semiautomatic pistol that could be acquired and that the seller went by “Bird”, a nickname investigators had associated with Dolal Idd from previous investigations, and who was the brother of Mohammed Idd. The Minneapolis Police Department attempted a sting operation the evening of December 30, 2020. The confidential informant led Idd to believe that they were intermediating for another unknown person who would buy the MAC-10-style gun that Idd wanted to sell, and the confidential informant and Idd communicated via mobile phone. Idd's attempt to sell a firearm was illegal, and a state law prohibited Idd from possessing a firearm because of a prior felony conviction, circumstances the Minneapolis police were aware of as they attempted to arrest Idd. Idd, who the evening of December 30 was departing Hopkins, Minnesota, said he would meet the unknown buyer in the parking lot of a Holiday Stationstores in Minneapolis near the intersection of East 36th Street and Cedar Avenue. The gasoline and convenience store, situated in a residential neighborhood, was one of the busiest in the area. Idd said he would arrive there in a white Chevy vehicle and sent livestreaming videos of the MAC-10-style gun via mobile phone to the confidential informant. The informant said the unknown buyer would be meet him at the Holiday gas station in a vehicle with a description that matched the black Ford Explorer vehicle that Klund would covertly use for the sting operation. Schmitt arrived at the Holiday gas station at approximately 5:45 p.m. CST in an unmarked Chrysler Pacifica minivan while three other police squad cars were staged in a nearby alley. Huynh was in a marked squad car. Klund and two other officers were inside an unmarked, black Ford Explorer squad car. At the direction of the police, the confidential informant did not go to the arranged meeting place. Vehicle encounter At 6:13 p.m. CST, Idd arrived at the Holiday gas station parking lot in a white Chevrolet Cobalt, a sedan-style automobile, with a woman in the passenger's seat. Idd parked near a car wash building at the north end of station parking lot, next to an uninvolved red pickup truck and two spots away from Schmitt's vehicle. At approximately 6:15 p.m. CST, Minneapolis police officerswho had claimed "probable cause" in a weapons investigation and suspected that the driver had a weaponmoved in on the white vehicle driven by Idd in the parking lot. Huynh approached Idd's vehicle and activated the siren and emergency lights of the marked squad car, as Klund entered the parking lot and activated the unmarked Ford Explorer squad car's emergency lights, and parked his vehicle to block the Cobalt. In a chaotic scene captured on video, three police squad cars with lights flashing converged on the white Cobalt vehicle. Huynh exited his vehicle and approached the white vehicle on foot with his gun drawn. Huynh identified himself as police and called for Idd to "stop your car!" Schmitt also approach on foot with his firearm drawn and yelled, "Hands up! Hands up!" Two marked police cars had lights flashing and blocked the front of the white Cobalt driven by Idd by forming a "V" shape. The white Cobalt drove forward and struck the two marked police vehicles, causing visible damage. When Idd attempted to go in reverse, the white vehicle's tires struggled for traction as the parking lot was covered in snow, and a third unmarked police vehiclethe black Ford Explorer driven by Klund with its emergency lights activatedmoved in further to box the white vehicle and prevent Idd from escaping. One officer yelled to the other offices to be aware that a passenger was also in the car with Idd. After Idd ignored repeated commands from the police to put his hands up and exit the vehicle, he raised up a handgun and pointed it at the black Ford Explorer containing Klund and two other police officers and shot through his the driver's side window of the Cobalt that was rolled-up, which shattered the glass outward with a puff of smoke, and struck the Ford Explorer's hood, which indicated that Idd fired at the officers. One officer then yelled, "Fuck!" Another officer that approached the vehicle ducked for cover. Klund immediately exited the Ford Explorer and drew his firearm. Two seconds later, Huynh, Klund, and Schmitt returned a total of 14 rounds of gunfire. Result of the shooting Idd died at the scene. The woman in the passenger's seat of the white vehicle was unharmed. No police officers were injured. Items recovered Law enforcement investigators recovered a black-and-silver colored 45-caliber handgun in the white Cobalt vehicle driven by Idd that was located between Idd's body and the vehicle's center console and two spent 45-caliber cartridges inside, one on the driver's side floor and one on the driver's seat. Investigators recovered six bullets and seven bullet fragments that had been fired by the three police officers. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension reported that a MAC-10 assault-style gun was also found in the vehicle driven by Idd; the actual gun model was a MAC-10 variant known as Leinad PM-11. Authorities recovered the Leinad PM-11 and ammunition in a backpack on the passenger's side. Search of the Idd family home Probable cause Soon after the shooting, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension transported the woman passenger of the white vehicle to Minneapolis City Hall and interviewed her there. She said she was Idd's girlfriend and that she knew him only as "Bird", a nickname known to authorities from past investigations, and that she had been with Idd to his family's home in Eden Prairie. The confidential informant who attempted to purchase a gun from Dolal Idd told authorities that Idd had retrieved the MAC-10 he was attempting to sell from his home in Eden Prairie. Authorities used both sources of information to establish probable cause for a search of Idd's home in Eden Prairie for firearms, ammunition, and other materials. When the authorities looked up Idd's address, they found that police had been called to the house several times before for weapons offenses and that Idd had a history of possessing stolen firearms. Officials felt it was necessary to search the home overnight before evidence could potentially be destroyed or moved. Before they initiated a search of the home, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agents spoke with the Eden Prairie Police Department, who had a history with Idd and home. Eden Prairie police had responded to 19 different incidents with Idd and had 27 calls to the home over the past six years. Dolal Idd was convicted of firing a gun in the basement of the same home, previously. Two of Idd's brothers who had lived at the home were also the subject of recent law enforcement actions. At the time of the search, Idd's 26-year-old brother, Mohamed Idd, was being held in a Hennepin County jail on a $1 million bond for a murder charge related to a November 30, 2020, incident in Bloomington, Minnesota, in which he shot and killed another person with a firearm he possessed illegally. Another brother, Dalal Bayle Idd, a 25-year old, was by the date of the home search in the fifth year of a prison sentence for robbery and assault of a person at a Life Time Fitness gym in Eden Prairie, and for breaking into a random home in Bloomington, Minnesota and assaulting the homeowner in front of his family; both of the victims suffered severe head trauma. Search warrant Investigators filed a search warrant at 12:13 a.m. CST on December 31, 2020, that revealed recovery from the December 30 shooting of a handgun found near Idd's body and a spent 45 caliber cartridge on floor of the car driven by Idd, as well as a high-capacity pistol that a confidential informant intended to purchase. The warrant noted a federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigation that Idd had possessed a stolen, 12-gauge shotgun. The warrant application also cited Idd's criminal history and the November 30, 2020, homicide allegedly committed by his brother, Mohamed Idd, as further justification for a search of Idd's Eden Prairie home address. Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill electronically signed the warrant at 12:20 a.m. "Knock and announce" search The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office assisted the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in executing the search warrant at 2:35 a.m. CST on December 31, 2020. The type of warrant issued at the home was a "knock and announce"which became a key issue in the Breonna Taylor case, a fatal officer-involved shooting of a black woman in Louisville, Kentucky, in March 2020 when authorities had a "no-knock" warrantwhere officers must announce their presence before entering. After the search of the Idd family home drew controversy, and left the family feeling "terrorized" by the ordeal, the sheriff's office released a 28-minute video from officer body camera footage. The footage revealed deputies announcing, “Police, search warrant!” as they pushed their way into the home with drawn assault riffles and pistols. Several adults in the home had their hands zip-tied by officers, even while appearing cooperative, as questions they had for the officers about the search largely went unanswered. The family was not informed that Dolal Idd had been fatally shot earlier until the end of the two-hour search of their home. The sheriff's office said that the warranted search of the home was "high risk" and that officers followed protocol, which included use of flexible, plastic handcuffs placed in front of adult bodies. Result of the search Authorities did not recover any firearms in a search of the home. Initial response and reactions Minneapolis police In a press conference the night of December 30, 2020, Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo gave a preliminary report about the incident, as protestors quickly began gathering at the scene of the shooting who were aware police had shot and killed a civilian. Arradondo said that police conducted a traffic stop that involved a person they characterized as a "felony suspect". He said that according to witnesses to the police, a civilian had fired an initial shot at officers, who then returned fire, killing the civilian. Arradondo said the police would release body camera footage of the incident the following day, and that an outside investigation was already underway by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the agency responsible for investigating officer-involved shootings. The Minneapolis Police Department released a 27-second video from an officer's body camera on December 31, 2020. A spokesperson for Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said the city released the video footage to dispel rumors about the incident, and that the segment released had the clearest view of footage they had in possession. Minneapolis police and city officials stated that the shooting would bring back painful memories for the city's residents who were still dealing with the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd in May 2020. Release of the body camera footage within 24 hours of the incident was done so more quickly that in other cases in Minnesota where such releases can take months or even a year after an incident. Minnesota Statute prevented the release of information from active investigations, but Minneapolis officials used a special provision in the statute to release information if it could "dispel widespread rumor or unrest". The same provision was last used in August 2020 when false rumors of a police shooting led to violent rioting in downtown Minneapolis, and officials released a graphic video of a man committing suicide to inform the community about what happened. At a press conference on December 31, 2020, Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo said that police officers attempted the traffic stop as "probable cause" in a weapons investigation. The department said it had substantial evidence in the case, but Arradondo did not reveal more details about the department's investigation at that time, such as if Idd had been charged with a crime or if he had a warrant for his arrest. Arradondo also said that video evidence and eyewitness accounts of people who were nearby the December 30, 2020, shooting suggested that Idd fired his weapon at police first. The Minneapolis Police Department deferred to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for further investigation. Public officials U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar said in a December 31, 2020, statement on Twitter, "Let's stop normalizing + justifying state sanctioned murder by those who take an oath to uphold the law." Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said in an media interview on January 3, 2021, “Any time you have something like this it’s tragic. Why was someone shooting at the police? Why do we have a fatality? BCA, which is involved in any officer-involved shooting, is doing this (investigation)." About the raid on the Idd family home, Minnesota State Representative Hodan Hassan said in early January 2021, “I don’t see professionalism. I don’t see any respect for the family. I don’t see cultural sensitivity. And I don’t see compassion." Minnesota State Senator-elect Omar Fateh, whose district encompassed the Holiday gas station where the shooting took place, said in early January 2021, "This type of treatment for a bereaved family is inhumane and unconscionable. The police have lost the public trust, especially within BIPOC communities. My heart aches for the family of Dolal Idd." Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said at a December 31, 2020, press conference, "Our city is experiencing a lot of raw emotion right now. I know that is especially true for our Somali community, who has lost a young man. Gun violence has gripped our city and today is no exception, but the circumstances and the details of what transpired last night, does not negate the tragedy of yesterday's death." Minneapolis City Council Member Andrea Jenkins, who represented the city's eight ward, said in early January 2021, “It's a big tragedy. We must have a full and thorough investigation, and if there is any wrongdoing, police need to be held accountable.” Minneapolis City Council Member Phillipe Cunningham said on January 1, 2021, via Twitter, "Sadly, it appears that Dolal Idd brought an illegal gun into our city, shot at police according to body cam footage, and lost his life as a result." Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo said soon after the December 30, 2020, shooting, "I recognize the trauma that our city has been under, and we want to do everything we can to maintain the peace. Our city has gone through too much. We need to keep our officers safe. We need to keep our community safe." Others Jaylani Hussein, executive director of Minnesota's Council on American-Islamic Relations, said on December 31, 2020, that the 27-second video released by Minneapolis police of Idd's death was "inconclusive". Local activist Nekima Levy Armstrong said on December 31, 2020, "It’s still extremely difficult to believe the police version of events.... Why did you pull the man over in the first place? When he tried to leave, why did you cattle him in? Why did you get all ready for some bloodshed?” A family member disputed the police narrative that Idd fired first. Idd's family felt the police response, which also included a search of the family's Eden Prairie home with a warrant, was excessive and demanded justice over Dolal Idd's death. Investigation of the shooting Autopsy On December 31, 2020, the Hennepin County medical examiner's office identified the deceased person from the shootout as Dolal B. Idd, a 23-year-old black man. An autopsy by the medical examiner revealed the cause of Idd's death to be multiple gunshot wounds. The manner of Idd's death was characterized as a homicide. A toxicology report from the autopsy also found that Idd had positive blood levels for Delta-9 THC and Fentanyl. Bureau of Criminal Apprehension preliminary findings The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension released a preliminary report about the shooting on January 4, 2021. The report stated that after police received information from an informant, they attempted to purchase a gun from Idd at a gas station as part of a weapons investigation. The report further stated that "when officers surrounded Mr. Idd’s vehicle to arrest him, Mr. Idd struck several police vehicles with his own vehicle, then fired his weapon at officers." Idd died of multiple gunshot wounds from the rounds fired by Minneapolis Police Officers Paul Huynh, Darcy Klund, and Jason Schmitt, according to the report. The bureau confirmed recovery of two guns, a handgun and a MAC-10 gun, in Idd's vehicle. The bureau said that additional information and video footage of the shooting would not be released until after the investigation of the officers involved was closed. Investigation of the involved officers The three Minneapolis police officers who fired at Idd were placed on administrative leave after the incident, a standard practice pending further investigation. Idd was killed in Hennepin County. Following an agreement signed by five Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area counties in mid 2020 concerning deadly police encounters, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office said on January 4, 2021, it would defer to prosecutors from another metropolitan county, in this instance Dakota County, about whether to file charges against the officers who shot and killed Idd. To avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest, Hennepin County had the option to seek review by another county, or request that the Attorney General of Minnesota's office review the case. Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom said on January 4, 2021, that his office would review the case to determine if the officers were legally justified to use force, and his office would handle any potential charges of the officers. Citing health concerns, the 68-year old Backstrom retired as the county attorney on February 27, 2021, and Kathryn Keena became the next Dakota County attorney. By mid 2021, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension had not finished its investigation of the shooting, and the case had not yet been sent to Dakota County for a possible decision to charge the police officers. In July 2021, the family of Dolal Idd expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of information provided by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and made a public request for Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to take over the case. Final charging decision of the involved officers On June 28, 2021, the Dakota County attorney's office received from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension the full case file for the incident that led to Dolal Idd's death. Dakota County Attorney Kathryn Keena released a final charging decision memorandum on August 6, 2021. Her 13-page report "concluded that the use of deadly force was justified in this instance", and there was no legal basis to file criminal charges against Huynh, Klund, or Schmitt. Under Minnesota Statutes, police officers were permitted to use deadly force to protect officers from death or serious harm. According to the report, Idd discharged a firearm during the course of incident that struck the hood of the unmarked police vehicle containing Klund and two other police officers. After the initial shot, Huynh, Klund, and Schmitt returned fire, killing Idd. The female passenger in the vehicle with Idd the night of December 30, 2020, told investigators that as police officers approached the vehicle to arrest Idd, he said he did not want to go to jail, and that he first opened fire with a handgun. Crime scene investigators determined that Idd's gun had fired twice during the incident; two spent cartridges were found inside the white Cobalt vehicle. The reported concluded that in the county attorney's view Idd presented a deadly threat and that it was "objectively reasonable" that the officers returned gunfire. Protests Protest the night of the shooting Protests first emerged the evening of December 30, 2020, when few details were known about the shooting incident. On social media, as news about the incident spread, many disputed the police narrative about the incident, and pointed out that George Floyd's murder in May 2020 was initially described by the police department as a "medical incident", though a bystander's video later showed that Floyd was pinned by a police officer's knee for nearly nine minutes as he struggled to breathe. Protesters over Idd's death demanded more information about the shooting and questioned if police officers could have de-escalated the situation to prevent firing on Idd. Approximately 100 people gathered at the Holiday gas station near East 36th street and Cedar Avenue in Minneapolis that night in below-freezing temperatures, arriving soon after the shooting incident, and stood opposite police officers who wore riot gear. Some protesters shouted expletives and threw snowballs at police officers who were investigating the scene. In response, officers requested and received dispatch approval to use pepper spray if assaulted by demonstrators; no pepper spray was used. By late evening, the scene was calmer as protesters blocked an intersection and lit a bonfire. The tone of the scene was described as angry, but not violent. A van played loud music and several people gave speeches. Protesters dispersed around midnight and no arrests were reported. Vigil for Dolal Idd On December 31, 2020, hours after the release of the a 27-second segment of body camera footage from the incident on December 30, several people attended a vigil near the intersection of Cedar Avenue and East 36th Street in Minneapolis in for Idd and other people they believed were victims of police violence. South Minneapolis protest march As many as 1,000 protesters marched peacefully in south Minneapolis on January 3, 2021, to express outrage over the killing of Dolal Idd and a controversial search by law enforcement of the Idd family home. The march from the East 36th Street and Cedar Avenue intersection to East Lake Street and back featured signs, speeches by activists, and chants in a scene reminiscent of local unrest in mid-2020. Participants in the march, which was organized by the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, did not condone Idd's actions, but felt the use of lethal force was unnecessary and that police were leaving questions about the incident unanswered. Activists called for an independent investigation. Downtown Minneapolis racial justice protest rally Protests over the killing of Dolal Idd broadened to themes of racial injustice and outrage over other police-related violence. In an event organized by the Minnesota chapter of Black Lives Matter, several hundred people gathered in downtown Minneapolis on January 9, 2021, for a rally that featured speeches, hand-drawn signs, and chants. Protesters connected Idd's death to aggressive police action against black men, such as with the murder of George Floyd and shooting of Jacob Blake, which protesters contrasted to the mob that stormed the United States Capitol building on January 6, 2021, when U.S. Capitol police appeared to take little action to stop them. Vigil and protest rally in Tukwila, Washington Approximately 150 people gathered for a vigil for Dolal Idd and racial injustice protest rally outside a public library in Tukwila, Washington, on January 10, 2021. The day's events were coordinated by Somali- and Muslim-American communities in the Seattle metropolitan area. The rally turned into a march to the Tukwila Justice Center, where protesters also called for defunding the police by 50% in lieu of greater investment in the community and youth programs. Governor's mansion demonstration On March 21, 2021, a group of demonstrators rallied outside the Saint Paul residence of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to call for greater transparency and an independent investigation of the exchange of gunfire that led to Idd's death. Demonstrators were frustrated by the lack of new information about the investigation at nearly three months since Idd's death, and called for the release of all raw video footage from the shooting and search of his home. Other protests and events Protests over the killing of Dolal Idd were held alongside other protests of law enforcement killings and racial injustice in Minneapolis–Saint Paul. In March and April 2021, Dolal Idd's name and family were fixtures at protests and rallies outside the Hennepin County Government Center building in downtown Minneapolis during the trial of Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis police officer charged for the murder of George Floyd that occurred on May 25, 2020, during an arrest. They were also a fixture at protests over the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright, a black man, by white police officer Kimberly Potter on April 11, 2021, during a traffic stop in the nearby suburban city of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. In June 2021, protesters who demonstrated over the killing of Winston Boogie Smith, a black man killed by law enforcement in Minneapolis, also sought answers in Dolal Idd's case. Family members of Dolal Idd and protesters held a march in Minneapolis on June 6, 2021, to seek answers in the case that had no public developments for the past several months. They also held a press conference on July 18, 2021, where they encouraged the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to continue investigating the incident and that Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison review the case. Reaction to the final charging decision After a report was released by the Dakota County attorney's office on August 6, 2021, that said the Minneapolis police officer's use of force was legally justified when they shot and killed Dolal Idd, family of Idd and social justice advocates held a news conference the same day outside the Saint Paul residence of Governor Walz. They requested that Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison review the case, called for release of all raw video footage from the shooting, and that an independent agency investigate the officers’ actions. Social justice advocates also said they would continue to pressure state and local officials for further inquiries of Idd's death. Protests seeking another review of the incident leading to Idd's death were held outside the governor's residence in Saint Paul on August 13–15, 2021. Activists and family members of Idd rallied in Saint Paul on January 4, 2022, outside the official residence of Governor Walz. They called for further investigation of the incident that led to Idd's death and the release of additional evidence in the case. Aftermath Somali-American perspectives Idd's death and the treatment of his family during a search of their home had a lasting impact in the Somali-American community in the months after Idd's death. Commentators in the Somali-American community viewed the December 30, 2020, incident as an unjustified, "military-style" killing. Some viewed Idd's death and the search of his family's home as part of historic, criminal profiling of black and Muslim people in America, and compared the police action against Idd to Islamophobia in the United States after the September 11 attacks. They also felt that authorities too easily justified killings of black and Muslim Americans, such as Dolal Idd, by law enforcement. In the Twin Cities metropolitan area, Idd's death was described as a motivating factor for Somali-American activism to advance police reform and racial justice. Further investigations of Dolal Idd On January 13, 2021, the police in Bloomington, Minnesota, obtained a search warrant to investigate Dolal Idd's possible connection to a shootout and homicide on November 30, 2020, allegedly committed by his brother. According to the warrant, surveillance video at 2:30 a.m. CST on November 30, 2020, showed Dolal Idd attempting to enter an apartment building on Old Shakopee Road in Bloomington, texting on his phone, and taking photographs of the building. Three hours later, at approximately 5:30 a.m. CST, an exchange of gunfire at the same apartment building left the 22-year-old Shakur Freed Muhammed of Hopkins, Minnesota, dead. Dolal Idd's 26-year-old brother, Mohamed Idd, was initially arrested at the apartment building on November 30, 2020, and had suffered gunshot wounds, and was later charged in early December 2020 with second-degree intentional murder in connection with the man's death. Dolal Idd's 27-year old cousin, Abdi Bishar Mohamed, who was also arrested at the apartment building on November 30, 2020, and suffered gunshot wounds, was later charged with aiding an offender and illegal weapons possession. In statements to the police, Mohamed Idd and Abdi Bishar Mohamed gave conflicting accounts about the number of people who were at the scene, with Abdi Bishar Mohamed saying another unnamed accomplice fled out the window when the shooting occurred. At some point hours before the shooting, Abdi Bishar Muhammed had met up with Mohamed Idd, and Abdi Bishar Muhammed told this girlfriend that he had stolen Percocet pills from him. Witnesses reported seeing two men outside the apartment where Shakur Freed Muhammed was found dead saying, "I’m going to kill you, I’m going to kill you." A search warrant allowed Bloomington police to access Dolal Idd's phone to understand his whereabouts on November 30 and who he was with that day. Bloomington police did make any initial public comments about the search warrant. In July 2021, Mohamed Idd pled guilty to the charge of second-degree murder for shooting that occurred on November 30, 2020, and received a 15-year prison sentence. Abdi Bishar Muhammed pled guilty to charges of aiding an offender and assault with a dangerous weapon, and was sentenced to 11 years in prison in September 2021. Comparison to other police shootings After Idd's death, some felt police in Minnesota approached the situation differently for black men than they had for white men. Idd's circumstances were compared to a September 2020 incident involving Ricardo Manuel Baldazo of Prior Lake, Minnesota. When police responded to a 9-1-1 call to his mother's house in Burnsville, Baldazo, who later admitted he was under the influence of drugs, fired gunshots from inside the house in the direction of responding officers. Baldazo exited the house with firearms in his hands and complied with police orders to drop the weapons, and was then arrested by police. Some questioned why Baldazo, who is Hispanic, was given the opportunity to surrender peacefully, while Idd was fired upon by Minneapolis police officers. Eight days after Idd's death, on January 8, 2021, police officers in the Minneapolis suburb of Robbinsdale shot and killed Brian Eugene Andren, a 47-year old white man from Ramsey, Minnesota. Andren had a warrant for his arrest in South Dakota. He had admitted to a child pornography charge, but he failed to show up to be sentenced in December 2020. After a brief car chase with Robbinsdale police, Andren wielded a knife as officers attempted to subdue and arrest him, and after attempting to use a taser, an officer fired his weapon three times, killing Andren. The shooting was the subject of a protest and counter-demonstration in Robbinsdale. On June 3, 2021, undercover law enforcement officers participating in a federally led task force shot and killed Winston Boogie Smith, a black man, during an attempted arrest in the Uptown area of Minneapolis. The details of Smith's death were compared to that of Dolal Idd, and protests and unrest occurred in reaction to the shooting over the subsequent weeks. See also 2020–2021 Minneapolis–Saint Paul racial unrest History of Somalis in Minneapolis–Saint Paul List of killings by law enforcement officers in Minnesota References External links Minneapolis Police Department's body camera footage (warning: graphic content) Body camera footage Body camera footage slowed speed Redacted Video for Public Viewing 12 31 2020 by Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, YouTube Further reading Arrangement is chronological. Minnesota Statutes, section 609.066. Authorized Use of Deadly Force by Peace Officers. "Photos: Reaction to the shooting death of Dolal Idd" (December 31, 2020). Star Tribune. Retrieved January 1, 2021. Editorial Board (January 5, 2021). "Let investigation continue in Dolal Idd's death". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 5, 2021. Dernbach, Becky Z. and Peters, Joey (January 6, 2021). "Minnesota media consultant, right-wing bloggers question Somali flag raising at Dolal Idd protest". Sahan Journal. Retrieved January 6, 2021. Sirdar, Marjaan (January 6, 2021). "Murdered by MPD: Dolal Idd". The UpTake. Retrieved January 6, 2021. Ahmed, Nura (February 6, 2021). "Opinion: The Terrifying Reality Behind the Black Muslim Experience in Amerikkka". South Seattle Emerald. Retrieved February 6, 2021. Nealis, Wayne (August 5, 2021). "Minneapolis officials still have not taken police violence seriously". Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. Retrieved August 8, 2021. Yancey-Baragg, N'dea (September 28, 2021). "A Black cop's murder conviction was overturned. For Minneapolis Somali community, justice is complicated". USA Today. Retrieved September 28, 2021 2020 controversies in the United States 2020 in Minnesota 2020–2021 Minneapolis–Saint Paul racial unrest 2020–2021 United States racial unrest 2020s in Minneapolis African-American-related controversies December 2020 events in the United States Black Lives Matter African Americans shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States Law enforcement controversies in the United States Law enforcement in Minnesota Somali-American history African people shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States

66259843

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Marcus-David%20Peters

Killing of Marcus-David Peters

Marcus-David Peters was a Virginia man shot and killed by police officer Michael Nyantakyi while Peters, unarmed, was having a mental health crisis on May 14, 2018. Two prosecutors’ reviews have cleared Nyantakyi of wrongdoing. Peters' death was a focus of Virginia protests in 2020 during the George Floyd protests, and a community gathering place surrounding Richmond’s Robert E. Lee Monument was marked with a sign for Peters. Later that year, the Virginia General Assembly passed a law named for Peters, intended to provide behavioral health experts to respond to people in mental health crises. These events prompted a 2021 third-party campaign for Governor by Peters' sister, Princess Blanding, who became an advocate for criminal justice reform following his death. Killing In 2018, Marcus-David Peters was a 24-year-old Black man and Virginia Commonwealth University alumnus who taught high school biology at Essex High School, commuting from his home in Richmond, Virginia. On May 14, 2018, during a mental health crisis, Peters had a car accident in Richmond, witnessed by police officer Michael Nyantakyi, a ten-year veteran of the Richmond Police Department, who then pursued Peters. Peters stopped his car by the on-ramp to Interstate 95 and got out of the car naked and distressed. He was hit by a car but got up and seeing Nyantakyi, advanced toward him. In an encounter that lasted 76 seconds, Nyantakyi tasered Peters several times. Peters continued walking toward Nyantakyi. Nyantakyi then fatally shot Peters. Law enforcement review Two reviews by local prosecutors have cleared Nyantakyi of wrongdoing and no charges were brought. In 2018, Richmond's Commonwealth's Attorney Michael N. Herring reviewed the case, releasing footage of the fatal encounter, and declined to bring charges. Peters' family and other activists, who questioned why Peters was shot unarmed, called for this incident to be reviewed by Herring's successor, Colette McEachin, who took up the case in July of 2020. In November 2020, she announced her findings, concurring with Herring that Nyantakyi's actions were reasonable. The decision has been an issue in the 2021 Virginia gubernatorial election. Marcus-David Peters Circle During the 2020 anti-racist police brutality protests, protesters in Richmond unofficially renamed the grassy area around Richmond's Robert E. Lee statue "Marcus-David Peters Circle". It became a regular site of protest and community gathering, with protest graffiti and messages projected in lights on the Lee statue; images of the protest art were featured on the cover of National Geographic. The area marked with a sign reading "Welcome to Beautiful Marcus-David Peters Circle, Liberated by the People MMXX". The eight-foot-long sign was cut down in an apparent act of vandalism in August, but was soon replaced and gatherings continued, including a celebration of Peters's birthday in October that drew hundreds. Organizers handed out plants and STEM technology kits to children in attendance in honor of Peter's work and as a symbol of commitment to the growth of the community. In late June 2020, police announced a curfew and other restrictions on activity in the circle, but hundreds of protestors responded by gathering after dark and the curfew was not ultimately enforced. On the weekend before the 2020 United States presidential election, a "Trump train" caravan of supporters of President Donald Trump resulted in an altercation with people in the circle, with witnesses reporting gunfire and chemical spray from the vehicles in the caravan. MARCUS Alert law In the 2020 Virginia special legislative session on criminal justice reform and budgeting during the COVID-19 pandemic, House Bill 5043, titled the Mental Health Awareness Response and Community Understanding Services, or MARCUS alert system, introduced by Delegate Jeff Bourne, initiated a program to encourage use of mental health professionals to respond to people in mental health crisis. Peters's sister Princess Blanding worked with legislators and attended Governor Ralph Northam's ceremonial bill signing, but in her remarks at the ceremony she excoriated officials for the final bill that was considerably less robust than the initial proposal:"Please take a moment to pat yourselves on the back for doing exactly what this racist, corrupt, and broken, may I also add, system expected you all to do: make the Marcus Alert bill a watered down, ineffective bill that will continue to ensure that having a mental health crisis results in a death sentence."She particularly took issue with the discretion left to police, the years the bill allowed to implement the changes, and the potential for a patchwork system instead of a unified change across the state. She also criticized other bills from the session that were altered in the legislative process, including changes to a bill that limited newly-created civilian review boards, as well as the failure of the General Assembly to repeal qualified immunity, calling on all elected officials involved to "fix it." In December 2020, Blanding announced a third-party campaign for Governor under the newly formed Liberation Party, criticizing Democrats for offering "crumbs". See also List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States List of police reforms related to the George Floyd protests References 2018 deaths Killings by law enforcement officers Richmond, Virginia 2020 protests Criminal justice reform

66312847

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Ashli%20Babbitt

Killing of Ashli Babbitt

On January 6, 2021, Ashli Babbitt was fatally shot while breaching the United States Capitol building during a riot. She was part of a mob of supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump who attacked the Capitol Building seeking to overturn his defeat in the 2020 presidential election. The Capitol Complex was locked down and evacuated as rioters assaulted law enforcement officers, vandalized property, and occupied the building for several hours. As representatives were being evacuated, one of the rioters attempted to climb through a shattered window in a barricaded door. At 2:44p.m., the rioter, later identified as QAnon follower Ashli Babbitt, was shot in the shoulder/neck by an officer of the Capitol Police. A Capitol Police emergency response team administered aid, and Babbitt was transported to Washington Hospital Center where she later died. The shooting was investigated and deemed to be "lawful and within Department policy". Background Attempts to overturn the 2020 election After Joe Biden won the 2020 United States presidential election, then-incumbent Donald Trump pursued an aggressive and unprecedented effort to overturn the election, with support and assistance from his campaign, his proxies, his political allies, and many of his supporters. These efforts culminated in the United States Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, the day set for the Electoral College vote count. Personal life and viewpoints of Ashli Babbitt Babbitt was raised in a mostly apolitical family near San Diego, California. In 2004, she enlisted in the United States Air Force, where she served twelve years. Babbitt was deployed in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, and Qatar; from 2010, she served in the Air National Guard. Six of her years in service were spent in a "Capitol Guardians" unit of the District of Columbia Air National Guard, whose mandate is to defend the Washington D.C. region and quell civil unrest. While on active duty, she met her first husband. She was noted for insubordination and was demoted during her career. She reached the rank of senior airman, a "relatively low rank" for a twelve-year veteran according to the Washington Post. From 2015 to 2017, near the end of her service, she supplemented her income by working as security at the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in Maryland. There, she met Aaron Babbitt, who would become her second husband. She filed from divorce from her first husband in 2018. In 2016, she faced criminal charges of reckless endangerment in Maryland after she repeatedly smashed her SUV into a vehicle being driven by a former girlfriend of Aaron Babbitt. Citing ongoing harassment, the victim obtained multiple judicial orders forbidding her from contact. In 2018, Babbitt moved back to California with her second husband and they purchased a pool servicing business. She worked there with her brother and several other relatives. Ashli Babbitt was at one point a supporter of Barack Obama. She later registered as a Libertarian. According to her brother, she became frustrated with such issues as the number of homeless people in San Diego and the difficulties of running a small business. As she struggled professionally, Babbitt came to embrace the radical right. On July 1, 2019, a judge issued a $71,000 judgment against her pool business for failing to repay a loan; around the same time, she supported Donald Trump and started following and promoting conspiracy theories. In November 2019, Babbitt tweeted about Pizzagate, a conspiracy theory which claims that senior Democrats were operating a child sex-trafficking ring. By February 2020, Babbitt publicly supported QAnon, a broader far-right conspiracy theory which claims that the world is run by a cabal of Satan-worshipping child abusers whom Trump is secretly fighting. One customer recalled having stopped doing business with the company in 2020 after Babbitt unexpectedly delivered a political rant over the telephone. Babbitt was very active on social media through her Twitter handle @CommonAshSense. Though she did not tweet much herself, she intensely retweeted messages from conservative and right-wing figures like Michael Flynn and Jack Posobiec, and conservative news sites like Right Side Broadcasting. After the 2020 election, Babbitt rejected the results and began supporting the Stop the Steal movement. On January 1, 2021, Babbitt announced plans to travel to DC for January 6. A central belief among QAnon members is that Trump was planning a massive sting operation on the "cabal", with mass arrests of thousands of cabal members to take place on a day known as "The Storm". On January 5, 2021, the day before the assault on the Capitol, Babbitt tweeted: "Nothing can stop us....they can try and try but the storm is here and it is descending upon DC in less than 24 hours....dark to light...." On January 6, prior to her arrival at the Capitol, Babbitt retweeted messages by Trump lawyer and QAnon promoter Lin Wood demanding that Vice President Mike Pence, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts resign and that charges be brought against Pence and Rosenstein. Events Capitol attack Rioters occupied the empty Senate chamber while federal law enforcement officers defended the evacuated House floor. Attempted breach of the Speaker's Lobby and shooting Capitol police was overrun by the rioters' numbers. At 2:44p.m., law enforcement was trying to "defend two fronts" to the House Chamber, and "a lot of members [of Congress] and staff that were in danger at the time". Pipe bombs had been discovered and Capitol Police officers had been warned that many attackers were carrying concealed weapons. Babbitt, wearing a Trump flag as a cape, was part of several dozens of rioters who approached the Speaker's Lobby, adjacent to the House chambers. Three uniformed officers were posted outside the Lobby when they were threatened by the crowd. One member of the mob yelled "Fuck the Blue" (blue in this case referring to the blue color of the uniforms of most police departments). One officer guarding the door told the others "They're ready to roll", and the three officers moved away from the barricaded door leading to the Speaker's Lobby. No longer impeded by police, one rioter, Zachary Jordan Alam, smashed a glass window in the door. As lawmakers were being evacuated by Capitol Police, Babbitt, hoisted by two men, attempted to climb through the shattered window. She was then shot in the neck/shoulder by Capitol Police Lieutenant Michael Byrd and fell back among the other protesters. Babbitt had been warned not to proceed through the window: one witness recalled that "A number of police and Secret Service were saying 'Get back! Get down! Get out of the way!'; [Babbitt] didn't heed the call." A Capitol Police emergency response team administered aid, and Babbitt was transported to Washington Hospital Center where she later died; Babbitt was 35 years old. She was unarmed at the time of the shooting. Republican Representative Markwayne Mullin, a witness to Babbitt's attempted breach, said that the Capitol Police "didn't have a choice" but to shoot, and that this action "saved people's lives". The shooting was recorded on several cameras, and footage was widely circulated. John Earle Sullivan, who recorded footage of the shooting, was arrested for his role in the attack. Aftermath Reactions Though they deplored Babbitt's death shortly after the event, few among Republican Members of Congress and conservative media initially claimed any wrongdoing from law enforcement, or suggested that it warranted a backlash. Gradually, though, efforts were made to suggest that Babbitt was a martyr, or at least a patriot who was unjustly killed. Fox News hosts Tucker Carlson, Laura Ingraham and Mark Levin were sympathetic to Babbitt, with Levin understating Babbitt's actions and claiming that she had been just "walking around with the rest". Republican representative Paul Gosar claimed that she had been "executed", later doubling down on that comment and adding that the police officer had been "lying in wait" and demanding to know his name. This drew a rebuke from representative Liz Cheney, who accused Gosar of "[smearing] the men and women who defended us". Fringe conservative figures and far-right extremists have also cast Babbitt as a martyr or a "freedom fighter". Democratic strategist Mark Burns said that this was a "dangerous development for a Republican Party with members increasingly comfortable pressing for and defending political violence". Both he and David Frum in The Atlantic compared these efforts to the Nazi glorification of Horst Wessel. Some QAnon supporters, including Lin Wood, have claimed instead that Babbitt is still alive and that her apparent death was a "false flag" operation. Babbitt's mother, Micki Witthoeft, became politically active following her daughter's death. In July 2021, she appeared at a Donald Trump rally where she was introduced by Paul Gosar and received a standing ovation from the crowd. During the rally, Trump expressed condolences to Witthoeft and acknowledged that Babbitt had died trying to salvage his presidency. Witthoeft later said in an interview that she was writing letters of support to January 6 arrestees and commented that her daughter had "made the ultimate sacrifice to bring attention to a stolen election. Half the country loves her and half the country hates her. It's weird to have your child belong to the world". In October 2021, Trump recorded a video message arguing that "There was no reason Ashli should've lost her life that day. We must all demand justice for Ashli and her family". Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the shooting of Babbitt, describing it as an "assassination". Investigation Following the routine process for shootings by Capitol Police officers, the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia and the United States Department of Justice investigated Babbitt's death and made a determination that the shooting was "lawful and within Department policy". After being cleared of wrongdoing, Lieutenant Michael Byrd made his name public in an August 2021 interview for NBC News. He said his name had been previously revealed in right-wing media and online forums and he had received racist and violent threats, causing him to remain in hiding for several months. Looking back on his January 6 experience, Byrd said: "Once we barricaded the doors, we were essentially trapped where we were. There was no way to retreat. No other way to get out. If they get through that door, they're into the House chamber and upon the members of Congress." He stated that he had pulled the trigger as a "last resort" after the mob of protesters ignored his repeated orders to get back, and that he had no idea at that moment that Babbitt was unarmed and was a woman. Byrd commented: "I know that day I saved countless lives. I know members of Congress, as well as my fellow officers and staff, were in jeopardy and in serious danger. And that's my job". See also Timeline of incidents involving QAnon References 2021 in Washington, D.C. January 2021 events in the United States Deaths by firearm in Washington, D.C. Deaths by person in the United States Deaths related to the 2021 United States Capitol attack Filmed deaths in the United States People shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States Protest-related deaths

66857465

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Luca%20Attanasio

Killing of Luca Attanasio

Luca Attanasio, the Italian ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was killed on 22 February 2021 along with two other people when a World Food Programme (WFP) delegation travelling on a field visit was attacked by armed individuals. The two-vehicle convoy with seven people was travelling in the Congolese province of North Kivu, from the province's capital of Goma to a WFP school feeding programme in Rutshuru, a town 70 kilometres north of Goma, on a route that would have taken the vehicles through Virunga National Park. The attack occurred at 10:15 a.m. local time near the townships of Kibumba and Kanyamahoro. The WFP and North Kivu governor Carly Nzanzu said the convoy did not have a security escort at the time of the attack. Attack The convoy carrying Attanasio was travelling on a stretch of National Route 2 in the Virunga National Park when it was stopped by armed gunmen. The attackers killed one person at the scene, identified as Congolese United Nations driver Mustapha Milambo. The other members of the delegation were led into the bush by the armed assailants where an exchange of gunfire ensued. In the exchange of gunfire, Attanasio and his bodyguard, 30-year-old carabiniere Vittorio Iacovacci, were mortally wounded. Others travelling in the convoy were also injured. Attanasio was shot in the abdomen and succumbed to his injuries before arriving at a hospital in Goma. According to prosecutor Alberto Pioletti, autopsies showed that Attanasio and Iacovacci were killed in a shootout rather than by execution-style murder. International responses The bodies of Attanasio and Iacovacci were repatriated to Italy via military aircraft, and were met by Prime Minister Mario Draghi in a small ceremony on the tarmac. Draghi asked the United Nations and the World Food Programme to open an investigation into the attack. President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Félix Tshisekedi sent a letter to Attanasio's widow Zakia Seddiki, saying his government had started an investigation in Goma "so that light is shed on these heinous crimes as soon as possible." Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Luigi Di Maio said "the circumstances of this brutal attack are still unclear and no effort will be spared to shed light on what happened." A group of Italian investigators went to Goma in coordination with a prosecutorial investigation that started in Rome. Several Italian newspapers ran front-page tributes to those who were killed; Turin-based La Stampa ran the headline "Luca and Vittorio. The best of Italy." Pope Francis expressed his sorrow "for the disappearance of these servants of peace and law." Congolese authorities accused the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda of the killing; they denied responsibility and condemned the attack. Arrests On 19 January 2022, police in the DRC announced they had arrested six members of a highway robbers' gang suspected of killing Attanasio. Murder of Mwilanya Asani William On 5 March 2021, Mwilanya Asani William, the attorney who was investigating the deaths of the three men, was murdered by unknown gunmen during an ambush. References 2020s in the United Nations 2021 mass shootings in Africa 2021 murders in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Ambushes in Africa Attacks on diplomatic missions Deaths by firearm in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Deaths by person in Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo–Italy relations Diplomatic incidents February 2021 crimes in Africa Foreign relations of Italy Italy and the United Nations Kidnapping in the 2020s Kidnapping in Africa North Kivu People murdered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Terrorist incidents in Africa in 2021 Terrorist incidents in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Terrorist incidents involving vehicular attacks Unsolved murders in Africa

66862513

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Christian%20Hall

Killing of Christian Hall

Christian Joseph Hall (October 31, 2001 – December 30, 2020) was a 19-year-old Chinese American man from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania who was shot and killed by Pennsylvania State troopers on December 30, 2020. The police had been responding to a report about Hall, who was suspected to be suicidal and found with a firearm. Though he appeared to surrender, Hall was shot while his hands were up. Background Hall was born Chen Zhi Bo on October 31, 2001, in Shanghai, Mainland China. Shortly before age one, he was adopted by Gareth J. Hall and Fe Hall, who are of African-American and Asian-American descent respectively. He had his name officially changed to Christian Joseph Hall. Incident On December 30, 2020, Pennsylvania State Police arrived on the Pennsylvania Route 33 overpass above Interstate 80 responding to a call about a distraught man, later identified as Christian Hall. Footage of the scene showed him pacing around and clutching what appears to be a gun. Initial reports said Hall placed it on the ground after being ordered to do so, and began negotiating with the officers, but soon picked it back up. Around 1:38 p.m., Hall was shot seven times by the troopers. Hall was carrying a pellet gun with his hands raised when he was shot. He was taken to the Lehigh Valley Hospital-Pocono in East Stroudsburg, where he later died from his injuries. Investigation Initial reports from authorities stated that when the officers told Hall to put the gun on the ground, he complied, but at one point during negotiations, he picked up the gun and pointed it in the direction of the police, causing them to shoot him. A video of the incident with evidence contradicting the claims surfaced in February 2021. The video shows Hall raising his hands before he is shot and falls. Hall's adoptive parents reported that he had been experiencing a mental health problem. Fe Hall told WNEP-TV, "He needed help. He was looking for help, but instead of getting help, he was killed in cold blood by those who were supposed to help him." Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump also stated that Hall was in need of help and seemed to be contemplating suicide. Hall's family has started a petition to reopen the investigation of his shooting, with a goal of 150,000 votes. On February 12, 2021, Hall's death was protested by people outside the Philadelphia City Hall. Twitter users have demanded #JusticeforChristian after the video of the incident emerged. In March 2021, Michael Mancuso, an assistant district attorney, called Hall's death a "classic suicide by cop scenario" at a news conference. In November 2021, a new video was released which shows Hall holding the pellet gun with his hands raised at the time of his killing. The video is unblurred, unlike video previously released by the Monroe County district attorney, and was obtained through subpoena by a lawyer representing Hall's parents. References 2020 deaths 2020 in Pennsylvania 2020–2021 United States racial unrest Asian-American-related controversies Deaths by firearm in Pennsylvania Deaths by person in the United States December 2020 events in the United States Filmed killings by law enforcement Filmed deaths in the United States Law enforcement controversies in the United States People shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States

66904416

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Angelo%20Quinto

Killing of Angelo Quinto

Angelo Quinto (March 10, 1990 – December 26, 2020) was a 30-year-old Filipino-American Navy veteran who died on December 26, 2020, from complications after being knelt on the neck by a police officer three days earlier. Prior to the encounter, police were responding to a call that Quinto was suffering from a mental health crisis. On February 18, 2021, Quinto's family and their lawyer, John Burris, filed a complaint against the Antioch Police Department. Background Born in the Philippines, Angelo Quinto immigrated to the United States. He graduated from Berkeley High School and attended classes at Berkeley City College. In his twenties, he joined the U.S. navy but was discharged in 2019, due to a food allergy. In an interview with police following the incident, Quinto's sister Isabella "Bella" Collins said that he showed signs of depression for most of his life, though he was never diagnosed, and that his behavior changed after an assault a year earlier, which left him a black eye, stitches in his head and memory loss. Incident and death On December 23, 2020, Bella Collins called 911 reporting suspicious behavior and possible paranoia and anxiety in Angelo, who had grabbed her and their mother, Maria Cassandra Quinto-Collins, hugging them tightly; his sister feared he might hurt their mother. Shortly after 11 p.m., police arrived and grabbed Quinto from Cassandra, who reports that as they put him down on his stomach and handcuffed him, he repeatedly said, "Please don't kill me." When Quinto lost consciousness, Cassandra began recording a video of the incident on her cell phone in which blood is seen on Quinto's face and on the floor. The police remove his handcuffs and roll him into a mobile stretcher, then attempt to resuscitate him through CPR. Officers called an ambulance, and Quinto was taken to the Sutter Delta Medical Center, where he died three days later. Investigation Quinto's family filed a wrongful death claim with civil rights attorney John Burris on February 18, 2021. It is stated in the claim that Angelo had been "suffering from anxiety, depression, and paranoia for the previous few months" and that before police arrived, "he had already started to calm down". The police denied using excessive force. A county pathologist stated at the coroner's inquest that Modafinil, which is used to treat narcolepsy, was found in Quinto's system, and said the cause of death was excited delirium syndrome. Quinto's family and Burris are awaiting the results of an autopsy, but they believe Quinto died from asphyxiation. Reaction A rally was held at the Antioch Police Department on June 23, 2021. On September 30, 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed eight police reform bills into law. One of them, Assembly Bill 490 or Angelo's Law, bans restraint tactics and face-down holds that could cause asphyxiation. References External links 2021 controversies in the United States 2020 deaths 2020 in California 2020–2021 United States racial unrest Asian-American history Asian-American-related controversies Deaths by person in the United States December 2020 events in the United States Law enforcement controversies in the United States

67123736

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Ruth%20Williams

Killing of Ruth Williams

On 28 March 2020, 70-year-old Anthony Williams of Cwmbran, Wales, strangled his 67-year-old wife Ruth to death. The following February, he pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the ground of diminished responsibility, and was acquitted of murder. His defence argued that he acted due to his mental state, which had been worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The lesser charge, and the sentence of five years' imprisonment, was criticised by politicians and anti-domestic abuse activists. Background and killing According to testimony by the Williams' daughter, the couple had no history of violence or argument. She said that her father became obsessed with reducing his energy bills in January 2020, even though he was financially secure. He then became obsessed with news about COVID-19, and when a lockdown was imposed, he feared that he would not leave the house again. According to Anthony Williams's police interviews, his wife told him to "just get over" his fears when they were in bed, and in his own words he "snapped" and attacked her, continuing the violence downstairs. He alerted his neighbours, who then called the police. Trial While Anthony Williams had pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, he was tried for murder at Swansea Crown Court. One psychologist, Dr Alison Witts, argued that his faculties were impaired due to anxiety, that was worsened by the pandemic and lockdown. Dr Damian Gamble, another psychologist, said that the defendant had no history of mental illness. Anthony Williams was found not guilty of murder in a unanimous verdict. The starting point for a manslaughter sentence is between one and seven years, rising to life imprisonment at maximum. Due to the sustained nature of the attack, he would have faced seven-and-a-half years, but this was reduced to five due to his guilty plea. As all prisoners in England and Wales are released at the halfway point of their sentence, he will be released in two-and-a-half years, less the eleven months he had already spent on remand. Reaction Referral to Court of Appeal The Domestic Abuse Commissioner Nicole Jacobs and Victims' Commissioner Dame Vera Baird wrote a joint letter to Home Secretary Priti Patel, Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland and Attorney General Michael Ellis. They proposed a review of sentencing for domestic homicides, contrasting Williams's sentence with that of a woman who received a life sentence for murder of her abusive husband, later reduced to 14 years for manslaughter. They argued that women receive aggravated sentences for weapon use due to the difference in physical strength between the two genders. Labour Members of Parliament Harriet Harman, Jess Phillips and Alex Davies-Jones wrote letters to the Attorney General, asking for the case to be reviewed in the High Court of Appeals. According to Harman, a former Solicitor General, Anthony Williams would have been convicted of murder had he killed a neighbour outside his house. In March 2021, Ellis referred the sentence to the Court of Appeals as unduly lenient. Other reactions Patel ordered for Torfaen County Borough Council to carry out a domestic homicide review, which had previously been refused on the basis that Ruth Williams was not known to social services. The Observer named Williams as an example in their campaign to highlight abuse and violence towards elderly women. While the trial was ongoing, a Welsh anti-domestic violence activist wrote a tweet in which she speculated that Anthony Williams had a history of abuse, something denied in his daughter's testimony. The activist, and Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament member Helen Mary Jones who shared the tweet, were reprimanded by the judge for "a clear contempt of court", though no formal action was taken. References March 2020 crimes in Europe Cwmbran Deaths by strangulation Uxoricides Violence against women in Wales

67376993

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Daunte%20Wright

Killing of Daunte Wright

On April 11, 2021, Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, was fatally shot by police officer Kimberly Potter during a traffic stop and attempted arrest for an outstanding warrant in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, United States. After a brief struggle with officers, Potter shot Wright in the chest once at close range. He then drove off a short distance, but his vehicle collided with another and hit a concrete barrier. Officers administered CPR to Wright, but were unable to revive him, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Potter said she meant to use her service Taser, shouting "Taser! Taser! Taser!" just before firing her service pistol instead. The shooting sparked protests in Brooklyn Center and renewed ongoing demonstrations against police shootings in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area, leading to citywide and regional curfews. Demonstrations took place over several days, and spread to cities across the United States. Two days after the incident, Potter and Brooklyn Center police chief Tim Gannon resigned from their positions. Potter was convicted of first-degree manslaughter and second-degree manslaughter on December 23, 2021, at a jury trial in Hennepin County. On February 18, 2022, she was sentenced to two years in prison, with credit for time served. The events led to several police reforms in Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis, and in several other states. People involved Daunte Wright Daunte Demetrius Wright was a 20-year-old, living in Minneapolis, having recently moved there from Chicago. He was the son of a Black father and a White mother. Wright played basketball in high school, but according to his father, he dropped out due to a learning disability about two years before the shooting. He worked in retail and fast-food jobs to support his almost-two-year-old son, and had enrolled in a vocational school. Kimberly Potter At the time of the shooting, Kimberly Ann Potter, a White woman from Champlin, Minnesota (born June 18, 1972), was a 48-year-old police officer in the Brooklyn Center Police Department, and a mother of two children. She had worked for the department since 1995, shortly after finishing Saint Mary's University of Minnesota a year prior in 1994. Potter, a field training officer, was training a new officer at the time of the incident. Other people Wright's girlfriend, who was sitting in the passenger's seat of the vehicle, was injured in the crash. Besides Potter, two other Brooklyn Center police officers participated in the traffic stop, of whom one also participated in the attempted arrest. One of the officers was a trainee who was being field trained by Potter. Incident Traffic stop On April 11, 2021, Wright was driving with his girlfriend in a white 2011 Buick LaCrosse that was registered to his brother. They were on their way to a car wash. Kimberly Potter was a passenger in a patrol car with a trainee officer who observed Wright's vehicle signaling a right turn while it was in a left-turning lane. The trainee officer also noticed that the vehicle had an expired registration tag on its license plate and had an air freshener hanging from the car's rearview mirror, a violation of Minnesota state law. At 1:53p.m. local time, the trainee officer initiated a traffic stop of Wright's vehicle on 63rd Avenue North and called for backup. After pulling the vehicle over, the trainee officer approached Wright's vehicle. Wright provided his name but did not have a driver's license or proof-of-insurance card. The trainee officer returned to his squad car. Meanwhile, Wright phoned his mother. Potter's supervisor arrived on the scene, and the officers ran Wright's name through a police database. They learned he had an open arrest warrant for failing to appear in court on a gross misdemeanor weapons violation for carrying a gun without a permit, and that there was a protective order against him by an unnamed woman. The officers decided to arrest Wright and ensure the passenger was not the same woman who had the protective order against him. Police body camera footage showed Potter, her supervisor, and the trainee officer approaching the car. The trainee officer approached the driver's side door and the supervisor approached the passenger's side door. Potter, who was acting as a field training officer, initially stood back. The trainee officer informed Wright that there was a warrant for his arrest. He opened the driver's side door and Wright stepped out of the car. The car door remained open while Wright put his hands behind his back and the trainee officer attempted to put on handcuffs. After several moments, Potter approached Wright and the trainee and unsnapped her handgun holster. She grabbed a piece of paper from the trainee with her right hand, then moved it to her left hand. Wright, who was unarmed, began to resist arrest, struggled with the officers, broke free, and stepped back into his car. The supervisor had the passenger's side door open, and reached inside to grab the gear shift to prevent Wright from driving away. The trainee officer on the driver's side attempted to prevent Wright from obtaining control of the steering wheel. Potter, who had her Taser holstered on her left side and her gun on her right, said, "I'll tase you," and then yelled, "Taser! Taser! Taser!" The supervisor released his hands from attempting to restrain Wright. Potter then discharged her firearm, instead of her Taser, a single time using her right hand, and subsequently said, "Oh shit, I just shot him." Potter's pistol, a Glock 9 mm model, was entirely black, partially made of metal, and weighed when loaded. Her Taser, made of plastic, was mostly yellow, and weighed . Potter was holding her gun for 5.5 seconds before discharging it. Immediately after shooting Wright, she was still holding the piece of paper with her left hand. Car crash Wright drove off after being shot at close range. The vehicle travelled for about when it collided with another vehicle near the intersection of 63rd Avenue North and Kathrene Drive. Officers administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but Wright was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:18 p.m. Wright's girlfriend was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, and no one in the other vehicle was injured. Investigations and criminal charges Autopsy The Hennepin County medical examiner's office released a report on April 12 that determined the manner of death to be homicide and concluded that Wright had "died of a gunshot wound of the chest." Brooklyn Center police response On the morning of April 12, Brooklyn Center police chief Tim Gannon held a press conference and played a clip of the body camera footage. He said Potter intended to use a Taser on Wright, but pulled out and discharged her gun instead. Potter was placed on administrative leave by the Brooklyn Center police pending further investigation. On April 13, Potter and Gannon submitted their resignations from the Brooklyn Center police department, with Potter's resignation stating it was in the "best interest of the community" and effective immediately. The Brooklyn Center City Council had recommended their firing during an emergency meeting on April 12. According to The Independent, Potter fled her home for safety reasons after her address was leaked on social media. State and county investigation The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) launched an investigation into the killing of Wright on April 12, per standard procedure, and released Potter's name as the officer who shot Wright. In order to avoid conflicts of interest, although the incident took place in Hennepin County, it was reviewed by the Washington County Attorney's Office per an agreement with metropolitan counties to handle officer-involved shootings. Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott called on Governor Tim Walz to reassign the case to the office of the State Attorney General Keith Ellison. On April 13, Washington County Attorney Pete Orput said he was planning to complete a "thorough yet expedited" review of potential criminal charges in the case. Arrest and criminal charges On April 14, Potter was charged by the Washington County Attorney's Office with second-degree manslaughter, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Section 609.205, a felony offense entailing "culpable negligence creating unreasonable risk" that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years incarceration and/or a $20,000 fine. The criminal complaint against Potter stated that she caused Wright's death "by her culpable negligence," whereby she "created an unreasonable risk and consciously took a chance of causing death or great bodily harm" to Wright. After her indictment, Potter was arrested, booked into the Hennepin County Jail and released a few hours later after posting a $100,000 bail bond. Potter briefly made her first court appearance via Zoom on April 15 before Hennepin County Judge Regina Chu. Potter was represented by Earl Gray, a Saint Paul-based attorney who also defended Thomas Lane and Jeronimo Yanez, who were involved with the killings of George Floyd and Philando Castile, respectively. Attorney General Ellison's office took over the prosecution on May 21. On May 24, Imran Ali, the assistant criminal division chief at the Washington County Attorney's Office, resigned from his job after several activist groups demonstrated outside Orput's home demanding that the charges be raised to murder. Ali's resignation letter cited "vitriol" in public discourse about the case that made his job difficult. Ali had been serving as the prosecution's Washington County co-counsel, with Orput, prior to the state Attorney General's office taking over the case. On September 2, Ellison's office added the charge of first-degree manslaughter, predicated on reckless use/handling of a firearm, a more serious charge than second-degree manslaughter and carrying a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $30,000 fine. Protests and unrest Following the shooting, mourners and protesters gathered near the scene to demand justice for Wright. Several protesters came from another rally against police violence, organized by families of people who had been killed, earlier in the day in nearby Saint Paul, Minnesota. Officers with riot control equipment arrived, formed, a line, and moved in when demonstrators began climbing on police vehicles and throwing bricks. Police fired tear gas into the crowd and used non-lethal ammunition. There were also reports of looting, damaged property, and vandalized police vehicles. After the crowd moved to outside a police precinct, the police announced that the gathering was an unlawful assembly, and threatened arrest for anyone who did not leave. When the people did not disperse, police fired tear gas, flashbangs, and rubber bullets. Mayor Mike Elliott imposed a curfew until 6 a.m. the next morning and closed schools for the following day. The next day, April 12, protests spread to nearby locations in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area and then to other cities in the United States. Governor Tim Walz implemented another curfew in several counties spanning the night of April 12 through the morning of April 13 and deployed the Minnesota National Guard while Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey declared a state of emergency and a citywide curfew. Protests, civil unrest, curfews, and clashes with police continued for the next several days in Brooklyn Center and around Minneapolis-Saint Paul. Law enforcement in Brooklyn Center established a heavily fortified barrier area and periodically clashed with demonstrators over several days. Air fresheners became a symbol at protests and rallies over Wright's death, referring to one of the violations police alleged Wright committed the day of the shooting. Protesters demanded justice for Wright's death and made several demands of public officials, including a murder charge for Potter, an independent investigation of the shooting, and enactment of police reform measures. In media interviews, Wright's family thanked people for protesting and advocating for justice and encouraged people to protest peacefully. Protest demonstrations resumed during the trial of Kimberly Potter in late 2021. Trial Prosecutors filed the criminal case in Hennepin County District Court on April 14 as the State of Minnesota vs. Kimberly Potter. Prior to the start of the case, on November 2, Judge Chu ruled that defense attorneys will be allowed to introduce evidence of "slip and capture" errors, a kind of human error that occurs in times of high stress. Trial proceedings began on November 30 in Minneapolis, at a Hennepin County Government Center courtroom Chu presiding. The Minnesota Attorney General's office served as the prosecution with Matthew Frank, an assistant attorney general, as the lead prosecutor. Frank was also the lead prosecutor for the trial of Derek Chauvin. Erin Eldridge, an assistant attorney general who also participated in the Chauvin trial, joined Frank. Amanda Montgomery, Paul Engh and Earl Gray represented Potter. Engh and Gray were part of the legal defense fund supplied by the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association. Courtroom cameras Minnesota Statutes required that all parties in a trial to agree to the use of courtroom cameras. At the request of Potter's attorneys, Chu ruled on August 5 that cameras would not to be permitted in the courtroom. On November 9, Chu reversed her earlier ruling to ensure "meaningful access" to the trial, as the courtroom was subject to attendance restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Chu also said her revised ruling was unrelated to a November 6 demonstration that occurred outside a house that protesters believed was Chu's. Trial proceedings Selection for the trial's twelve jurors and two alternative jurors took place from November 30 to December 3. Nine of the twelve jurors seated were White, similar to the demographics of Hennepin County, one was Black and two were Asian, with the jury evenly split between men and women. Opening statements in the trial began on December 8. Throughout the trial, the prosecution argued that Potter neglected training on use of her Taser and discharged her gun recklessly when she killed Wright. The defense argued that Wright resisted arrest, which contributed to a "slip and capture" error. Expert witnesses for the defense testified that Potter had the legal authority to fire either a gun or Taser. Potter testified in her defense, claiming that she mistook her gun for a Taser and admitting to fatally shooting Wright. She also said that she never observed Wright with a gun and that he was not being violent or making verbal threats during the arrest. Attorneys gave closing arguments on December 20 and the jury, which was ordered to be sequestered, began deliberations by midday. Verdict and sentencing After deliberating for 27 hours over four days, the jury found Potter guilty of first-degree manslaughter and second-degree manslaughter on December 23. Following the verdict, Potter was taken into custody and transferred to the state's Women's Correctional Facility in Shakopee. Potter's sentencing hearing began at 9 a.m. on February 18, 2022. Wright's mother, father, two siblings and the mother of his only child gave victim impact statements prior to Potter's sentencing being read. Wright's mother, Katie, said, "she [Potter] never once said his name. And for that I'll never be able to forgive you," addressing Potter. She continued, "I'll never be able to forgive you for what you've stolen from us." Potter, during her statement prior to the sentencing being read, apologized to Wright's family and to the community of Brooklyn Center, saying Wright "is not more than one thought away from my heart, and I have no right for that, for him to be in my heart." Potter was sentenced to two years in prison, serving sixteen months with eight months of supervised release. The typical sentence for first-degree manslaughter in Minnesota is more than seven years in prison, with a maximum set at fifteen years. To pursue a longer sentence than what is typical requires the prosecution to demonstrate Blakely factors, or elements of a crime which make it particularly egregious. Despite initially arguing that the case had such factors which would justify a longer sentence, the prosecution stated in court on the day of the sentencing that the typical sentence would be appropriate. In explaining her sentencing decision, Chu said the case was unusual, and that Potter made a "tragic mistake" of thinking that she drew her taser instead of her firearm while in a chaotic situation. Chu expressed that it was "one of the saddest cases I’ve had on my 20 years on the bench". Reactions Public officials Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott said in a tweet the evening of April 11, "The officer shooting in Brooklyn Center today is tragic. We are asking the protesters to continue to be peaceful and that peaceful protesters are not dealt with with force." Elliott said on April 12 that Potter should be fired. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said in a tweet at 10:00 p.m. on April 11, "I am closely monitoring the situation in Brooklyn Center. Gwen and I are praying for Daunte Wright's family as our state mourns another life of a Black man taken by law enforcement." Minnesota Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan said, "As a child advocate, I am grappling with the stark reality: Minnesota is a place where it is not safe to be Black." Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota said on the morning of April 12, "A difficult night in Minnesota. We mourn with Daunte Wright's family as another Black man's life is lost at the hands of law enforcement." Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon said at an April 12 press conference, "I have watched the video myself, and there is nothing I can say to lessen the pain of Mr. Wright's family, friends loved ones of that feeling of loss they must have. That pain is shared by the community and all those involved in the incident." On April 13, Gannon announced his resignation, alongside that of Potter. City manager Curt Boganey, speaking at a April 12 BCPD press conference: "All employees working for the city of Brooklyn Center are entitled to due process with respect to discipline." The same day, the Brooklyn Center City Council fired Boganey and gave Mayor Elliott command authority over the city police force President Joe Biden said about the incident and unrest, "Peaceful protest is understandable. And the fact is that we do know that the anger, pain and trauma that exists in Black community in that environment is real – it's serious, and it's consequential. But that does not justify violence. We should listen to Daunte's mom who is calling for peace and calm." Vice President Kamala Harris said "Daunte's family ... needs answers" on Twitter. Public figures and institutions The NAACP released a statement saying "Whether it be carelessness and negligence, or a blatant modern-day lynching, the result is the same. Another Black man has died at the hands of police." Referring to controversy surrounding traffic stops due to small objects dangling from rear-view mirrors, the American Civil Liberties Union said it had "deep concerns that police here appear to have used dangling air fresheners as an excuse for making a pretextual stop, something police do all too often to target Black people." Former President Barack Obama said of the incident, "Our hearts are heavy over yet another shooting of a Black man, Daunte Wright, at the hands of police. It's important to conduct a full and transparent investigation, but this is also a reminder of just how badly we need to reimagine policing and public safety in this country." Archbishop Bernard Hebda of the Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis offered prayers and condolences to all parties concerned, adding: "While early indications point towards the shooting being accidental, I encourage allowing investigators from the [BCA] to complete a thorough investigation before coming to any personal judgments as to what occurred." Al Sharpton said: "You can die for having expired tags or for a phony 20 dollar bill or you may have not even known it was a phony 20 dollar bill. It wouldn't happen in any other community." Although earlier in the day the Minnesota Twins had issued a statement postponing their Target Field home game, after the announcement of the curfew, the Wild postponed their home game in Saint Paul's Xcel Energy Center and the Timberwolves postponed their game in the Minneapolis Target Center. The Minnesota Vikings released a statement which said in part: "This avoidable situation is yet another tragic reminder of the drastic need for change in law enforcement." At their game back on April 13, the Timberwolves and the visiting Brooklyn Nets observed a moment of silence for Daunte Wright before the game while most players wore shirts that read "With Liberty and Justice FOR ALL". Chuck Valleau, head of the Brooklyn Center police union, said, "The death of Daunte Wright is terrible. And the loss of our co-worker Kimberly Potter is also terrible for what she's going through as well." Family Soon after the incident, Wright's mother spoke with reporters and said her son had phoned her during the traffic stop. She said she had overheard what sounded like a scuffle and an officer saying, "Daunte, don't run" before the phone hung up, and that her son said he had been pulled over for having an air freshener hanging from his rear-view mirror. Wright's mother talked about seeing her son's body over FaceTime at a press conference on April 13. The girlfriend of George Floyd was also one of Wright's former teachers, and attended the press conference for support. Floyd had been murdered during an arrest by Derek Chauvin of the Minneapolis police department on May 25, 2020. Relatives of at least six Black men killed by the police and a family member of Emmett Till, who had been lynched in Money, Mississippi, in 1955, were also present. Earlier that day, both parents appeared on Good Morning America, his father saying: "I lost my son, he's never coming back ... I can't accept that—a mistake, that doesn't even sound right," he added. "This officer has been on the force for 26 years. I can't accept that." The mother of Wright's son said: "His dad won't get to see him for his second birthday or for any of his birthdays. And I'm just so messed up about it because I feel like they stole my son's dad from him." Civil lawsuit On April 12, 2021, Wright's family hired civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump. They also obtained representation from attorneys Tony Romanucci and Jeff Storms. Memorials and funeral The evening of April 11, 2021, mourners and protesters held an evening vigil for Wright near the Brooklyn Center location were he was killed. On April 14, 2021, protesters put up a large, wooden sculpture of a raised fist at the 63rd Avenue North and Kathrene Drive intersection where car driven by Wright collided with another vehicle. The sculpture had been displayed previously at George Floyd Square in Minneapolis, but it was replaced there by a version made of metal. People also placed memorials for Wright at the location he was shot and the location where he was pronounced dead. Wright's funeral was held in Minneapolis on April 22, 2021. In attendance were relatives of Breonna Taylor, Philando Castile, and Oscar GrantBlack Americans who had been killed by police over the past dozen yearsand the family of Emmett Till, a Black American who was lynched in 1955. The eulogy was delivered by Al Sharpton. Jazz musician Keyon Harrold played an instrumental piece. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, and U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar attended the service. Walz issued a Minnesota proclamation that declared a moment of silence to coincide with the 12 p.m. start of the funeral. Impact on policing Taser and handgun confusion Wright's death was one of several instances in which a police officer admitted to firing a handgun when intending to draw and discharge a Taser, such as a 2002 shooting in Rochester, Minnesota, the fatal 2009 shooting of Oscar Grant by a Bay Area Rapid Transit officer in Oakland, California, and the deadly 2015 shooting of Eric Harris by a volunteer reserve deputy in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 2018, an officer coming to assist a policeman being assaulted during a traffic stop shot and wounded the arrestee in Lawrence, Kansas. After discharging her gun, startled, she yelled, "Oh, shit, I shot him." Though that officer was charged, a judge dismissed the charges. In 2019, a scuffle in a jail cell led to another accidental shooting by a backup officer in New Hope, Pennsylvania. The Bucks County, Pennsylvania District Attorney declined to press charges against the officer, saying state law excused the officer's conduct from criminal prosecution because of his "honest but mistaken" belief he was firing his Taser when he shot the wounded prisoner. In both cases, the officers shouted "Taser" before firing. Including Potter's killing of Wright, there had been 16 known cases when a police officer in the United States fired a pistol at someone but claimed to have intended to use a Taser instead. Changes to policies The killing of Daunte Wright led to several changes in policing policies in Brooklyn Center and elsewhere. In Brooklyn Center, the city council passed an ordinance in May 2021 named after Daunte Wright and Kobe Dimock-Heisler, another Black man who had been killed in an encounter with city police prior to Wright. The ordinance created unarmed traffic enforcement and community response teams, and it prohibited arrests or vehicle searches in certain traffic-related encounters. Wright's family believed that had the policy been in place when he was stopped by police, he would not have been killed. In September 2021, Brooklyn Center officials announced a new policy to cite and release criminal offenders for misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor charges rather than take people into immediate custody. Under the policy, police officers would still be able to make an arrest if an offender posed a safety threat. In December 2021, the city council passed a $1.3 million plan for alternative public safety programs, such as the use of unarmed workers to enforce nonmoving traffic violations and mental health response teams. $303,114 of the programs' budget came from eliminating three police officer positions. Local officials in Minnesota called for measures to better distinguish Tasers and firearms, as part of comprehensive police reform. In August 2021, Minneapolis, Minnesota, police announced they would not make traffic stops for minor infractions, such as expired vehicle tabs or having objects hanging on mirrors. Several other policing changes were made outside of the U.S. state of Minnesota in response to Wright's death. The police departments of Roeland Park, Kansas, and St. Ann, Missouri, made changes to their Taser policies, with Roeland Park police saying they would cross draw Tasers with "no exceptions", and St. Ann police saying they would only use yellow Tasers and require officers to carry them opposite their main weapon. The Washington State Legislature passed House Bill 1267, which will create a statewide office to investigate use-of-force incidents by July 2022, and Senate Bill 5259, which will create a statewide database of use-of-force incidents. See also 2020–2021 United States racial unrest List of killings by law enforcement officers in Minnesota Notes References Further reading McKinney, Matt and Kim Hyatt (August 22, 2021). "Forced to grieve in the spotlight: Daunte Wright's parents feel public support but also vilification of their son after his shooting death by a police officer in Brooklyn Center". Star Tribune. Retrieved August 22, 2021. External links Body camera footage posted by KARE-11, via YouTube City of Brooklyn Center, official website Minnesota Statutes § 609.20 Manslaughter in the First Degree Minnesota Statutes § 609.205 Manslaughter in the Second Degree 2020s in Minneapolis 2021 controversies in the United States 2020–2021 United States racial unrest African-American-related controversies April 2021 events in the United States Black Lives Matter African Americans shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States Deaths by firearm in Minnesota Deaths by person in the United States Filmed killings by law enforcement Law enforcement in Minnesota

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Adam%20Toledo

Killing of Adam Toledo

On March 29, 2021, Adam Toledo, a 13-year-old Latino American boy, was shot and killed by Chicago Police Department (CPD) officer Eric Stillman in the Little Village neighborhood on the West Side of Chicago at 2:38am local time. A few hours after the shooting, the CPD described the incident in a tweet as an "armed confrontation." On April 10, Cook County Assistant State's Attorney James Murphy alleged in court that Toledo was armed when the officer shot him. On April 15, Stillman's body cam video recording was released, appearing to show Toledo running away and dropping a handgun before he turned towards Stillman and raised his empty hands. According to the Chicago Police Department, Stillman shot at the boy less than a second after he dropped the gun. An area resident who said she witnessed the shooting from her apartment window across the street said that Toledo was complying with the officer's requests when he was shot, and the Toledo family's lawyer said in an interview that "Adam died because he complied." The handgun recovered at the scene by investigators was a 9mm semi-automatic pistol with an empty magazine. The release of the body cam video sparked protests in Chicago and around the country, and Murphy was placed on administrative leave for the misleading description that he delivered in court. Toledo was one of the youngest people killed by the police in the state of Illinois in years. His death has been connected by some analysts to a broader pattern of disproportionate police violence against Latinos and other children of color. It also occurred as the United States was grappling with several high-profile cases of police killing unarmed people of color. People involved Adam Toledo Adam Toledo (May 26, 2007 – March 29, 2021) was Mexican American. At the time of his death, he was a seventh-grader in the special-education program at Gary Elementary School from the Little Village neighborhood in Chicago. He had no prior criminal record and was 13 years old when he was killed. Ruben Roman Ruben Roman is a 21-year-old who was with Toledo. He was arrested by the CPD at the scene. Eric Stillman Eric Stillman is the 34-year-old police officer who shot Toledo. He has worked for the CPD since 2015. He was placed on administrative leave for 30 days following the incident. On May 6, 2021, it was announced Stillman had not returned to the CPD, though his routine leave had already ended. Incident Initial reports Prosecutors alleged that at around 2:30 a.m., Toledo and Roman were walking toward 24th Street when Roman fired multiple rounds as a vehicle passed. Police ShotSpotter detector technology registered shots fired and a squad car arrived at the scene. According to a statement from prosecutors, Toledo ran away from the officers that arrived, was chased into an alleyway, turned back to the officers with a gun in his hand, and was then shot by officer Eric Stillman in the chest. The police said that a handgun was recovered at the scene from behind a fence. Around 5:00 a.m., a CPD spokesman tweeted "one subject fled on foot which resulted in an armed confrontation." Around 4:00 p.m., the department released an official press release stating, "One armed offender fled from the officers. A foot pursuit ensued which resulted in a confrontation," which differed from the tweet that had referred to it as an "armed confrontation." Several days later, Cook County prosecutor James Murphy issued a statement in court alleging that Toledo was armed when he was killed. Following the public release of body cam footage, Murphy was placed on administrative leave over the statements, and the Cook County State's Attorney opened an internal investigation into the matter, including into whether or not Murphy had access to the footage at the time he made them. Body cam footage Body cam footage of Toledo's shooting, released on April 15, 2021, showed that Toledo was unarmed at the moment he was shot. The video shows officer Stillman chasing Toledo into the alleyway and yelling at him to stop. Toledo slows down and stops as Stillman catches up to him. In footage taken from another angle, Toledo appears to throw a pistol behind a fence just before turning to face the officer (body cam footage shows a pistol being recovered behind the fence two minutes after the shooting). Stillman yells "Show me your fucking hands" and "drop it" while flashing a strobe flashlight at him. Toledo turns around with his empty hands in the air, and Stillman then shoots Toledo as he does so. According to the CPD, there were 838 milliseconds (0.838 or 5⁄6 of a second) "between gun shown in hand and single shot". An eyewitness who saw the shooting through the living room window of her second floor apartment across the street said Toledo was unarmed and complying with Stillman's orders when he was shot, stating "Even if the kid had a gun and tossed it, you still shot him with no gun in his hands while he is following your orders." After shooting Toledo, officer Stillman called for medical assistance and began to perform CPR on him. Toledo was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigations and legal proceedings Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot called for reforms to how police pursue individuals on foot and called for a "thorough, expeditious" investigation. Officials have said they are in the "very early stages" of interviewing witnesses and officers. Autopsy On May 6, a Chicago medical examiner concluded Adam was killed by "a single bullet which entered the left side of his chest and exited the right side of his back". Stillman investigation On April 19, 2021, it was reported that Stillman had been interviewed by Cook County prosecutors as a part of their review of Toledo's death. That same day, it was reported Stillman had been listed as a victim on an incident report, which one law-enforcement expert said was a tactic used to shift the "focus of culpability and blame onto the actual victim of the police deadly-force incident, i.e., the person who the police killed." Roman charges Ruben Roman, the 21-year-old who was arrested on the night of Toledo's death, was charged with felony counts of child endangerment, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and reckless discharge of a firearm. He was released on bail on April 19, 2021, after the Chicago Community Bond Fund paid his bond. A representative of the organization stated, “We are aware that the city will continue to use him as a scapegoat for the killing of Adam Toledo, which was committed by the Chicago Police Department.” State's Attorney investigation On April 17, 2021, Kim Foxx, the Cook County State's Attorney, announced an investigation into why prosecutor's earlier descriptions of the shooting of Adam Toledo hadn't matched the video. Later that day, Foxx's office announced James Murphy, the prosecutor who had provided the "misleading" description of the video, would be placed on administrative leave. During a press conference on April 22, Foxx addressed the investigation, saying, "This is about the expectation of law enforcement to be forthright and transparent. There is no sacrificial lamb here. This is about making sure that we get it right and when we don't get it right, owning it doing what we need to do to make sure that it doesn't happen again." After Foxx admitted that she had neither watched the full video nor reviewed Murphy's statements prior to the court hearing, individuals such as a former-Representative Luis Gutierrez criticized her office. Gutierrez stated, "I would’ve spoken out earlier. I would've reached out. But you know what I thought? I said, the kid had a gun. He pointed it at the police officer. And then I saw the video. I didn't see a gun. What I saw was a frightened 13-year-old kid getting shot by a police officer." On May 5, Foxx' office announced it had concluded its investigation, stating that Murphy "did not intend to give the impression that Adam Toledo was holding a gun when shot," that he had returned to his assignment, and is no longer on leave. First Assistant State's Attorney Jennifer Coleman announced she would be resigning following the office's investigation. Calls for DOJ investigation On April 20, 2021, a group of Latino law associations, including the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois, the American Bar Association's Commission on Hispanic Legal Rights & Responsibilities, the Pilsen Law Center, and the Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois, called on the Department of Justice to launch a formal investigation into Toledo's death. The founder of the Pilsen Law Center stated, "Faith and trust in the police department are in short supply in the Latino community. An objective investigation conducted by the Justice Department would send a message to our community that this time is different." Reactions Protests Protests erupted in Chicago in the days following Toledo's death. In the lead up to the release of the body cam footage, all Chicago police officers' days off were cancelled to "ensure public safety". During the press conference releasing the body cam footage, Mayor Lightfoot stated that the city would be putting into place plans to prepare for unrest. In Chicago, protests in response to the video were peaceful. On April 15, several protests took place following the release of the body cam footage, one of which shut down traffic on northbound Michigan Avenue, and another of which occurred at Union Park. On April 16, protests of thousands of people were reported in Logan Square. Protestors chanted slogans like "Hands Up, Don't Shoot", "No justice, no peace", "Justice for Adam Toledo", and "Stop Racist Police Terror". Protestors called for Stillman's arrest, and for Lightfoot's resignation, citing her slow response to release information about the incident publicly. Lightfoot announced she would not resign. Protests and vigils for Toledo spread to other major cities in the United States. Family The Toledo family released a statement on April 16 that implored "everyone who gathers in Adam’s name to remain peaceful, respectful and nonviolent and to continue to work constructively and tirelessly for reform." Toledo's mother also said, "Adam was a sweet and loving boy. He would not want anyone else to be injured or die in his name." Toledo's older brother said Adam "wasn't a bad kid like everyone says he was. Us being little kids, we all made mistakes... kids will be kids and will make mistakes, but will learn from them– something my little brother didn't get the chance to do." Media In the aftermath of the shooting, Toledo and his family became targets of criticism by some commentators. In an interview with CNN, a police union representative described Toledo as a gang member and his killer as "heroic". Some attacked Toledo's mother. After implications were made that Toledo was a street kid, his family stated, “We want to correct the hurtful and false mischaracterization of Adam as a lonely child of the street who had no one to turn to. This is simply not true.” Eddie Bocanegra, of READI Chicago, criticized those attacking Toledo's mother, telling The New Yorker, “It’s bullshit... People ask, ‘What was he doing out at two-thirty,’ or they talk shit about his mom. Everyone’s so quick to judge." Some media commentators, such as John Oliver, criticized Chicago's changing characterizations of the shooting; Oliver stated, "We couldn’t even finish writing about what happened to Daunte Wright before the city of Chicago released video of one of their officers killing a 13-year-old unarmed child, Adam Toledo—footage which clearly contradicted the picture of an armed confrontation painted by the police and the mayor, as well as a prosecutor who said Toledo had a gun in his hand when he was shot, which he did not." Columnist Eric Zorn wrote an op-ed in the Chicago Tribune on April 6, 2021, saying it was "too early to say with confidence" what happened and thus Toledo should not be portrayed as a "martyr" until more facts come out. His comments were received with outrage. Days later in another op-ed, Zorn wrote that the "less supportive response" to his comments "took fair exception to my chilly, analytical tone... I regret that tone. In focusing on details and marshaling evidence and arguments, I can neglect the emotional resonance in situations, as though I’ve forgotten or don’t care that a child who was loved has died... I should have done better." In a CNN op-ed, the attorney Raul A. Reyes wrote, "Much of what we know so far is unacceptable... There has been a disproportionate focus on the circumstances surrounding the shooting, rather than on the fact that a police officer killed an unarmed child. Sadly, this kind of violence is familiar to Latino communities– and that should disturb all Americans." Public officials Congressman Joaquin Castro wrote on Twitter, "Adam Toledo was 13-years-old. He complied and had his hands up. Chicago police killed him with a shot to the chest and then lied that he posed an imminent threat. The Toledo family deserves justice and accountability." His brother, former-Secretary Julian Castro, wrote, "Chicago PD shot Adam Toledo with his hands in the air instantaneously after ordering him to do so—then lied about it. They executed Adam, a boy who was not yet in high school. Indict this officer, then pass a national use of force standard immediately." Former-U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich wrote, "Sean Hannity called Adam Toledo a '13-year-old man'. On Hannity’s show, Pam Bondi called Kyle Rittenhouse a 'little boy'. This tells you everything you need to know about the state of white supremacy in this country." Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote on Twitter, "My heart goes out to the loved ones of Adam Toledo and Daunte Wright and everyone who’s reeling from these horrifying killings. We must reimagine our criminal justice system and root systemic racism out of every institution." Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote, "Adam Toledo was just 13 years old. He was a child. This is heartbreaking. He deserves justice. His family deserves justice." Lori Lightfoot, mayor of Chicago, made an emotional call for peace after a video of Toledo's death was released on April 15. Illinois state Rep. Edgar Gonzalez, whose district includes Little Village, stated on the capitol floor on April 16, "If you put your hands up, they shoot. If you put your hands down, they shoot. If you walk, you run, you hide, you sleep, you do exactly as they say, they still shoot. What are we supposed to do?" Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker held a press conference about Toledo's death, stating it was “abundantly clear that our entire system failed Adam,” and that authorities need to move to “investigate and adjudicate what happened that night in Little Village in the interest of justice and accountability.” On Twitter, Illinois senator Tammy Duckworth wrote, "If we're to truly be the Land of the Free, every single American must feel safe, must be able to live." Public figures and institutions Domingo García, the president of LULAC, stated, “Words promising disciplinary action or possible court justice are not sufficient. Fire this officer now and make it clear that it is not open season on Latinos! This is a bad cop who acted out of anger and wanted to get even while Adam, barely a teenager, turned around and was trying to obey the officer’s orders to show his hands. The video shows an execution, nothing less. LULAC demands accountability and anything short of that is unacceptable.” Referring to controversy surrounding Chicago's foot pursuit policy, the American Civil Liberties Union released a statement saying, "The anger and frustration expressed by many in viewing the video is understandable and cannot be ignored. Now is a moment to truly embrace impacted communities in a critical discussion about needed changes to policing – including the adoption of a long-overdue foot chase policy that emerges from true, face-to-face community dialogue." Access Living, a disability rights organization in Chicago, released a statement, saying, "We continue to see the lives of people of color being the target of our criminal system. A high proportion of people involved... with law enforcement are people of color; of these, many are also disabled. Adam’s young life was another example of how we must continue to push for change and transparency within the systems that are failing us. All students of color with disabilities like Adam, deserve safety and full support from our society." Chicago Police Department On April 1, 2021, the CPD alerted its officers that Latin Kings gang members were allegedly instructed to open fire at unmarked police cruisers to retaliate for the shooting of Toledo. Aftermath Comparisons to other cases Toledo's death has been compared to the 2014 death of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, who was murdered by Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke in 2014 as he was walking away from police during a foot pursuit. Others have compared the shooting to the 2012 killing of 22-year-old Rekia Boyd, who was shot in the back of the head by off-duty Chicago Police Officer Dante Servin (Servin claimed he thought he saw a gun, though it turned out to have been a cellphone). Toledo's death has also been connected to other police killings of Black and Latino children in the United States, including 12-year-old Tamir Rice, 7-year-old Aiyana Stanley-Jones, 13-year-old Andy Lopez, and 18-year-old Andrés Guardado. Toledo’s death has also drawn comparisons to the killing of Anthony Alvarez, a 22-year-old Latino man who was killed in a foot pursuit by CPD two days after Toledo. Impact on the Latino community Toledo's death sparked discussion within the Latino community about police brutality, which is a major issue affecting U.S. Latino communities that's not often discussed. According to Roberto Rodríguez, a professor of Mexican-American studies at the University of Arizona, many people in the Latino community still view police violence as an African American issue, stating, "It’s like, when you think about Latinos, it’s immigration, and if we’re gonna talk about police brutality, law enforcement abuse, we’re talking about the African-American community". Patrisia Macias-Rojas, a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago further stated, “there’s a real opportunity here to link up what’s been happening in Latino communities around immigration and the criminalization of youth with what’s happening around Black Lives Matter.” Little Village In Toledo's hometown of Little Village, some have noted a generational divide between older and younger Latinos in their attitudes toward police in response to the shooting. In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, Doris Hernandez, a mother who lost her son to violence in 2012, said many older Latino immigrants and refugees in Little Village "come from rural towns with strong conservative values that are reflected in their opinions about religion and policing." In the same interview, Hernandez commended younger Latinos for trying to change the narrative for their parents and elders. According to Dolores Castañeda, a community organizer in Little Village, fears of intra-community violence sometimes leads to a failure "to focus on the root causes of crime, such as a lack of investment in the community, discriminatory policing and police brutality." Others have also noted the complexity of the issues facing the Latino community surrounding immigration status and language, in addition to stressors related to police brutality and poverty. Some in the community also expressed fears the CPD had stopped responding to calls in the neighborhood in retaliation for protests against Toledo's shooting; one resident stated, "The police used to take a while before they showed up when people called them for anything. Now they won’t show up at all." Reform proposals After the release of the video, Illinois state Rep. La Shawn Ford, the co-sponsor of a bill titled the Law Enforcement Accountability Act of 2021, called for a revamp of foot chase policies and the end of qualified immunity. Some community organizers in Chicago, meanwhile, have called to "defund the police and invest in our communities.” Students in the Chicago School District have called for the removal of armed officers from public schools. One student stated, “After I saw what happened to Adam, it made me feel more strongly. It makes you kind of nervous to be in school. It makes you think whether you should go to school." Foot pursuits Toledo's death led to a call from the mayor's office for a review of Chicago's foot pursuit practices. Lightfoot and Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown said that changes to the city’s foot-pursuit policy would be in place by the end of the summer of 2021. In response to these proposed policy changes, Latino community activists called for an immediate moratorium on foot pursuits in Chicago, the development of procedures outlining when an officer can engage in a chase, when lethal force may be used, and what disciplinary action should be taken for violations. Consent decree The CPD is currently operating under a court-ordered consent decree, which requires the city to implement hundreds of reforms to its policing practices. Because consent decrees are monitored by the U.S. Department of Justice, a group of Latino law associations called on the DOJ to open an investigation into Toledo's death, with a focus on three potential areas of reform: establish clear procedures about foot pursuits, develop oversight on how officers interact with children, and establish policies on how officers engage in car chases in densely populated neighborhoods. Police video In response to the wide circulation of Stillman's body camera footage, the American journalist Allissa Richardson called for an amendment to the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2005 to ban such video from being circulated on television and online without the victim’s family consent. Richardson wrote, "I now believe that circulating videos of Black and brown death at the hands of police reinforces white supremacy. It does not deter it. These videos are no longer exposing a corrupt police system. They are a reminder of a social hierarchy that privileges police with qualified immunity, rewards racist vigilantes with internet fame and money, and punishes communities of color with death if they question that order." See also Killing of Anthony Alvarez Lists of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States Police violence against Mexican Americans References External links Body camera footage posted by WLS-TV, via Youtube Chicago Police Consent Decree, per Illinois Attorney General The Story of Little Village, PBS history of Little Village, Chicago 2020s in Chicago 2021 controversies in the United States 2021 in Illinois Chicago Police Department Deaths by person in the United States Filmed killings by law enforcement Latino people shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States March 2021 events in the United States

67463653

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Ma%27Khia%20Bryant

Killing of Ma'Khia Bryant

On April 20, 2021, Ma'Khia Bryant, a 16-year-old Black girl, was fatally shot by police officer Nicholas Reardon in southeast Columbus, Ohio. Released body camera and security camera footage show Bryant brandishing a knife and charging two women consecutively, leading up to the moment Officer Reardon fired four shots; Bryant was struck at least once. Bryant immediately collapsed and was unresponsive. Reardon and other officers on the scene administered first aid. Bryant was transported to the hospital in critical condition, where she was later pronounced dead. The case was investigated by state authorities and then referred to local authorities. Reactions from the public included both support of the actions of the officer and protests against the killing. People involved Ma'Khia Bryant Bryant was a 16-year-old black girl who lived in suburban Columbus, Ohio. In February 2019, she and three of her siblings were removed from their mother and lived with their paternal grandmother for 16 months. After the landlord refused to allow their grandmother to have the children, Bryant and her sister were placed in group homes in foster care with the Franklin County Children Services system. On February 14, 2021, she moved into the private foster home where the shooting later occurred, joining her 15-year-old sister who had already been living there for a year. Bryant's foster mother described her as a quiet, untroubled girl who did not start fights. Nicholas Reardon Reardon is a police officer who was 23 years old at the time of the incident, and had been hired by the Columbus Division of Police in December 2019. He served in the Ohio Air National Guard 121st Security Forces Squadron for almost two years before becoming a police officer. Incident Bryant and her younger sister resided in foster care at the home of Angela Moore. On April 20, 2021, one of Moore's former foster children, 22-year-old Tionna Bonner, was alone with Bryant and her younger sister after they returned home from school. Following a dispute over housework, Bonner called another former foster child of Moore's, Shai-Onta Lana Craig-Watkins, now 20 years old, and Bryant's sister called her grandmother. When Moore came home from work, she was told that Bryant and the two women were arguing about housekeeping. Bryant's sister and grandmother have said Bonner pulled out a knife, and Bryant took a steak knife from the kitchen. Bryant's sister called 911 at 4:32 p.m., saying, "We got Angie's grown girls trying to fight us, trying to stab us, trying to put her hands on our grandma. Get here now!" Around 4:45 pm EDT, officers from the Columbus Division of Police responded to a 911 call reporting an attempted stabbing at the foster home. As Officer Reardon arrived at the home, surveillance footage from multiple angles showed several people in the driveway, including Bryant, who had emerged from behind the house. Reardon can be heard saying, "Hey. What's going on?" Bryant then pushed Craig-Watkins in front of Reardon and fell over her. Bryant's father tried to kick Craig-Watkins. Reardon drew his service pistol and shouted "Hey!" four times. Brandishing a knife, Bryant then lunged toward Bonner, and pinned her to a car. Reardon yelled at Bryant "Get down!" four times. As Bryant reached back with the knife, Reardon fired four shots, striking Bryant, who collapsed on the driveway. Police officers administered CPR until emergency responders arrived. Bryant was transported to Mount Carmel East, where she was pronounced dead at 5:21 pm EDT. Reactions Later that evening, Interim Chief of Police Michael Woods held a press conference about the shooting. Woods stated that the department's use of force policies permitted deadly force to protect the officer's own life or the life of another person. On April 21, Woods held another press conference, during which he released more body camera footage and played two 911 calls relating to the shooting. During the first, the caller tells the dispatcher that there were girls trying to stab them. Mayor Andrew Ginther said that the footage from the cruiser camera would be released later that day or the following morning. Over the following days, multiple experts on use of force policies stated that Reardon acted with reasonable use of force that was legally justified. Those interviewed included Philip Stinson, a Bowling Green State University criminal justice professor, and James Scanlon, a Columbus Division of Police veteran and former trainer who has served as an expert witness at use-of-force trials. The two said guns are an appropriate response to situations involving lethal force, and that police are trained to target a person's center mass, in order to effectively neutralize the threat. Stinson stated that if Reardon failed to act, it would likely have led to serious bodily harm or death. Geoffrey Alpert and Seth Stoughton, criminology and criminal justice professors and use-of-force experts at the University of South Carolina, concurred that the use of deadly force seemed appropriate. Some supported the police officer's actions. Mayor Ginther said that, "based on this footage, the officer took action to protect another young girl in our community", calling the shooting a tragic day. On Face the Nation, Democratic Congresswoman and former police chief Val Demings said, "But the limited information that I know in viewing the video, it appears that the officer responded as he was trained to do with the main thought of preventing a tragedy and a loss of life of the person who was about to be assaulted." CNN commentators Chris Cuomo and Don Lemon agreed that if the officer did not react in the time that he did, Bonner could have been killed, resulting in two tragic deaths instead of one. Conservative commentator Meghan McCain stated "she was about to stab another girl and I think the police officer did what he thought he had to do." However, some others did not support the measures taken by police. Jen Psaki, the White House Press Secretary, told reporters that President Joe Biden had been briefed on the situation, and that the shooting was tragic, underscored the systemic racism in policing, and made reference to higher rates of police violence experienced by black and Latino communities and the particular vulnerabilities of children in foster care. In addition to Psaki, Senators Cory Booker and Raphael Warnock voiced concerns that the killing pointed to the need for police reform to address "systemic racism and implicit bias". Professional basketball player LeBron James posted a tweet of an image of Reardon captioned "YOU'RE NEXT", referring to the conviction of Derek Chauvin, and then deleted it. Liberal commentator Joy Behar stated that the police should have shot the air and there is "something wrong if the only solution to someone potentially killing another human is to use deadly force." Bryant's parents, Paula Bryant and Myron Hammonds reacted to their daughter's killing with outrage, with Bryant saying "my daughter dispatched Columbus police for protection, not to be a homicide", and Hammonds calling his daughter "my peacemaker" and saying "to know Ma'Khia is to know life." Bryant's funeral was held on April 30 in Columbus. About 50 protesters gathered in Downtown Columbus on the night of the shooting; more gathered as they marched to the police headquarters to protest the shooting. At 2 p.m. on April 21, over 500 Ohio State University students marched from the Ohio Union to the Ohio Statehouse, chanting "Black Lives Matter" and "Say her name". More than 150 protesters gathered for a vigil for Bryant followed by a march to Columbus Division of Police headquarters later that day. At 9:30 p.m., a group of between 200 and 250 protesters marched to the Ohio Judicial Center. Within a few days of the killing, other protests occurred in Denver, Colorado, Miami, Florida, and Sacramento, California. Investigation Investigation of the shooting was transferred to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), which is routine for all police shootings in Columbus. On July 7, 2021, it was announced that the BCI completed its investigation. Following normal procedure, the investigation did not include the determination of fault or charges. The case was referred to the Franklin County Prosecutor G. Gary Tyack, who then assigned Columbus attorneys H. Tim Merkle and Gary Shroyer to handle the case as Special Prosecutors. It will eventually go to a grand jury. On April 28, 2021, the family of Ma'Khia Bryant and their lawyer, Michelle Martin, held a press conference and called for a federal investigation into Bryant's death and Ohio's foster care system. In August, a Coroner ruled the death a homicide. See also List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States, April 2021 References External links 2021 controversies in the United States Bryant 21st century in Columbus, Ohio African-American-related controversies April 2021 events in the United States Articles containing video clips African Americans shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States Child deaths Deaths by person in the United States Filmed killings by law enforcement Law enforcement in Ohio Stabbing attacks in 2021 [[Category:Stabbing attacks in the United States] Self defense Justifiable homicide

67492760

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Andrew%20Brown%20Jr.

Killing of Andrew Brown Jr.

On April 21, 2021, Andrew Brown Jr., a 42-year-old black American, was killed by a gunshot to the back of the head by the Sheriff Department in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, United States. The shooting occurred while deputies were serving drug-related search and arrest warrants at the Brown residence. The arrest warrant, issued on April 20, was for possession with intent to sell "approximately three grams of cocaine." Seven officers were placed on leave as a result of the shooting. The total amount of footage of the incident is around 2 hours. After being allowed to watch 20 seconds of body camera footage, a Brown family lawyer said that shots were first heard while Brown's car was sitting stationary, in his driveway, and that both of his hands were on the steering wheel. The District Attorney disagreed, saying shots were heard only after Brown put the vehicle in motion, attempted to flee, and caused the car to "make contact" with the arresting officers (none of the deputies sustained injuries). After being allowed to watch around 18 minutes of footage, a second Brown family lawyer said that the videos did not show Brown initiating contact between his car and the deputies. The full body camera videos of the shooting are currently being blocked by a judge's order from being publicly released. On May 18, 2021, District Attorney Andrew Womble announced that the deputies who shot Brown were justified in using deadly force and would not be charged criminally. "The facts of this case", said Womble, "clearly illustrate the officers who used deadly force on Andrew Brown Jr. did so reasonably and only when a violent felon used a deadly weapon to place their lives in danger". On May 5, 2021, prior to Womble's announcement attorneys for the Brown family had requested that Womble recuse himself, as he works with Sheriff Wooten and his deputies and his office physically resides in the Sheriff's department. They stated "The conflict is well-defined." Incident Police statement Pasquotank County Sheriff Tommy Wooten II said that "deputies from his department including a tactical team were attempting to perform search and arrest warrants on illegal distribution of cocaine, methamphetamine, crack cocaine and heroin when Brown was shot". Wooten also said that the deputies were not injured in the incident. Cause of death Brown's official death certificate states that Brown was killed by a gunshot to the head. The death certificate, issued by a local medical examiner, listed Brown's death as a homicide. Pathologist Brent Hall conducted a private autopsy at the behest of Brown's family; Hall stated that Brown had been shot five times: one shot in the back of the head, piercing his brain, and four shots to his right arm. Statements by Brown family lawyers On April 26, Brown's family and their lawyer, Chantel Cherry-Lassiter, were allowed by Pasquotank County to watch a short video of the shooting from one deputy's body camera. She said the 20-second clip showed the deputies shooting at Brown as he sat in his vehicle with his hands on the steering wheel. She said he then drove away, while the deputies continued shooting at him, before and after he crashed the vehicle into a nearby tree. She called his killing an "execution". She said the family was told that no drugs or weapons had been found in Brown's car or on his property. On May 11, after Brown's family and their lawyer, Chance Lynch, watched around 18 minutes of the two hours of video relating to the incident and commented on what they saw. Lynch said that they did not see Brown initiating "contact" between his car and the deputy sheriffs, nor did they see Brown driving towards the deputy sheriffs: "While there was a group of law enforcement that were in front of him, he went the opposite direction". Lynch also said that the deputy sheriffs might have reached out and touched the car. Statement by prosecutor On April 28, District Attorney Andrew Womble stated before a judge that Brown reversed his car, and it "make[s] contact with law enforcement officers", before driving his car forward and it "makes contact with law enforcement. It is then and only then that you hear shots". Womble said police "shouted commands and tried to open the car before any shots were fired," and called the family lawyer's description of events "patently false". Recusal requested On May 5, 2021 Brown family attorneys requested that District Attorney Womble recuse himself. They stated that both the deputies involved, as well as Sheriff Wooten had worked directly with Womble, on a daily basis, for a number of years, in prosecuting cases. They noted that Womble's office physically resides in the Pasquotank County Sheriff's department and stated "The conflict is well-defined." Status of bodycam videos On April 28, Judge Jeffery Foster issued an order to block the public release of body camera videos to the public for at least 30 days, thus rejecting requests by media outlets and the Pasquotank County sheriff for the publication of the videos, saying he did not want to affect the open investigation into Brown's death. North Carolina law states that body camera video is not a public record, and may only be released by a court order. Simultaneously, Foster ordered that Brown's family be allowed to watch redacted versions of five body camera videos and one dashboard video, within ten days. On May 18, 2021, about one minute of the bodycam video footage was released by District Attorney Andrew Womble. Investigations Seven sheriff's deputies were placed on administrative leave as a result of the shooting. Within a week of the killing, two other deputies resigned, and one other deputy retired; this was not related to the killing, stated a member of the Pasquotank County Sheriff's Office. On April 29, the names of the seven deputies were released. Four of the deputies involved in the incident were cleared to return to their duties because they did not fire their guns. The three deputies who fired shots remain on administrative leave, pending results of the internal investigation and investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation. The three officers placed on administrative leave were Daniel Meads, Robert Morgan, and Aaron Lewellyn. FBI investigation The FBI announced on April 27 that it would be launching a civil rights probe into Brown's death. An agency spokesman stated, "Agents will work closely with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina and the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice to determine whether federal laws were violated." Reactions Protests On the sixth day of marches in the city, protesters stopped traffic on the bridge over the Pasquotank River between Elizabeth City and Camden County for an hour. Elizabeth City Mayor Bettie Parker declared a state of emergency before the full release of the body cam footage that led up to the shooting. On the thirty fourth consecutive day of marches in Elizabeth City, a woman was arrested after striking protesters with her car on Ehringhaus Street. After initially being allowed to enter the street by Elizabeth City Police Department, the woman drove into the group, striking three people, before driving away. She was later apprehended by the police, arrested, and charged with two felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and one count each of careless and reckless driving and unsafe movement. People protested an emergency meeting of the Elizabeth City council with signs reading "Black Lives Matter" and "Stop Killing Unarmed Black Men". Public officials White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki stated, "Obviously, the loss of life is a tragedy and obviously we're thinking of the family members and the community" and that President Biden was aware of the situation. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, as well as the family of Brown, immediately called for the bodycam footage to be released. Cooper wrote, "Initial reports of the shooting in Elizabeth City and death of Andrew Brown, Jr. this week are tragic and extremely concerning. The body camera footage should be made public as quickly as possible and the SBI should investigate thoroughly to ensure accountability." Governor Cooper and Attorney General Josh Stein would later travel to Elizabeth City to meet with the Pasquotank NAACP, to address safety concerns in light of local protesters receiving threats. See also List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States, April 2021 References 2021 controversies in the United States Brown African-American-related controversies April 2021 events in the United States Law enforcement in North Carolina Deaths by person in the United States Brown

67497163

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Robert%20Delgado

Killing of Robert Delgado

Robert Douglas Delgado (December 13, 1974 - April 16, 2021) was an American living in Portland, Oregon, when he was shot and killed by Portland Police Bureau officer Zachary DeLong after spending a night in Lents Park. Incident Officers were called to the park after a 911 caller reported that a man in the park was drawing a gun but not pointing it at anyone. Police arrived at the park and targeted Delgado who appeared, from eyewitness video, to have been in a mental health crisis. According to recordings of police radio, and eyewitness video, officers hid behind a tree from Delgado and called out to him. When Delgado did not respond quickly, Officer DeLong shot and killed him. Police recovered a replica handgun with an orange tip and a magazine to the gun from Delgado. Delgado was the 29th man killed by Portland police officers since the opening of a "pattern and practice" investigation by the United States Department of Justice in 2011. Most killed were in some sort of mental health crisis. No police officer was held criminally responsible by the Multnomah County District Attorney for the deaths they caused and none faced discipline from the chiefs of the Portland Police Bureau, the mayors or city councilors, the state licensing board, or the state attorney general. Since its launch in 2001, Portland's Independent Police Review Board has not investigated a case of lethal use of force. Police released a photo of the toy gun, and the audio recording of the incident. Investigation On April 23, 2021, Delgado's family asked Oregon Governor Kate Brown, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, and Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt to appoint a special prosecutor to the criminal investigation of Officer DeLong. That request was joined by community organizations including the Oregon Justice Resource Center, the Mental Health Association of Portland, and the ACLU of Oregon. Other organizations, such as the Mental Health Alliance were outraged by the killing. On the afternoon of April 23, the Delgado family was joined by over 200 community members for a peaceful memorial gathering at Lents Park. Also on April 23, the police bureau denied a media request for an un-redacted version of the 18 minute 911 audio. Schmidt affirmed the PPB denial saying that, as of May 25, releasing the audio was premature. On April 27, Portland Police chief Chuck Lovell said the Bureau would cooperate with any review of the deadly shooting, including a special prosecutor appointed by the state's attorney general. On April 28, Rosenblum and Schmidt announced there would be a joint investigation into the death of Delgado. Grand jury On September 24, 2021, a Multnomah County grand jury announced it did not find enough evidence to charge Delong with any crime in relation to shooting Delgado. The officer testified he saw Delgado holding a pistol, which turned out to be a replica with an orange tip. Delgado's daughter was quoted, "There is no part of us that is really surprised. This wasn't a thorough investigation. It can never be when people are investigating their own people. There's just not questions being asked." Transcripts from three days of the Delgado / Delong grand jury were released November 13, 2021. Witnesses described Delgado acting erratically and becoming more agitated and incoherent after police arrived. In the transcript, members of Robert Delgado's family said they intend to commission their own investigation of the shooting and called Portland's mental health system dysfunctional. See also George Floyd protests in Portland, Oregon List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States References 1974 births 2021 deaths Police brutality in the United States April 2021 events in the United States Deaths by person in the United States

67526558

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Kawaski%20Trawick

Killing of Kawaski Trawick

Kawaski Trawick (1986 – 14 April 2019) was an African American personal trainer and dancer who was shot and killed on 14 April 2019 by police officers at his home in the Bronx, New York City. Biography Trawick's family lived in Milledgeville, Georgia, about two hours southeast of Atlanta. His mother worked as a state prison guard and would leave early for her job, so Trawick often prepared his three younger siblings for school, cooked and did the laundry. Trawick graduated from Atlanta Technical College in 2013. In 2016 he moved to New York City, wishing to start a dance studio. Trawick lived in a few places when he first moved to New York before moving in mid-2018 to Hill House in the Bronx. He had a history of mental health and drug issues. His neighbors at Hill House described him as "erratic", that he could be sweet and charming, but he would also walk through the hallways at all hours doing martial arts moves with his long stick which he once swung and broke a window with. Killing On 14 April 2019 Trawick called 911 saying that he was locked out his house, where there was food cooking on the hob, and claimed there was a fire. Firefighters left after letting him back into his home. The police were called that evening by the apartment's superintendent and a security guard who said Trawick was annoying neighbors by banging on doors holding a serrated bread knife and a broomstick. When NYPD officers Brendan Thompson and Herbert Davis approached his apartment, Davis knocked on his door, and when nobody answered, he knocked again and went on to open Trawick's front door. Trawick was found distressed, standing near his stove, and holding both the serrated knife and the broomstick, asking the officers repeatedly why they were in his home. The officers did not respond and asked him to put away his knife; Trawick in turn replied that he had a knife because he was cooking. Officer Davis, Black and more experienced, repeatedly tried to stop his white and less experienced partner from using force and told him "We ain’t gonna tase him". He walked away to turn off a radio before turning to the officers and asking again why they were in his house. Officer Thompson tased Trawick, knocking him down, and dropped his taser. Trawick recovered enraged, screamed at the officers and ran towards them. Davis again tried to stop his partner Thompson from using his gun and briefly pushed his gun down, saying, "No, no — don't, don't, don't, don't, don't." Thompson, who no longer had a taser, fired against Trawick three times, paused for a moment, and then fired a final shot. Shortly after the officers closed the door to the apartment without checking on Trawick or offering medical attention. Reactions Writing for Propublica, Eric Umansky, wrote that the officers could have tried to make a connection with Trawick, as the NYPD trains its officers to do, and answered his question about why they were there, that they could have decided to not use force, or that they could have waited for help, as one former NYPD detective told him, since department policy is to "isolate and contain" people in crisis. Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said the death "painfully illustrates" the fact that "urgent changes are needed in police response to mental health crises". In 12 August 2020, Clark issued a public statement saying that the case calls for "a thoughtful review of police procedures and training techniques" but that "we do not find that the facts warrant a criminal prosecution." The decision was criticized by Trawick's family and sparked calls for the officers to be fired. Clark released separate body camera video clips depicting the moment when officers Thompson and Davis entered Trawick's apartment, and a month afterwards ProPublica published additional body camera footage, after the non-profit organization New York Lawyers for the Public Interest used a lawsuit to obtain it from the NYPD, showing a sergeant asking "Who’s hurt?" and two unidentified officers replying "Just a perp." State Attorney General Letitia James' office declared it would not take the case, citing an 2015 executive order. His family and activists have urged for the Civilian Complaint Review Board, a civilian-led group investigating police misconduct, to begin a disciplinary trial that would fire the officers from their positions. New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams denounced the lack of disciplinary action and declared that the case represented a failure on the city's part to properly respond to mental health issues. Ileana Méndez-Peñate, a spokesperson for Communities United for Police Reform, declared that evidence showed that officers escalated the situation. See also Death of Layleen Polanco References 1986 births 2019 deaths 2019 controversies in the United States 2019 controversies 2019 in New York (state) 2019 in New York City 21st century in the Bronx April 2019 events in the United States African-American history in New York City African-American-related controversies Deaths by person in New York City Filmed deaths in the United States Filmed killings by law enforcement Law enforcement controversies in the United States New York City Police Department

67543658

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20James%20Mincey%20Jr.

Killing of James Mincey Jr.

James Mincey Jr. died on April 5, 1982 in Los Angeles, California after being placed in a carotid hold while under arrest by the Los Angeles Police Department. While driving home on an early April night in 1982, Mincey Jr. was stopped by police officers for a cracked windshield and was issued a ticket. A few minutes later, a pursuit was initiated after Mincey Jr. failed to stop for the police again. He was acting under the suspicion that the police were harassing him, so he continued driving home. Once home, Mincey Jr. exited his vehicle and was sprayed with "tear gas" in his face. He broke free from the two arresting officer's grips and moved towards his home, while trying to clean his face. Shortly after Mincey Jr., whom officers incorrectly believed to be under the influence of PCP, broke away from the arresting officers' grip, backup officers arrived. The backup officers failed to arrest Mincey Jr. after he broke free from an arresting officer's grip yet again. Finally, one of the officers was able to use a carotid chokehold on Mincey Jr., who was promptly handcuffed. After cuffing him, he was put into the back of one of the original arresting officer's police car and was driven to the hospital in "under sixty seconds". By the time his pregnant girlfriend was able to reach him in the hospital, she thought that "[h]e was pretty much gone already". James Mincey Jr. was pronounced dead on April 5, 1982 due to "blunt force injury to the neck". A lawsuit was filed over Mincey Jr.'s death and his father was ultimately paid $450,000 after the Los Angeles City Council agreed to settle for that amount. In response to James Mincey Jr.'s death and other deaths surrounding the use of chokeholds, the then-LAPD Police Chief, Daryl Gates, said "We may be finding that in some blacks when it [a chokehold] is applied, the veins and arteries do not open as fast as they do in normal people". His comment sparked outrage among many residents of Los Angeles at the time. In the media Let It Fall: Los Angeles 1982–1992 (2017), documentary about civil unrest in Los Angeles between 1982 and 1992 by John Ridley, Jeanmarie Condon, and Melia Patria. The death of James Mincey Jr. is one of the many highlighted instances of the LAPD using excessive force in the documentary. References 1982 deaths Police brutality in the United States

67548379

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Anthony%20Alvarez

Killing of Anthony Alvarez

On March 31, 2021, Anthony Alvarez, a 22-year-old Latino man, was shot and killed by a Chicago Police Department officer in the Portage Park neighborhood on the Northwest Side of Chicago. Police body camera footage of Alvarez' death was released on April 28, showing Alvarez being shot in the back while fleeing from police with a firearm in his hand. The footage of Alvarez' death was the third high-profile release of footage showing police killing a young Latino in the month of April 2021, following Adam Toledo and Mario Gonzalez. People involved Anthony Alvarez Anthony Alvarez was a 22-year-old Latino man from Chicago. He was a father. Evan Solano Evan Solano also a Latino was identified as the officer who shot Alvarez. He has been an officer for the Chicago Police Department since 2015. Investigations and legal proceedings The Civilian Office of Police Accountability has launched an investigation into the incident. A spokesperson for the organization recommended that Solano should “be relieved of police powers during the pendency of this investigation.” The Cook County State's Attorney’s office is also investigating the incident but has not commented on whether it plans to file charges. Incident In body cam footage of Alvarez' death, Solano can be seen pursuing Alvarez on Laramie Avenue, after what Mayor Lightfoot described as a minor traffic violation. At the intersection of Laramie and Eddy, a gun is visible in Alvarez's hand, Solano shouted "Drop the gun! Drop the gun!" before immediately firing five shots in quick succession at Alvarez' back. Alvarez asks “Why are you shooting me?” to which Solano replies “Because you had a gun.” Alvarez was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Reactions Family Alvarez’s father said “I can’t believe he is gone. I really miss my son. I just want some answers; why did they do this to Anthony?” At a protest for Alvarez, his aunt stated, "He didn’t deserve to get killed this way. What these cops did to him, it’s not right. They murdered my nephew. They killed them and they killed a part of me, a part of our family. We’re never going to be the same." Protests On May 1, about a hundred people marched through Portage Park in Chicago from West Irving Park Road and North Central Avenue to the site of Alvarez' death. Alvarez' family was amongst the protestors; his daughter held a sign reading "I miss my daddy." Protestors chanted "Hands up, don’t shoot" and “If Anthony don’t get no justice, then they don’t get no peace.” Activists stated, "We want that cop charged. We want the police defunded and that money put back into the communities." Institutions In response to Alvarez' death, the ACLU released a statement, saying, "Chicago communities also suffer trauma with each of these releases - especially Latino communities, which once again see how police respond to people from their neighborhoods... Chicago residents deserve meaningful changes to policing. They deserve a new policy on foot pursuits that is informed by community voices and driven by community needs - and one that actually results in changes in how police officers treat human beings." Public officials Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot stated in a press conference prior to the video's release, "We can’t live in a world where a minor traffic offense results in someone being shot and killed. That’s not acceptable to me, and it shouldn’t be acceptable to anyone." Ald. George Cardenas stated, "The guy didn’t look like he was a threat to the officer. If he faces the officer with the gun, then maybe that’s a reason to kind of react... But if he’s not facing you, you’ve got to give him time to get on his knees, put his hands behind his back. The whole thing was, 'Drop the gun. Drop the gun.' Then, pow, pow, pow... The situation is not good." Cardenas also said that Illinois state law "allows you to carry a gun, so a lot of people are gonna have guns in their hands. That’s not a reason to shoot anybody.” U.S. House Representative Jesus "Chuy" Garcia wrote on twitter, "Whether it’s a 13yo or a 22yo, police encounters shouldn’t end in death. The killings of Adam Toledo & Anthony Alvarez aren’t isolated, rather the tip of an iceberg revealing a system tilted against Black & Brown communities. Whatever the circumstances, the killings must end." Illinois State Representative Will Guzzardi said, "There’s nothing you can do, no record on your background, no affiliations, no history, nothing you can do to deserve being shot in the back while you run. Let me repeat that. There is nothing Anthony could have done to deserve the fate that befell him. This is not an inditement of any bad apples. But rather of the very role that we have given to law enforcement, a role that they didn’t ask for and that they don’t want, and a role that leads inexorability to the kind of tragedy that we mourn yet again today." Aftermath Foot pursuits In the aftermath of both Alvarez' and Toledo's shootings, Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown said that changes to the city’s foot-pursuit policy would be in place by the end of the summer of 2021. The city's practice has been under scrutiny since 2017, when a Department of Justice report called foot pursuits "'inherently dangerous' because officers can experience fatigue or adrenaline, which can compromise their ability to make sound judgments or use less force as the threat diminishes." The city's police is currently under a federal consent decree, which requires the department to make reforms to its policing practices. In 2020, a civil rights lawsuit forced Chicago to retrain its officers on foot pursuit tactics, but the court-mandated independent monitoring team has warned that officers don't have "the requisite buy-in" on the reforms, because "There is a sense that these concepts go against the culture of the organization." See also Lists of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States Police violence against Mexican Americans References External links Body camera footage posted by COPA, via Vimeo Chicago Police Consent Decree, per Illinois Attorney General 2020s in Chicago 2021 controversies in the United States 2021 in Illinois Chicago Police Department Deaths by person in the United States Filmed killings by law enforcement Latino people shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States March 2021 events in the United States

67867806

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Winston%20Boogie%20Smith

Killing of Winston Boogie Smith

Law enforcement authorities fatally shot Winston Boogie Smith, a 32-year-old black American man, in the Uptown area of Minneapolis at 2:08p.m.CDT on June 3, 2021. Smith was being pursued by a U.S. Marshals Service task force that apprehends wanted fugitives. The arrest operation had the participation of undercover agents from several local police agencies in Minnesota. Smith was killed by the fourteen or fifteen rounds fired by law enforcement officers. The officers did not use body cameras or dashcams when apprehending Smith, and there is no known video evidence of the June 3 shooting. An investigation of law enforcement conduct by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) after the shooting said that Smith had brandished a firearm at officers who attempted to arrest him, and that they had found shell casings, ballistic evidence, and DNA samples to support their claim that Smith had fired the weapon during the encounter. An attorney for the passenger in the vehicle with Smith contradicted the law enforcement description of events. The passenger had not seen a gun on Smith or in the vehicle, but she had ducked for cover after pleading with Smith to surrender and did not visually witness the exchange of gunfire. In September 2021, the BCA sent the case to the Crow Wing County attorney's office to determine if the officers who shot Smith should face criminal charges. Controversy over the lack of law enforcement footage of the arrest operation led to local police agencies ceasing aid to the Marshals Service's fugitive task force, and to changes to body and dash camera policies by the Marshals and other federal law enforcement agencies. Several protests were held in reaction to Smith's killing, beginning on June 3, and the Uptown area experienced civil disorder over the subsequent weeks. Deona Knajdek was killed and three others were injured on June 13 after a man rammed his vehicle into a group of demonstrators who had blockaded a street. In a report released on October 11, 2021, Donald Ryan, the attorney for Crow Wing County, said that the officers’ actions were justified under Minnesota state law and that no criminal charges should be filed against them. Background Winston Boogie Smith Jr. was a 32-year-old black American man who resided in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He attended Coon Rapids High School. As a musician, he went by the nickname Wince Me Boi. Smith was a father of three. Smith was convicted previously of first-degree aggravated robbery related to a 2017 assault and robbery of his ex-girlfriend. He was sentenced to a 48-month prison term, but was released on parole. The conviction also barred Smith from possessing a firearm. Smith was arrested on a probation violation in November 2019 when officers found a loaded handgun under the driver's seat of his car. He was subsequently charged in Ramsey County court for illegally possessing a firearm. Smith pled guilty to the weapons charge in November 2020 on the day before the trial was scheduled to start. Smith later sought to withdraw the guilty plea, which would have resulted in four years of prison time, but was denied by a judge. In 2020, police in Bloomington, Minnesota, attempted to arrest Smith on several local warrants. Smith, who was in a parking lot at the Mall of America, allegedly fled in his vehicle while police gave chase on Interstate 494, as Smith allegedly drove at high speed in the opposite direction of traffic. Police ended the pursuit due to concerns over public safety. Smith later faced charges in Hennepin County related to the incident, and had a court hearing scheduled for September 2021. Smith missed a May 19, 2021, sentencing hearing, and a new warrant in Minnesota was issued for his arrest, and he was ordered to be held without bond or bail. An internal police document included a quote from Smith that he might "shoot it out" if authorities tried to apprehend him. Smith had been active on social media, where in addition to posting his music, comedy sketches, and photos of family and friends, he had been outspoken about police killings of black men. He also spoke about his own upcoming sentencing, not wanting to spend four years in jail, and how he was not guilty of the weapons charge he was facing. He also compared his situation to video footage he had seen of Dolal Idd, a Somali-American man who was killed by Minneapolis police in an exchange of gunfire on December 30, 2020. Two of Smith's postings to social media had suggested support for violence against police. Incident People involved Winston Boogie Smith was inside a stationary Maserati SUV with a female passenger, Norhan Askar, the afternoon of June 3, 2021, on the fifth floor of a parking ramp. A U.S. Marshals Service task force that apprehends wanted fugitives had been pursuing the arrest of Smith, for whom an arrest warrant had been issued after he missed a sentencing date in May in relation to a weapons charge. Undercover officers from the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office and Ramsey County Sheriff's Officetwo local police agencies in Minnesotaassisted in the effort to apprehend Smith. The Minneapolis Police Department did not assist the arrest operation though it occurred inside their municipal jurisdiction. The operation also had the participation of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Minnesota Department of Corrections, and the Anoka County Sheriff's Office. Shooting On June 3, the U.S. Marshals Service-led task force was looking for another suspect, but was tipped off to the location of Smith, and with the assistance of several local police agencies in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area, they attempted to apprehend him. Authorities were monitoring Smith's social media posts, which included content of him brandishing a firearm and offering drugs and weapons for sale, that they used to verify his identity. They decided to arrest him where he parked the vehicle he was driving, a Maserati SUV, that law enforcement authorities had known Smith to use. Smith and Askar were eating at Stella's Fish Café, a restaurant on West Lake Street, near Seven Points, in the Uptown neighborhood of Minneapolis. After departing the restaurant, Smith and Askar made their way to the Maserati vehicle atop a parking ramp near West Lake Street and Girard Avenue South as undercover law enforcement agents surrounded them in several unmarked vehicles. The task force members activated their lights and sirens and used their vehicles to block the Maserati vehicle. For several minutes, task force members in tactical gear repeatedly told Smith he was under arrest, to put his hands up, and exit the vehiclecommands that a citizen bystander overheard. The officers attempted to break the windows of the Maserati to extract Smith. Smith, who had been holding a cellphone in an attempt to begin a Facebook livestream, dropped it and reached into the back seat to grab an item. According to law enforcement accounts of the incident, Smith then brandished a gun and fired it from inside his vehicle. At 2:08p.m.CDT, the Hennepin County and Ramsey County officers fired fifteen rounds, striking Smith. Medical aid rendered at the scene was unsuccessful and Smith died at 2:11p.m. Immediate aftermath Minneapolis police officers who arrived at the scene and were wearing body cameras interviewed Askar. In their video footage, Askar said she pleaded with Smith to put his hands up and comply with the officers, but he refused and said he did not want to go to jail and that he was going to die. She also gave a statement to Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agents, when she said that she said that the incident happened fast and that she did not remember seeing a gun in Smith's vehicle. Askar did not visually witness the shooting as she had ducked for cover, and she expressed confusion afterwards about whether a shooting had occurred. Askar was injured from flying glass and taken to Hennepin County Medical Center for treatment. No officers reported any injuries. Investigation Initial report According to the U.S. Marshals Service in a statement they released soon after the incident, Smith had failed to comply with orders from apprehending officers, and that he produced a handgun, which resulted in the task force firing at him. The BCA said in a preliminary report that Smith had fired a gun at the apprehending officers from inside of his vehicle, and that authorities recovered a handgun and spent ammunition cartridges from the driver's side of his vehicle. According to court documents and officer conduct report, investigators at the scene recovered from Smith's vehicle a Smith & Wesson M&P 380 handgun loaded with one live cartridge on the driver's side and six spent Blazer 380 Auto cartridge cases, as well as an empty gun magazine that was inside a duffel bag. Outside the passenger's side of Smith's vehicle, investigators recovered fifteen (another source says says fourteen) FC 9mm Luger cartridge cases from where the officers had fired. Several bullet fragments were recovered from inside the vehicle. Autopsy An autopsy report issued by the medical examiner's office for Hennepin County ruled the manner of Smith's death, which occurred at 2:11p.m.CDT on June 3, 2021, to be a homicide from multiple gunshot wounds. According to attorneys for Askar, the BCA did not take gunshot residue samples from Smith before his body was washed by the medical examiner, evidence they felt could exonerate Smith from the BCA claim that he possessed and fired a gun. The BCA said it believed that such tests would have been inconclusive and opted instead for DNA testing and other examinations of the gun recovered in Smith's vehicle. Bureau of Criminal Apprehension In the immediate aftermath of the officer-involved shooting, per state law, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) began an investigation of officer conduct. The officers who shot at Smith were placed on administrative leave, a standard protocol, pending further investigation. The BCA did not publicly name the officers who shot at Smith as Minnesota Statutes prevented release of undercover agents' identities. The BCA, whose agents had participated in past North Star Fugitive Task Force operations, said that it was not a participant in the Smith operation and that it did not believe it had conflict of interest in reviewing the case. Smith's family retained attorneys Benjamin Crump and Jeff Storms, who represented the family of George Floyd and helped obtain a $27million wrongful death settlement from the city of Minneapolis. On June 10, 2021, attorneys for the passenger that was in Smith's car during the June 3 incident said that she had never seen a firearm on Smith or in the vehicle, which contradicted the law enforcement account and the evidence the BCA said was found at the scenea handgun and spent ammunition cartridges. Smith's family and advocates challenged the BCA to produce more evidence to support their claims. In response, a spokesperson for the BCA said the agency stood by its earlier statements that evidence gathered at the scene supported their claim that Smith had fired a gun from inside the vehicle. By mid June 2021, the exact sequence of events during the June 3 encounter were unclear from the BCA's preliminary investigation. In search warrants filed in court, the BCA said that "at some point during the interaction, shots were fired". The BCA had not said who fired first in public statements about the incident. The BCA completed its investigation of the shooting in July 2021. Officer charging decision The BCA sent the completed case to Crow Wing County attorney Donald Ryan to determine if the involved officers should face criminal charges. Though the June 3 shooting took place in Hennepin County, its attorney Michael O. Freeman sought another prosecutor who did not have a conflict of interest in the case from past work with involved law enforcement organizations and personnel. Ryan said on September 28, 2021, that he intended to have a final decision by mid-October 2021. Ryan's determination, released publicly on October 11, 2021, was that the use deadly force in this instance was lawful under Minnesota law and that no charges would be filed against the involved officers. Ryan's report said that Smith ignored law enforcement commands to exit his vehicle as agents attempted to arrest him, and while the officers were breaking windows to remove him from the vehicle, Smith dropped a cellphone he had been holding and reached for an object from the backseat. An officer observed Smith with a gun and opened fire, and another officer fired in reaction though they did not directly observe Smith with a gun. The report stated that Smith had fired his handgun six times from inside the vehicle during the incident. Smith's DNA was found on the gun and bullet fragments and other ballistic evidence support the law enforcement claim that Smith discharged it multiple times during the June 3 incident. Ryan was "unable to determine who fired first", but considered the matter "irrelevant" as Smith's actions to reach for and brandish a firearm constituted an initiation of a deadly force confrontation. Release of the case file The BCA released its complete case file to the news media on October 20, 2021, that revealed new details about the case. The gun allegedly fired by Smith had been reported stolen out of Des Moines, Iowa. The involved officers declined to be interviewed in person by the BCA and instead submitted written statements of their accounts of what happened. Body camera controversy The lack of video footage to corroborate the law enforcement account of the incident resulted in controversy. There was no video footage from police body camera or dashcam of the incident. The operator of the parking ramp said that there was no surveillance video of the incident as any cameras were pointed at entrances and stairwells. The BCA have said there is no body camera or dashcam footage of the incident because they were assisting U.S. Marshals. The U.S. Marshals Services formerly prohibited local law enforcement authorities who assisted them from using body or dash cameras, though the guidance was updated in October 2020 to permit camera use during arrest or search operations. According to a spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, the Marshals Service had not yet phased in the use of cameras as allowed by the policy change. Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher accused the Marshals Service of having been "misleading in their public comments to the media" about policies regarding the usage of body cameras. He said the county had repeatedly asked to use body cameras, but was denied as recently as May 25. He said the Marshals Service changed their policy to allow body camera usage on June 4, the day after Smith was killed, but still would not allow cameras "until the onboarding process goes on". Following the shooting, the Hennepin, Ramsey, and Anoka county sheriff's offices announced they would suspend participation in the federal task force over the body camera issue. The former policy preventing body camera use by local police officers was a reason that police departments for Minneapolis and Saint Paul stopped allowing officers to assist the fugitive task force's operations in recent years. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said on June 15 that the Minneapolis Police Department would not assist any multi-agency law enforcement operation that prohibited use of officer cameras. After facing public criticism for the lack of law enforcement officer accountability in Smith's case, the U.S. Department of Justice announced on June 7, 2021, that federal agents would be required to wear body cameras for warranted arrests and searches of buildings, in a reversal of a longstanding policy. Deputy U.S. Attorney General Lisa Monaco ordered the heads of the Marshals Service, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to create body camera policies within 30 days. The incident led to wider adoption of body camera usage in the United States and Minnesota. The U.S. Department of Justice began a phased program to implement body camera usage and requested that Congress provide more funding to equip all agents. In 2021, the Minnesota Legislature provided $600,000 to equipment BCA officers with body cameras, and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety began a $500,000 grant program to equip more smaller law enforcement agencies in the state with body cameras. Protests Uptown civil unrest Protests began on June 3 and continued for several days, primarily in the Uptown area of Minneapolis. Minneapolis police made several arrests for looting and rioting during the overnight hours of June 3 and 4. Over the next several days, demonstrators intermittently held portions of West Lake Street near where Smith was killed by blocking the road to vehicular traffic with makeshift barriers, and city officials sent crews to remove barricades and reopen the street to vehicle traffic. Nightly demonstrations were held through mid July and unrest continued for several months. Killing of Deona Knajdek On June 13, Deona Knajdek, a protester, was killed and three others were injured when a vehicle rammed into a demonstration at the intersection of West Lake Street and Girard Avenue. Reaction Misinformation Initial reports by police scanners and a story by the Star Tribune newspaper said law enforcement had shot and killed a "murder suspect", a detail that was later proved false and that the newspaper retracted and apologized for. The false "murder suspect" claim was compared to the Minneapolis Police Department's initial statement in May 2020 that mischaracterized George Floyd's murder as a "medical distress". The false report led to further public distrust in the days after Smith's death. Local activist Nekima Levy Armstrong said in an opinion article published by the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder on June 16 that the false characterization by the Star Tribune represented a pattern of "demonization of Black victims of police violence". Family and civil rights activism Civil rights activists and Smith's friends and family disputed the law enforcement accounts of the incident. Smith's family held a press conference on June 4 outside the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension building in Saint Paul to demanded greater law enforcement transparency and the release of any surveillance footage that might have captured the incident. Local organization Communities United Against Police Brutality held a separate press conference near the shooting site on June 4 to call for officials to release video footage and other details of the shooting. Activist Nekima Levy Armstrong led a 50-person protest on June 8 outside the suburban home of Minnesota's U.S. Marshal, Ramona Dohman, calling for her resignation. Armstrong alleged that Dohman, a Trump administration appointee, had a conflict of interest due to a past working relationship with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. A racial justice group led by Armstrong also called on Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to prohibit local agencies from participating in U.S. Marshals' task force operations. Public officials Minneapolis city counselor Lisa Bender said on June 16, 2021, that preliminary information released by law enforcement about the incident was "incomplete and inconsistent". Civil lawsuits Attorneys for Askar, the passenger in the car with Smith, said at a July 1, 2021, press conference that they would file a civil rights suit against the U.S. Marshals and local law enforcement agencies. Her attorneys said that the officers who approached the vehicle on June 3 did not identify themselves and were not wearing uniforms. They also said according to Askar, Smith had a mobile phone in his hand and attempted to record a video via Facebook Live when officers fired upon the vehicle. The attorneys reiterated that she did not observe Smith with a gun, which contradicted the BCA's claim that they recovered a weapon and spent ammunition cartridges in the vehicle occupied by Smith. In July 2021, Askar filed a lawsuit in Hennepin County District Court seeking $50,000 in relief for injuries sustained by shattered glass from gunshots fired by law enforcement officers. Attorneys for Askar also notified the U.S. Marshals Service of impending civil actions using the Federal Tort Claims Act for pursuit of $15 million in compensation. Charging decision In October 2021, in response to the decision not to charge the officers, Jaylani Hussein, the executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said on October 11, 2021, "There is absolutely no confidence that county prosecutors can fully bring forth justice against law enforcement." Attorneys for the family of Winston Smith called for an independent investigation of the incident. Memorials Family and friends of Smith held a vigil the evening of June 4 at the parking ramp where he was killed. The funeral for Smith was held at Shiloh Temple in north Minneapolis on June 12. Smith was buried at Crystal Lake Cemetery in Minneapolis. See also 2020–2021 Minneapolis–Saint Paul racial unrest 2020–2021 United States racial unrest List of killings by law enforcement officers in Minnesota The Marshall Project References Further reading U.S. Attorney's Office (June 5, 2021). "Statement of the U.S. Attorney's Office Regarding The U.S. Marshals Task Force". U.S. Department of Justice. Editorial Board (June 8, 2021). "No excuse for lack of arrest video". Star Tribune. Reeves, Mel (June 12, 2021). "Homegoing ceremony for Winston Boogie Smith filled with laughter reflection, tears". Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. Ashley Hackett (June 16, 2021). "Why the involvement of U.S. Marshals complicates potential legal proceedings around the killing of Winston Smith". MinnPost. Moriarty, Marty (June 17, 2021). “Opinion: U.S Marshal's fateful, foolish decision not to use bodycams”. Minnesota Reformer. Pod Damn America (July 4, 2021). "Winston Smith and the Narrative War in Minneapolis" (transcribed by AntideZine). Retrieved December 17, 2021. Ryan, Donald (October 6, 2021). "Use of Deadly Force Investigation arising out of 6/3/2021 US Marshal Task Force attempt to apprehend Winston Smith". Crow Wing County. External links 2020–2021 United States racial unrest 2020s in Minneapolis 2021 controversies in the United States 2021 in Minnesota African-American-related controversies Black Lives Matter African Americans shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States Deaths by person in the United States June 2021 events in the United States Law enforcement controversies in the United States Law enforcement in Minnesota

67915951

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Iremamber%20Sykap

Killing of Iremamber Sykap

On April 5, 2021, Micronesian 16-year-old Iremamber Sykap was killed on Kalākaua Avenue when Honolulu police officer Geoffrey Thom fired 10 rounds at Sykap through the rear window of a stolen car after it had stopped at an intersection following a police pursuit. Thom was charged with second-degree murder for the shooting, and two other Honolulu Police Department officers were charged with attempted second-degree murder. The charges were dismissed in district court on August 18, 2021. Background On April 5, 2021, officers from the Honolulu Police Department shot at a stolen Honda Accord with six occupants between the ages of 14 and 22, killing 16-year-old Micronesian teen Iremamber Sykap. The department stated that Sykap had been driving the car, that the car was stolen from Kailua, and that it was linked to multiple crimes including an armed robbery in Moiliili that occurred 20 minutes before the shooting. Hours after the shooting, chief of police Susan Ballard told reporters that officers had fired at the car while it rammed two marked police vehicles and drove through a fence into Kalakaua Canal, attributing the decision to open fire to the officers' knowledge that the occupants of the car had been involved in recent crimes. Shooting In May 2021, Hawaii News Now obtained bodycam footage of the shooting from a camera on the officer who shot first. In the footage as described by Hawaii News Now, the officer is a passenger in a squad car, and repeatedly says "stop the vehicle" during the pursuit. The Honda Accord stops, and the officer subsequently gets out of the squad car, drops and then recovers his rifle, moves behind the Honda, and fires ten shots at the back of the driver's seat. The Honda then accelerates through a fence and into the canal. Legal proceedings On May 21, 2021, Sykap's mother and grandmother filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the involved officers and the City & County of Honolulu. The suit alleged that the Honolulu Police Department had intimidated relatives of Sykap and was withholding information about the shooting. Eric A. Seitz, the attorney representing Sykap's mother and grandmother in the suit, said that witness statements and bodycam video showed that the car was not moving when officers fired into it and that "the shooting was entirely unnecessary and unwarranted". Also in May 2021, the Civil Beat Law Center for the Public Interest made a public records request for all police bodycam footage to be released, then sued the Honolulu Prosecutor's office after they denied the request on the basis that the investigation was still open and release of the footage could "poison the jury pool". The suit argued that the existence of an open investigation is not a valid reason to block government records from the public. , the Honolulu Police Department continued to consider the shooting justifiable and had not officially released any bodycam footage. A medical report released by Eric Seitz showed that a shot to the back of the head was the cause of Sykap's death, and that he was also hit by two bullets in the back of his right shoulder and one in the back of his left. On the afternoon of June 9, 2021, the Honolulu Prosecutor's office released a statement that it had presented evidence to a grand jury, which declined to indict any of the three officers that the office intended to prosecute. Eric Seitz expressed a desire to access transcripts of the jury proceedings, which William S. Richardson School of Law professor Kenneth Lawson said would be the only way for the public to know what evidence was presented. On June 17, 2021, prosecutors charged Officer Geoffrey H.L. Thom with second-degree murder, and Officers Christopher Fredeluces and Zackary K. Ah Nee with attempted second-degree murder. The trial marked the first time in over 40 years that a Honolulu police officer has been charged in a fatal shooting. On August 18, District Court Judge William Domingo dismissed charges against all three officers, ruling that there was "no probable cause" for murder or attempted murder. Honolulu Prosecutor Steve Alm expressed disappointment and disagreement with the dismissal of charges, but indicated that his office would appeal the ruling or continue to pursue legal action against the three officers involved. On September 30, 2021, Hawaii state judge Jeffrey Crabtree ruled that all police bodycam footage connected to the killing must be released. A spokesman for the office of Honolulu County Prosecutor Steve Alm declined to say whether the office would release the footage or appeal the ruling. Public response On September 7, 2021, retired Honolulu police training officer John Frierson publicly criticized the actions of the three officers involved in the shooting. Frierson, who was previously called to testify for the prosecution at a preliminary hearing but was barred from doing so because the judge said the defense had not had time to prepare, said that the involved officers did not follow their training. See also Killing of Lindani Myeni References April 2021 events in the United States Anti-indigenous racism in Oceania Deaths by firearm in Hawaii Filmed killings by law enforcement Incidents of violence against boys Killings by law enforcement officers in the United States Micronesian American Pacific Islands-American culture in Honolulu Pacific Islands American history People shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States

67933820

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Tony%20Timpa

Killing of Tony Timpa

The killing of Tony Timpa took place in Dallas, Texas on August 10, 2016. Background Timpa was a 32-year-old White American trucking company executive from Rockwall, Texas. He had called 9-1-1 for aid, telling the dispatcher that he had schizophrenia and depression but had not taken his prescription medication. Incident Timpa had already been handcuffed by a security guard when a group of officers arrived. They restrained him on the ground while he squirmed, repeatedly crying out, "You're gonna kill me!". After he fell unconscious, the officers assumed he was asleep and, rather than confirm that he was breathing or feel for a pulse, joked about waking him up for school and making him breakfast. They kept him prone on grass for nearly 14 minutes and zip-tied his legs together, one pressing his knee into Timpa's back. One of the paramedics called to the scene administered the sedative Versed. The responders began to panic only as they loaded Timpa's body onto a gurney, one exclaiming, "He didn’t just die down there, did he?" Timpa died within 20 minutes of police officers' arrival, of "cocaine and the stress associated with physical restraint", according to his autopsy. Legal proceedings It took over three years for footage of the incident to be released. The footage contradicted claims by Dallas Police that Timpa was aggressive. The officers involved were Sgt. Kevin Mansell and Officers Danny Vasquez and Dustin Dillard. Criminal charges against three officers were dropped in March 2019 and they returned to active duty. An excessive force civil lawsuit against the officers was dismissed by U. S. District Judge David C. Godbey in July 2020 on the basis of qualified immunity. As of May 2021, this case is under appeal. On December 15, 2021, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision reversing the trial court decision giving the officers qualified immunity, which means the Timpa family have won the right to go to trial in their case against Dillard. Reactions Timpa's death came to prominence in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd, who was killed in a similar way. When Derek Chauvin was convicted of murdering Floyd, a number of commentators drew comparisons between Floyd and Timpa. Ryan Mills, writing in the National Review, noted that, "There was no national uproar after Timpa's death. No national cries for justice and reform. The city of Dallas paid no settlement to Timpa's family." References 2016 in Texas 2019 controversies in the United States Dallas Police Department Timpa Filmed killings by law enforcement

67982801

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Usama%20Nadeem%20Satti

Killing of Usama Nadeem Satti

On 1 January 2021, 22 years old Usama Nadeem Satti was shot dead by Pakistan's Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) personnel in the G-10/4 area between Friday and Saturday night. Protest Satti's family and a large number of students protested in front of the National Press Club. Protestors demanded punishment of the culprits and Satti's parents called on Prime Minister Imran Khan to ensure a fair investigation. Joint Investigation Team The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) has confirmed that Osama Nadeem Satti was killed by Islamabad capital police officials. See also List of unsolved murders References 2021 deaths 2021 in Pakistan 2021 murders in Pakistan Deaths by firearm in Pakistan Deaths by person in Pakistan Human rights abuses in Pakistan Islamabad Islamabad Capital Territory January 2021 events in Pakistan Male murder victims Police brutality in Asia Unsolved murders in Pakistan

68080031

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Hunter%20Brittain

Killing of Hunter Brittain

At approximately 3:00 am (CDT) on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, 17-year-old Hunter Brittain was shot by a Lonoke County sheriff's deputy Sgt. Michael Davis near Cabot, Arkansas United States. He later died at North Little Rock Hospital. Incident Brittain was attempting to use a jug of antifreeze to stop his truck from rolling into the officer's vehicle when the deputy shot him. Brittain's family claimed he was test driving a truck, which he had been working on when he was pulled over by the deputy. Aftermath The body camera of the deputy was turned over to Arkansas State Police. The camera was not on during the shooting. The deputy was fired for leaving his body cam off until after Brittain was shot. The death of Brittain inspired protests. Attorneys Ben Crump and Devon Jacob are representing Brittain's family. At a memorial for Brittain, he was eulogized by Reverend Al Sharpton. Brittain’s family and friends have proposed “Hunter’s Law”. The law would require all Arkansas police officers to wear a body camera which would be kept turned on during their shift. References 2021 controversies in the United States Child deaths Deaths by firearm in Arkansas Deaths by person in the United States June 2021 events in the United States Law enforcement controversies in the United States People shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States

68132541

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Daniel%20Hambrick

Killing of Daniel Hambrick

The Shooting On July 26, 2018, Daniel Edward Hambrick, a 25 year old African-American was shot and killed by officer Andrew Delke of the Nashville, Tennessee police department. Hambrick was shot after he began to run away from officer Delke. Delke was searching for a white Chevrolet Impala which he had attempted to pull over earlier that day. He saw a white car which he thought was the Impala, so he pulled alongside it. It was at this time that Hambrick began to run away. Delke pursued Hambrick and shot him in the back while he was running. Delke fired four times with three of the shots striking Hembrick. He was hit in the back of the head, back, and left torso. Hambrick died shortly after the shooting. Delke was placed on "routine administrative leave," and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) began investigating the shooting. There was no body camera, nor dash camera footage of the shooting. Criminal homicide charge On Sept. 27, District Attorney Glenn Funk's office filed a criminal homicide charge against Delke. Delke's lead defense attorney said that his client would plead not guilty, because he was acting in self defense. Prosecutors rejected the self defense argument and said Delke had broken the law by opening fire on a man whose back was turned. The arrest warrant notes that Delke stopped running during the chase, and shot at Hambrick while he was running away. The officer's arrest warrant provided new details from the TBI investigation into the lead-up to the shooting. Agents found that Delke continued following the car even after learning it wasn't stolen "to see if he could develop a reason to stop the Impala," according to the warrant. Preliminary hearings During preliminary hearings between Jan. 4 and Jan. 7, Delke's interview with the TBI were made public, including an excerpt where he said he “had absolutely no choice” when he shot and killed Hambrick. “I said to myself, ‘If I don’t shoot him right now, I’m gonna die. So that’s what I did,’” Delke said. Delke told investigators that, at one point during the foot chase, he saw Hambrick turn to look at him and point a gun in his direction. Delke said he told Hambrick to drop the gun or he would shoot. Video released by the Nashville district attorney's office showed Hambrick running away as Officer Delke fatally shot him. The surveillance video, obtained by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation from a nearby school, appeared to contradict the self defense claim, and failed to confirm that Hambrick pointed a gun at Officer Delke while running away from him. Grand jury indictment for first-degree murder On Jan. 18, 2019: A Nashville grand jury indicted Delke on a first-degree murder charge. Delke at the time was the first Nashville officer ever to be charged after an on-duty shooting. Hambrick family lawsuit In March 2019, Hambrick's family sued the city and Delke for $30 million, saying racism on the force led to Hambrick's death. The suit says the police department created a "culture of fear, violence, racism and impunity" that Delke "internalized" at the police training academy and on the job. That culture, the lawsuit states, led to Hambrick's death. 2 years later, in March 2021, the Hambrick family reached a settlement, and Metro Council approved Nashville's $2.25 million payment to settle the Hambrick family's wrongful death lawsuit. Plea deal In July 2021, Delke reached a deal with prosecutors just days before jury selection was to begin. Officer Delke pled guilty to manslaughter. He was sentenced to three years in prison. He is set to go before the Tennessee parole board in January, 2022. References 2018 controversies in the United States Deaths by firearm in Tennessee Deaths by person in the United States July 2018 events in the United States Law enforcement controversies in the United States People shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States 1993 births 2018 deaths

68170539

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Samuel%20Luiz

Killing of Samuel Luiz

Samuel Luiz Muñiz, a 24-year-old nursing assistant, was beaten to death in A Coruña, Galicia, Spain, on 3 July 2021. According to several witnesses, including the victim's friends, the crime was motivated by homophobia, which led to country-wide demonstrations in his memory, and in defence of LGBT community. Following the initial investigation, the police disagreed that homophobia was a motive, as the suspects had not known the victim before the attack and claimed to be unaware of the victim's sexual orientation. As of 5 October, seven people have been arrested for his death, one of them was released till the trial. Victim Luiz was born in Brazil and moved to Spain at the age of one. His mother was Spanish, and the family lived in Culleredo and later Arteixo, both in the vicinity of A Coruña. From the ages of 18 to 20 he studied to be a nursing assistant and worked as one in a nursing home while studying a further course to be a dental prosthetist. He played the flute in an Evangelical Christian congregation and did not disclose his homosexuality to his father, who was also of that faith. In a television interview, Luiz's father said that he had only spoken once to his son about the possibility that he was gay, but the young man did not want to continue the conversation. Crime According to Luiz's female friend who witnessed the crime, they were on a night out and stepped outside to smoke. Luiz was in a video call with another friend and rotated his phone to show the surroundings to the friend. A male and a female were walking by and believed they were being filmed. According to the witness, the male then walked up to Luiz and said, "you will either stop filming, or I'll kill you, faggot"; to this Luiz replied "Faggot, why?" before being beaten. Luiz's friend and other men managed to break up the fight. Luiz then asked his friend to find his lost mobile phone. While she was away, the attacker returned with 12 others and beat Luiz to death. The beating took place over 15 minutes and 250 metres. According to the investigation, after the killing the suspects have re-united twice more that night to discuss the incident. Presumably, in the second re-union, after learning the victim died, they coordinated between themselves to destroy some evidences. Investigation Two witnesses said that the group that killed Luiz was composed of Latin American or mixed-race men, between 20 and 30 years old. Two men who helped to interrupt the initial fight are reported to be Ibrahima Shakur and Magatte, illegal immigrants from Senegal, who work as hawkers. The government considers regularising their legal situation in Spain as a reward for their actions. According to some reports the police also considers one of these men as a victim of the aggression, as he also was attacked during his intervention, and thus put his own life into danger. Thirteen people were interviewed over the fatal beating. On 6 July, the police said that while they could not disregard any hypothetical motive, the initial evidence did not point to homophobia. According to investigators, the group of strangers would not have known that Luiz was gay. By the night of that same day, three people – two male and one female – were officially in custody. On 8 July the police confirmed an arrest of a fourth attacker, who allegedly also stole the victim's mobile phone after the attack. None of the arrested subjects has previous criminal records. On 9 July, two more suspects were arrested, both underage, one of them having past criminal records. Three of four suspects arrested previously are ordered to stay in prison during pre-trial, without a release on bail option, while the other one (the woman) was released for the pre-trial period. On 29 September, after about three months of investigation, seventh suspect has been arrested. Suspects Authorities do not disclose the suspects' identities officially, beyond stating that all have Spanish nationality and are residents of A Coruña. The following information is known according to media sources. Overall, all suspects are deemed to have a known track record of previous street violence but managed to stay mostly under the police radar prior to the killing of Luiz. Diego (25 years old, male). The primary suspect, who started the aggression. Worked as a waiter, and occasionally as an unskilled worker in the port. Shortly before the killing, he had been kicked out of a pub due to aggressive behavior and argument with his girlfriend Katy. Katy (23 years old, female). The girlfriend of Diego. Studied to become a hairdresser, but quit. A known brawler and haughty person, who was a part of many previous conflicts, according to sources. Kaio (19 years old, male). One of the most violent among arrested suspects, who started the aggression alongside Diego. A Spanish-born male from a Brazilian upper-middle class family, who lived in Brazil for some periods of his life. He lived in A Coruña for the last two years, and worked as a waiter. Allegedly he was often a participant in street fights, and allegedly he was involved into another street fight the next day after killing Luiz. According to sources, unlike other arrested suspects he demonstrated a haughty and even defiant attitude the first days under arrest. Álvaro F. (20 years old, male), aka Yumba (or "El Llumba"). Reported to be a 3rd generation offspring of a rich coruñese family, drug addict from a young age, and an overall difficult child. He worked in the port, and according to media sources a close friend to the circles of the far-left football hooligan crew , although not a member of the crew. In their Twitter account, Riazor Blues denied any links with the suspect and condemned the crime. "M." (16 years old, male). Spanish, born in Madrid, and moved to A Coruña shortly before the COVID pandemic. Often a participant in street conflicts. "D. R." (17 years old, male). A person without an occupation (neither studied nor worked as of recently). Alejandro M. (male). Reaction Luiz's death was met by demonstrations in his memory in cities across Spain. In Madrid, police employed baton charges to break up demonstrations in the city centre; these actions were condemned by politicians including Mónica García and Pablo Echenique. The President of Galicia, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, condemned the crime but said that he would not link it to homophobia until that had been established. The leader of the opposition, Ana Pontón, criticised this declaration. Luiz's father called for people not to politicise the crime. Juan Carlos Monedero, a former leading member of Podemos, wrote on Twitter, "Let's see if anyone can explain to me what God were Vox and their supporters are praying to when they murder someone because of their hatred of homosexuals. Think about it @AlmeidaPP_ (José Luis Martínez-Almeida, mayor of Madrid), if you had put up the LGBTI flag on the city hall, the murder of Samuel would have been a bit more difficult." Vox announced that they would sue him for defamation, and Almeida condemned the insinuation against himself. Vox also announced plans to sue the political pundit Martu Garrote for having written "You spend all your life raising a son, ensuring his dream and, when you are happy because he is a nursing assistant, because he is a good person, because the worst has already happened, a pack of hyenas come and kill him because he doesn't live and love according to dogma. That is Vox, that is the far right". The killing and the subsequent protests made international headlines in Europe and America and many international artists such as Sam Smith, Beyoncé, Ricky Martin and Lena Headey shared the news on their social media. Notes References July 2021 crimes in Europe Deaths by beating in Europe 2020s in Galicia (Spain) History of A Coruña Violence against LGBT people in Europe 2021 in Spain 2021 murders in Europe Violence against gay men LGBT history in Spain 21st-century murders in Spain

68191424

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Muawanatul%20Chasanah

Killing of Muawanatul Chasanah

On 2 December 2001, a 19-year-old maid and Indonesian, Muawanatul Chasanah, was found beaten to death in a house by the Bedok Reservoir, Singapore. Killed by Ng Hua Chye, a tour guide and Chasanah's employer, she was also abused by him and his wife, Tan Chai Hong. Both were arrested and charged, Ng with culpable homicide, and Tan with abuse. Her killer was Ng Hua Chye, a tour guide and Chasanah's employer. Ng's wife, Tan Chai Hong, was also discovered to be involved. Both were arrested and charged in connection to the maid's death. The outcome of the case was Ng being sentenced to a total of 18 years and six months' imprisonment with 12 strokes of the cane, while Ng's wife, who did not take part in the killing, was instead given a jail term of nine months for maid abuse and failing to make a police report on her husband's offences. Employment In 2000, Chasanah, then 17 years old, travelled from Indonesia to Singapore to work as a maid. After she arrived in Singapore, she was employed by 47-year-old Ng Hua Chye and his wife, 30-year-old Tan Chai Hong (also known as Rainbow Tan), who had a daughter and son. Her first day of work began on 3 August 2000. Abuse and Subsequent Death During her 9-month employment, Chasanah was subjected to a series of abuses by Ng and Tan. This occurred at both Ng and his sister's houses. Each time she displeased Ng, he would repeatedly punch her, beat her with both a cane and a hammer, dump boiling water on her, or burn her with the ends of cigarettes. In one instance, after she drank his infant daughter's apple juice, Ng caned her until her face swelled up. Aside from physical abuse, she was also starved, most of her meals consisting of packets of instant noodles. When she began her job, she weighed 50 kg. On the day of her death, her weight had dropped to 36 kg. Ng was also highly suspicious of Chasanah, claiming she wanted to "slip powders, herbs, and papers with Arabic writings" into the family's meals. He believed that this would make the family "obey her". In November 2001, Tan Chai Hong grabbed Chasanah's breasts after she failed to properly bathe her daughter. Death On 1 December 2001, Chasanah was working in the home of Ng's sister. Ng accused the maid of stealing leftover porridge from his young daughter, later stating she was going to use the food to "cast a spell". He punched her in the face, then kicked her in the stomach so hard that it ruptured. She vomited and fainted in the kitchen, afflicted by severe stomach pain. The following day, Ng stepped into the local police station, confessing to severely abusing her and kicking her in the stomach the previous day; he also expressed his fear that she may die. Paramedics were dispatched to Ng's flat, where they pronounced Chasanah dead on the scene. She was found in a vomit-stained T-shirt and had a distended stomach. The autopsy reported that her body was covered in sores from what appeared to be an attack with the back of a hammer. Both her back and her neck were discoloured from an apparent scalding. An autopsy report revealed that the maid had over 200 scars on her body. Her cause of death was determined to be peritonitis that developed when her stomach ruptured. Arrest and sentencing After the discovery of Chasanah's body, Ng, who surrendered himself at a police station, was arrested immediately. Originally charged with murder and facing the death penalty, he plead guilty to a reduced charge of culpable homicide, after Ng's lawyer Subhas Anandan made a plea bargain with the prosecution to reduce the murder charge since he voluntarily surrendered himself to the police before they arrested him. Ng also pleaded guilty to four out of seven charges of voluntarily causing hurt to the maid. The maximum penalty for manslaughter in Singapore was life imprisonment. On 19 July 2002, Judicial Commissioner Choo Han Teck sentenced him to 10 years in prison and ordered him to be caned 6 times for killing Chasanah. For the four maid abuse charges he was convicted of; he received an additional eight years and six months in prison and another six strokes of the cane, making it a total of 18 years and six months' imprisonment. His sentence was the highest a maid abuser had received up to that point. Tan Chai Hong was also arrested. On 19 February 2003, magistrate Alvin Koh sentenced her to nine months’ prison time for grabbing and squeezing the maid's breasts. He considered adding a charge for not reporting her husband to the police, but decided against it. While sentencing Tan, Koh remarked about the former offence: "this vicious attack which you inflicted on her breasts revealed your latent disregard for her dignity as a human being and as a woman." However, Tan was granted a bail of S$5000 (US$3,706) and was subsequently released after paying the money. Reactions Government response Following Chasanah's death, the Indonesian government froze new foreign domestic worker contracts for a month in order to review the system. Public response A neighbour of Ng, a man named Mr Neo, commented on Chasanah's abuse and death, stating: "Even if I knew, I wouldn’t have called the police, it’s not my business. He can do what he wants, that’s his problem." In November 2002, this remark caused a group of Singaporeans to form an advocacy group called Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), hoping to prevent any more acts of abuse against foreign domestic workers. In addition, Singaporean authorities believe that the publicity surrounding her death has assisted in reducing the number of reported maid abuse cases from 157 in 1997 to 43 in 2002. The case was also re-enacted by Mediacorp's crime show True Files in 2003. Ng's lawyer Subhas Anandan also wrote about the case in his memoir. He said he was personally feeling repulsed at the extent of abuse suffered by the victim but he had to suppress his disgust to maintain a professional mind while managing his client's case. He also wondered how did Ng, a father who dearly loved his children, would behave in such a barbarian way towards someone else's beloved daughter. The case was recalled nearly twenty years later when another convicted maid abuser Gaiyathiri Murugayan, who murdered her Myanmar maid Piang Ngaih Don in 2016 and also abused her grievously, was sentenced to a much longer imprisonment term of 30 years for culpable homicide and assault on 22 June 2021, which reportedly surpassed that of Ng Hua Chye, who was released at this point of time, as the longest sentence ever meted out to a maid abuser in Singapore. Gaiyathiri, who was initially charged with murder, was also assisted by her 62-year-old mother Prema Naraynasamy, who also faced allegations of murdering and abusing the maid, and her husband Kevin Chelvam, who was accused of maid abuse and removing the evidence of the abuse. See also Capital punishment in Singapore List of major crimes in Singapore (before 2000) List of major crimes in Singapore (2000–present) Domestic worker Murder of Piang Ngaih Don References 2000s crimes in Singapore Deaths in Singapore Murder in Singapore

68205278

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Danquirs%20Franklin

Killing of Danquirs Franklin

The killing of Danquirs Franklin by a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer took place on March 25, 2019 when Officer Wende Kerl shot and killed the 27-year-old man. In the released body-worn camera footage from the confrontation, Franklin appears to have been lowering a gun toward the ground at the time the officer fatally shot him. Kerl was responding to frantic 911 calls about a man with a gun threatening people at a Burger King. The footage shows that Kerl and a male officer instructed Franklin to put the gun down more than 15 times in the roughly 40 seconds before he was shot. The gun is not visible in the video during that timespan. Franklin was shown squatting next to an open car door with another man in the car's passenger seat. The last command Kerl yells before firing is, “Put it on the ground!” Franklin's right hand slowly appeared as he pulled out a gun by the barrel before he was shot by Kerl twice. Franklin's last words are barely audible, but it appeared that he was saying something to the effect of, "You told me to..." before collapsing. Franklin's death sparked criticism of the officers' behavior as well as demonstrations following the release of Officer Kerl's bodycam video. The district attorney's office "could not prove to a unanimous jury beyond a reasonable doubt that Officer Kerl's belief that she faced an imminent threat of death of great bodily harm was unreasonable," wrote District Attorney Spencer B. Merriweather in a letter addressed to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police chief. In June 2020, Franklin’s family filed a lawsuit against the city and Officer Kerl. The lawsuit details the events taking place in Franklin’s life leading up to the fatal confrontation. The suit argued he was following the officers’ repeated commands to drop his firearm. Kerl currently works a full-time, non-patrol, investigative role at headquarters. References 2019 deaths 2019 in North Carolina Deaths by firearm in North Carolina Deaths by person in the United States

68243193

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Peter%20R.%20de%20Vries

Killing of Peter R. de Vries

In the evening of 6 July 2021, Dutch investigative journalist and crime reporter Peter R. de Vries was shot in the head after leaving the television studio of RTL Boulevard in Amsterdam where he had appeared as a guest. Several bullets were fired at him in the Lange Leidsedwarsstraat, near the Leidseplein, while he was walking to his car. He was taken to the VU University Medical Center in critical condition. The hospital became heavily secured by police that same evening. De Vries died from his injuries on 15 July 2021. Background Peter R. de Vries was a television personality and the most well-known crime reporter in the Netherlands. He gained national prominence with his own television program Peter R. de Vries: Crime Reporter. Throughout his career, he reported about high-profile criminal cases, such as the kidnapping of Freddy Heineken, the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, the murder of Marianne Vaatstra, as well as other murder cases, scandals and wrongful convictions. Later in his career, he became one of the most visible figures in the journalistic investigation of cold cases in the Netherlands, such as the death of Nicky Verstappen, in which he supported the victim's family in court. He also was a frequent guest in talk shows and started a short political career with his own political party. A central theme in his later work was his fight against (what he saw as) injustice. In 2021, De Vries supported the crown witness Nabil Bakkali in the Marengo process. Less than two years earlier, Bakkali's lawyer, Derk Wiersum, had been murdered outside his home in Amsterdam. Reactions The King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands called it an attack on journalism and an attack on the rechtsstaat (rule of law). On the evening of the attack, the Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema, chief public prosecutor René de Beukelaer and police chief Frank Paauw gave a press conference. Halsema spoke of a "brutal cowardly crime". Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Minister of Justice Ferdinand Grapperhaus also gave a press conference. Rutte called it an attack on free journalism. The attack "affects journalists and damages our society", according to Grapperhaus. The Dutch Association of Journalists stated: "This hits journalism right in the heart." Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, expressed her condolences and expressed her support for the Dutch authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice. After the death of De Vries, Rutte stated that "We owe it to Peter R. de Vries to ensure that justice takes place". Many people have reacted to the attack and his death, including many members of the Dutch House of Representatives and members of the European Parliament. Crime reporter John van den Heuvel stated that "[De Vries] will always remain an example and a source of inspiration". Investigation The Dutch police arrested three suspects that same evening. Two suspects were in a car that was stopped on the A4 motorway near Leidschendam. The third person was released the next day, and is no longer a suspect. As of July 15, a 35-year-old Polish man identified as Kamil E. is the suspected getaway car driver, while a 21-year-old man and aspiring rapper, known as Delano G. is the suspected shooter. Dutch media has reported that the suspected killer is the nephew or cousin of one of the henchmen of Ridouan Taghi, known as the Netherlands' most-wanted criminal. De Vries was involved in the prosecution of Taghi. Security De Vries was frequently threatened, but did not want any police or private security. However, there was criticism that he could have been protected better. He had a tattoo on his leg with his motto On bended knee is no way to be free. He explained the tattoo as "It means that we are not subservient to anyone. That no one can dominate us. That means that we are never, ever, anyone's slave." Demissionary Minister Ferd Grapperhaus of Justice and Security commissioned an independent investigation into the security of De Vries. His partner, Tahmina Akefi, said that his murder could have been prevented and that the system failed them. She also denied reports that De Vries did not want security. See also Murder of Derk Wiersum References External links 2021 murders in Europe Assassinated Dutch journalists Deaths by firearm in the Netherlands Deaths by person in the Netherlands 2021 crimes in the Netherlands July 2021 crimes in Europe Organized crime events in the Netherlands Mocro Maffia Violent non-state actor incidents in Europe Crime in Amsterdam Assassinations in the Netherlands

68424431

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20America%20Thayer

Killing of America Thayer

On the afternoon of 28 July 2021, a decapitated body was discovered in the middle of an intersection in Shakopee, Minnesota, a Twin Cities suburb; the head was also found nearby. The victim was identified as America Mafalda Thayer, a 55-year-old woman from Shakopee. The suspect is 42-year-old Alexis Saborit, an undocumented immigrant from Cuba and Thayer's boyfriend. He was apprehended by police 1.5 miles away from the scene and is currently facing first-degree murder charges. Suspect Alexis Saborit was the boyfriend of America Thayer; the two had been dating for roughly seven years. Saborit is an illegal immigrant from Cuba, who was wanted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. According to them, he has a criminal record which included domestic assault charges in Minnesota and Louisiana, a DUI, and running from a police officer. They attempted to deport him in 2012, but Cuba would not approve his travel documents and so he remained in the country. He was convicted of domestic violence in 2017 when he pinned Thayer to the ground after becoming suspicious that she had been speaking to another man at a bar. Before the trial, a restraining order was put in place against him, but was removed after Thayer sent the court a handwritten note asking for it to be overturned. Saborit was scheduled to appear in Scott County court on the day of the killing on charges of arson after he allegedly set fire to his apartment. Killing On 28 July 2021, Saborit and Thayer were driving through Shakopee. According to Saborit, an altercation between the two of them broke out after Thayer told him that she wanted to break up with him. Saborit pulled out a machete, which he often carried with him, and beheaded Thayer. At around 2:30 PM, the Shakopee Police Department responded to a report of a headless body dumped from a car near 4th and Spencer. When they arrived on the scene, they found America Thayer's headless body, along with her head, lying near her car. She was pronounced dead on the scene. Further investigation of the scene revealed a machete and bloody clothing in the recycling bin of a nearby alleyway. Police documents show that several people witnessed the killing. One person recorded a video of Saborit dumping the body, then picking up Thayer's head by the hair. Another reported seeing Saborit hitting something and throwing it. Legal proceedings Local police found Saborit wandering near Minnesota State Highway 101 and Shenandoah Parkway. They arrested him at The Landing historical village. He was roughly 1.5 miles away from the scene and three blocks away from the hotel he had been staying at. He was charged with second-degree murder; his bail was set at $2.5 million. In an interview with the police, he admitted to killing Thayer with a machete. According to the Scott County court system, he was assigned a public defender at his request. His first court appearance was scheduled for August 9. References Crimes in Minnesota Deaths by decapitation Deaths by person in the United States July 2021 crimes in the United States

68492211

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Roberta%20%27Bibi%27%20Lee

Killing of Roberta 'Bibi' Lee

Roberta 'Bibi' Lee, a 21 year old student at University of California, Berkeley, and member of the Berkeley Student Cooperative (BSC), was killed in November, 1984. In 1986 her boyfriend Bradley Nelson Page was tried for her murder. He was found to be innocent of murder with the jury coming to a deadlock on the alternate charge of voluntary manslaughter. In 1988, Page was retried and convicted of the same charge. Beginning in 1997 social scientists Richard A. Leo and Richard Ofshe published several works arguing that Page's conviction was based on a false confession. Incident Background Bradley Page and Roberta 'Bibi' Lee met in the fall of 1983 when both lived at Lothlorien, part of Berkeley Student Cooperative, beginning to date in early 1984. With Lee moving to Fenwick, a BSC apartment residence at the beginning of the fall semester. During this time the relationship between the two becoming tense, particularly right before Lee's disappearance. At this time, Lee was 21 while Page 24 years old. November 4 On November 4, Page and Lee a nineteen year old Robin Shaw, a female student also from Lothlorien, went on a morning jog at the Skyline Gate of Redwood Regional Park in the Oakland hills. During the drive to Skyline Gate, Lee reportedly appeared upset with Page with the overall atmosphere in the car being tense. According to Page, he and Lee had argued the night before, because of what Lee considered to have been a date between Page and another woman, who Page knew in High School. After arriving at Skyline Gate, the three began running together with the atmosphere still being tense. When they reached Roberts Park their predetermined destination, Shaw who was lagging behind the others, saw Page turn in one direction while Lee veered off to another. Shaw followed Page and the two made their way into the park. Lee was not seen again. Page and Shaw jogged the two miles back to Skyline Gate to see if Lee had gone back to the car, she did not. They then decided that Page would drive back along the trail to look for Lee. He returned approximately fifteen minutes later telling Shaw that he did not see Lee. Shaw noticed that he seemed upset, and would later describe him looking “angry”, “worried”, and “somewhat scared and confused”. They discussed various ways that Lee might be able to get home on her own and after about ten minutes, decided to leave, however, Shaw was not comfortable with this decision. After Page returned to Lothlorien, he again called Lee's apartment and asking her roommate if Lee was there. Shortly after, Page and several Lothlorien residents went on a prearranged trip to the Exploratorium in San Francisco; Page was the driver. Lee planned on joining them, Page's roommate recalled Page telling him that she became “separated” during their jog in Oakland and may not be able make it. Page returned to Lothlorien around 6 pm; sometime later Page called Lee's apartment and again spoke with her roommate asking her if Lee was there and if she had picked up his earlier message. Page would later state that he stayed at the coop for the rest of the day, with three Lothlorien residents testifying that they saw him during at least a portion of this period. At about 11 pm, one of Lee's roommates called Page, his roommate answered the phone and shook Page awake was concerned that Lee had not come home that night, and asked Page if he had seen her that evening. Page said he had not and, after he hung up, told his roommate that he and Shaw had lost Lee while they were running and had not found her. After discussion, they ultimately decided they needed more information and went back to sleep. November 5 At about 2 am, Lee's roommate called again; shortly after Page spoke with her, he got dressed and went to her apartment. After Page arrived, Lee's roommate called various police departments and emergency rooms. When this proved fruitless, they decided that Page would spend the night in Lee's room, and that they would file a missing person report in the morning. The following morning, Lee's roommate called the Berkeley police and an officer came to the apartment. Page told the officer how Lee had disappeared. Stating that Lee may have been moody or confused about problems with school, but denied that she was upset or angry that morning. Investigation On November 5, in the evening, the Contra Costa Search and Rescue Unit conducted a “full hasty” search of the Roberts Park area. Approximately forty people participated in the search, this included five bloodhound teams, fourteen explorer scouts, several four-wheel drive vehicles, and two horses. The search team worked until around 1 am, but did not find Lee's body. A few days afterwards, Page, Lee's family and friends and the BSC community set up “The Friends of Bibi Lee,” to conduct an organized search. Several days after the search, police was contacted by Karen Marquardt, who claimed to have seen Bibi Lee struggling with a man the same day she disappeared, approximately two miles away from Roberts Park. She stated that on June 4th, just after 12 pm she was driving in Oakland and saw a man pulling a woman up a street toward a parked van. The man was white, in his mid–40's, 6 feet to 6 feet 3 inches tall, weighing 220–250 pounds with a prominent beer belly, beard and unkempt curly hair. She called the police several days later stating that she saw a picture of a missing woman on television and realized that the woman she saw on the street matched the picture and description of Lee. Her description of the man was later used Friends of Bibi Lee flyers. Approximately a week after its creation, “The Friends of Bibi Lee” was joined by Patricia Chavez, a volunteer with the Missing Children's Project, a former nurse who had experience from conducting previous searches. Under her guidance, the search organization set up headquarters in a donated cooperative apartment that became known as "Treehaven," and began systematically getting out the word that Lee was missing, and set up a phone bank to receive leads. Overall, more than 2,000 volunteers participated with approximately 3 million flyers distributed along the west coast. On November 16th, following the massive publicity, FBI joined Berkeley and Oakland Police departments to form an official task force devoted to the search. On December 9th, the Bay Area Mountain Rescue Unit conducted a walking search of the Redwood Park area during which Lee's body was found close to the area she was last seen along the trail. It was located in a thicket of heavy brush some 36 to 37 feet from the eastern edge of Skyline Boulevard, approximately 700 feet south of the entrance to the Roberts Park parking area. Resting on its back in a depression caused by its own weight, covered with a few inches of dirt and compost material. Small animals had apparently been gnawing at the decomposing flesh, and there were vines growing in the compost material on top of the body. The largely decomposed body was clothed in black and white striped jogging shorts, a blue-green long sleeve shirt, a black T-shirt, and jogging shoes. The shirts were pushed up to the bottom of the breastbone. There were three open defects in the skin at the back of the head, ranging in size from one to three inches. The back of the skull was severely fractured. There were also two smaller crush type breaks of the rear skull and a “ring” fracture encircling the base of the skull. The pathologist concluded that the fractures to the back of the head were caused by one to three “blunt force traumas.” These injuries could have resulted from someone hitting the head with a rock or club, or forcing the head down on a hard stationary object, such as a rock or tree trunk. They had never seen injuries similar to those suffered by Lee resulting from a simple fall backward. It was determined that blunt force traumas were the cause of Lee's death, with her likely dying within minutes of those injuries. The pathologist also found fractures to Lee's nose bone and right eye socket, which could have been caused by someone administering a backhand blow to the nose, or by kicking, hitting or striking the face with a blunt object. The pathologist found no other injuries. Interrogation and confession On December 10th, the morning after Lee's body was found, Page was invited for questioning at the police department. Waiving his Miranda rights, he was questioned by two officers, starting just after 10 a.m. Consenting to his statements being recorded, Page explained how he got to know Lee and that they fell in love with each other. He explained how the night before Lee disappeared he had gone to a party with a woman he knew from high school. When he met Lee the next morning to go running, she seemed upset to the point of being irrational. During the drive up to Redwood Park, the mood in the car was “painful” while the atmosphere during the jog was tense. Lee was silent and trailing behind him. Page remembered last seeing Lee at the main driveway in Roberts Park, he continued jogging and next time he looked back she wasn't there. He and Shaw looked for Lee in the Roberts Park area, and they ran back to the car at Skyline Gate, failing to find her. Shaw stayed at the parking lot, while Page drove back to Redwood park, trying to find Lee. He never stopped, got out of the car, called Lee's name, or honked his horn. The entire search took about 15 minutes. When Page returned to Skyline Gate, he convinced to Shaw to leave without Lee, telling her he knew Lee better than she did and that it was his decision. They drove back to Lothlorien, but Page did not tell anyone there about how Lee had disappeared. Polygraph test and initial admission Page was repeatedly questioned to determine if he was angry at Lee for disappearing in the park, he admitted to being very was upset, but, repeatedly denied injuring her. After the first recorded session Page agreed to do a polygraph test. Around 1 p.m. he was brought into a polygraph room, after putting on Page the necessary attachments and beginning the test, the polygraph specialist asked the same set of questions several times. During the third time, when Page was asked if he physically injured Lee, he began making crying noises, becoming very distraught, and making it impossible to continue the test. The specialist noted that afterward Page did not show any physical signs of crying. The specialist determined that Page tested deceptive when he was asked if he had physically injured Lee and told Page that based on this he thought he was lying. Around 3 p.m. Page was brought back to the interview room and left alone for around twenty five minutes, when the officers entered page had his head in his hands and was making a low moaning or wailing sound, and was saying, “I really loved her, but, I really loved her.” The second interview session began with the two officers began repeatedly impressing on Page that they believed he had something to do with Lee's death. Telling him that their suspicions were based on, among other things, the fact he had failed the polygraph test, had only superficially searched for Bibi when she was lost, had convinced Robin Shaw to leave, and didn't tell anyone what had happened when he got back to Lothlorien. When faced with these accusations, Page said that if he did do something he must have blacked it out. The officers insisted that Page was lying, and that they didn't buy his “selective amnesia theory.” They told Page to close his eyes to try to remember what actually happened, he did so and after a moment said that remembered hitting and kicking her and going off on her, but didn't remember when or where this occurred. This admission came at 4:10 p.m., or about six hours after Page had first come to the police station. The questioning continued with the officers then purposely lying to Page saying that they had found his fingerprints at the crime scene and that they had a witness who saw Page's car south of the entrance to Roberts Park. At around 6 p.m. Page stated that when driving around and looking he remembered driving out of the parking lot to Roberts Park and turning left to go south on Skyline. And that as he drove out onto Skyline, he saw Lee running jogging on the opposite side of the road, coming toward him. Page pulled to the opposite side, parking in the wrong direction facing Lee. He got out of the car, took her by the arm, and led her off the road up a little “hill area.” As he led her off into a “tree area” he tried to hug and kiss her, to talk to her. When Lee pulled away, Page became angry and backhanded her, knocking her to the ground. She fell “kind of around a tree.” She seemed to be unconscious and her nose was bleeding. Page said he left Lee there and went home. He drove back up to the same area later that night between 7 p.m. and 1 a.m., and found Lee dead lying by the tree. He got a blanket from his car and laid down and had sex with her. When he was done, he moved her body closer to Skyline Boulevard where he used a hubcap to cover her with a layer of dirt, smoothing it over so as to give her a “decent burial.” Taping of the confession At around 7 p.m. Page agreed to be taped again, essentially relating the same story he had just told the officers. However, many of his responses seemed confused, tentative or vague. When the officers asked Page if he saw Lee as he came out of the Roberts Pool parking area, he responded, “I guess I must of.” When asked if he had spoken to her when he first stopped her he said, “I must of said something, I don't know.” Page stated that at the time he drove back to get Shaw, he did not remember hitting Lee, and did not know where she was. When asked if he had sexual intercourse with Lee's body he said “Yeah, I think so.” However Page was very specific regarding many of the details of the assault. Like kissing Lee on the top of her head before he backhanded her with his left hand. He stated that she fell on her backside by a tree, and that she had a bloody nose. He noted that when he came back in the evening he parked on the right side off the street, as well as using his car's hubcap to cover her body with pine needles and a big branch. Page completed his taped statement at 7:33 p.m. Recantment of the confession Shortly after 9 p.m. the Deputy District Attorney arrived at the police station to take a third taped statement from Page. Page immediately recanted his confession. Stating that it was a product of confusion, fear, and imagination. And that he never saw Lee after he left Shaw at Skyline Gate.That taping ended at 9:48 p.m. Page was left alone in the interview room until 11:25 p.m. when he knocked on the door and told the officers he wanted to talk. Their interaction continued and at 1:00 a.m. and then Page made his last taped statement. In a rambling statement, Page mentioned a number of factors which caused him to give a false confession: the officers said they found his fingerprints at the scene and were convinced he was involved in the killing, that the polygraph scared him and that he felt guilty for not having helped Lee. He also stated the officers had said he would sit in jail and rot away from the inside if he could not remember. Because of all these factors, the officers convinced him that he might have killed Lee. Consequently, with the officers assistance he “imagined” a scenario in which he could have killed her. After this final interview, Page was arrested and charged with the murder of Roberta Lee. Legal proceedings First trial Page's trial was held in the spring of 1986, approximately one and a half year after the killing. He was charged with first and second degree murder as well a voluntary manslaughter. In their argument prosecution emphasized the tension between Roberts and Page prior to the jog, presenting Page as being frustrated at Roberts, and interpreting her reclusion as open hostility. After Roberts became missing and Page found her along the Skyline road that tension became a physical confrontation. It was argued that after Roberts approached her she began walking away, with his frustration rising he snapped, backhanding her across the face, causing her to fall, and then smashed her head against something firm on the ground, possibly a rock or a tree root, crushing the back of her skull and killing her. The prosecution emphasized that their description was based on Page's recorded statements, which included descriptions of the crime scene, facts that Page could know only if he was involved in the killing. Such as the physical location of the body, it being covered by brush, and her t-shirts pulled up above her chest, something he admitted to doing after he came back later that night and had sex with her body. It was noted that Page began confessing after he was told that he failed the polygraph test and that there was physical evidence directly tying him to the killing. The possibility of the killing being done by an alternate suspect was dismissed on the grounds that the two witness testimonies of seeing Lee abducted by a man, where inconsistent with the known time line, each other and the location of Roberts' later found body. The prosecution also emphasized that in both cases the alternate suspects would have to return to the park and place Roberts body close to where she was last seen. Page's lawyers presented him a popular youth seen as "gentle, kind and artistic" by his peers who was devastated by Lee's disappearance and deeply involved in the massive effort to find her. The principle argument was that the police investigators forced him to confess, confusing and pressuring him to come up with speculations and guesses of how he may have done it, meaning that his statements to the police were not a true admission of guilt. Page testified when the defense made their case. Responding to cross examination insisted that his statements to the police were not actual memories, he stated:Well, these were things I had made up earlier-that I didn't know where they came from, If I'd actually done it... I couldn't remember any of it, but they were so persistent [the police] and adamant that they had this other evidence, an if I was up there, if they had people that saw me up there, and I couldn't remember, then maybe I was capable of doing it...Cleve Baxter an expert witness who designed the polygraph test the administered by the police testified that the exam was improperly administered and that based on the results the conclusion that Page failed the exam was incorrect. Page's counsel also argued that his confession was contradicted by the physical evidence. The backhanded slap which Page described could not have enough force to make someone fall on the ground and sustain three 3 large skull fractures found on Lee's skull. Page described having sex with Lee on a blanket from Page's car, but the blanket contained no evidence of sexual activity or bloodstains. Page stated he used a hubcap to bury Lee, but the hubcap did not have any dirt or build up on it and there was no indication that it was wiped clean. The burial scene was not a slope like Page stated. There was no tree limb on top of Lee's body contrary to what was said by Page. The 1986 trial ended in Page being acquitted of first and second degree murders, with the jury unable to agree on voluntary manslaughter, resulting in a mistrial. The jury was deadlocked 8-4 in favor of conviction. Second trial and appeal Page was retried on the charges of voluntary manslaughter in spring 1988, three and a half years after the murder. In addition to its previous line of arguments, Page's defends team added expert testimony from Elliot Aronson, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Professor Aronson testified that a person may give inaccurate information when an authority lies to the person questioned, puts the person under severe stress, causes the person to feel guilty, or makes the person feel that they can't trust his own senses and memory. And that those factors may make the person temporarily vulnerable to persuasion. Although the trial court permitted the expert to testify concerning these general principles of social psychology, the court did not allow him to specifically relate these principles to Page's statements, or to give his opinion concerning the reliability of the confession. The jury deliberated for six days before finding Page guilty of voluntary manslaughter. The conviction was appealed with Page being allowed to remain out on bail pending the ruling. In its appeal to the California Court of Appeals, made several arguments with the primary one being that in failing to allow Professor Aronson give an expert opinion on the validity of Page's confession violated his federal constitutional right to present a complete defense. All of the arguments were rejected. Page began his sentence in 1992 because and released on parole in 1995 after serving two years and six months of his six year sentence. Aftermath Following his first trial Page married his former Lothlorien housemate, who testified that she had seen Page at Lothlorien's courtyard at approximately 9 p.m. on the night of Roberts disappearance. She did not mention this to anyone, including the police or Page's lawyer, until one month before the first trial, by which time she was pregnant with Page's son. The two divorced prior to Page's release on probation. In January 1994, Connie Chung on her CBS show Eye to Eye with Connie Chung stated that she thought Page was innocent and was held responsible for Roberts' killing due to a false confession. Interviewing his father, she proposed that Lee's actual killer was Michael Patrick Idhe, a serial killer who at that was serving time for murder in the State of Washington and was investigated for four killings in East Bay. In 2002 while visiting New Zealand, Page was found guilty of indecent exposure to a woman while hiking on Mount Kakepuku about 11km away from the city of Te Awamutuin. He was repatriated to the United States under police escort a week after his conviction. Alleged false confession and alternative suspect Richard Leo, a University of California, Irvine professor of criminology along with other social scientists view Page's confession as an example of a false confession. Finding it to be a "vague, confused, and speculative confession statement to murdering Bibi Lee" following 16 hours of investigation. And further argued that Michael Patrick Ihde, who was convicted in the 1980s killings of two other San Francisco Bay Area women, and confessed to murdering a non-white woman in the Bay Area in the same time frame, should be considered as a possible killer of Lee. Emphasizing that Idhe fit the suspects description in the missing person's flyer. Specifically, Idhe's face, hair and beard. On the other hand, Paul G. Cassell a professor of law at University of Utah, pointed out several issues with Leo's arguments. Cassell quoted California Court of Appeals to emphasize that the conviction was not solely based on Page's statements, but also based on the details in Page's confession that only a killer would know, such as the location of the body, the location of head and nose injuries, and the method of burial. Regarding Idhe being a possible suspect, Cassell cited a recorded interview of Idhe with a Alameda County Assistant District Attorney where Idhe stated that the woman he killed was black. He countered Leo's assertion that Idhe fit the description of the possible suspect, noting that during the defense witness during the trials described the attacker as a man "in his mid-40s, 6 feet to 6 feet 3 inches, 220-225 pounds with a prominent beer belly, beard, and unkempt curly hair", while Idhe was 6 feet 4 inches, weighting 150 pounds, skinny with bright red "carrot top" hair. He also noted that he did not have a car at the time of the killing. References 1984 deaths 1984 murders in the United States Deaths by person in the United States Chinese-American history Murder in California Female murder victims Violence against women in the United States False confessions History of women in California

68738356

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Gabby%20Petito

Killing of Gabby Petito

In August 2021, Gabby Petito, an American woman, was killed by her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, while traveling on a vanlife journey across the United States together. The trip began on July 2, 2021, and was planned to last four months; however, Petito disappeared in late August. After Petito went missing, Laundrie raised suspicion when he drove Petito's van from Wyoming back to his parents' house in North Port, Florida, and refused to talk about her whereabouts. He was deemed a person of interest in the case, and an arrest warrant was issued on charges of making withdrawals using Petito's debit card. Laundrie departed his home in Florida on September 13 and was reported missing on September 17. On September 19, Petito's remains were found at Bridger–Teton National Forest in Wyoming. An autopsy found she was killed by manual strangulation. After a month of speculation around Laundrie's whereabouts and an extended search of the area around his Florida home, his skeletal remains were discovered in the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park on October 20. On November 23, it was announced that Laundrie died due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The FBI later announced that Laundrie admitted to killing Petito in his notebook, which was found near his remains. The Petito case gained national attention due to the couple's social media activity, police body camera video footage, 9-1-1 emergency dispatch call recordings, and eyewitness accounts. Gabby Petito Gabrielle Venora Petito (March 19, 1999 – late August 2021) was born and raised in Blue Point, New York. She was the eldest of six siblings and half-siblings. In 2013, Petito and her step-brothers appeared in a music video to raise awareness about gun violence in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. She graduated in 2017 from Bayport-Blue Point High School in Bayport, New York, where she had met Brian Christopher Laundrie. From September 2017 to January 2019, she lived in Carolina Beach, North Carolina, and worked as a hostess and in the kitchen of a restaurant in Wilmington. She applied to Cape Fear Community College but did not attend. In March 2019, Petito began dating Laundrie and moved in with him and his parents in North Point, Florida. Petito and Laundrie worked at a Publix location in North Port, she as a pharmacy technician and he in the grocery department; both quit at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In late 2019 and early 2020, the couple embarked on a cross-country drive from New York State to California, and along the journey visited Las Vegas, Yosemite National Park, Pismo Beach and other points of interest. In March 2020, Petito celebrated her 21st birthday in Nokomis, Florida. She and Laundrie visited Sope Creek, Georgia, in June 2020 and were engaged the following month. In December 2020, Petito purchased a 2012 Ford Transit Connect van converted into a camper in which to take their next cross-country trip. She then worked fifty hours per week at Taco Bell and as a nutritionist, while Laundrie worked at an organic juice bar. Petito documented her life and travels on social media sites including YouTube and Instagram, where she described her interests as "art, yoga, and veggies". Disappearance Road trip On June 17, 2021, Petito and Laundrie visited Blue Point, New York, for her brother's graduation ceremony. From there, on July 2, 2021, they departed in the Ford Transit van for their trip. That month, they visited Monument Rocks, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Mystic Hot Springs, and Canyonlands National Park. Domestic disturbance incident On August 12, 2021, a witness called 9-1-1 claiming that a couple, later identified as Laundrie and Petito, was fighting in front of the Moonflower Community Cooperative in Moab, Utah. The caller told the dispatcher they saw a man slap a woman, and after the two ran up and down the sidewalk, the man hit the woman again and then drove off. Another witness described the incident to police, saying that Petito and Laundrie were talking "aggressively" and that Petito "was punching him in the arm." The witness said it looked like Laundrie was trying to leave Petito and take her phone with him before she eventually climbed into the driver's seat, moved over into the passenger's seat, and asked, "Why do you have to be so mean?" before they drove off. Officers from the Moab City Police Department (MCPD) identified the van near the entrance to Arches National Park and conducted a traffic stop. They found Petito crying heavily in the passenger seat where she told officers, captured on police body camera footage: Yeah, I don't know if some days, I have really bad OCD. I was just cleaning and straightening up, back in the ... I was apologizing to him and saying, "I'm sorry, that I'm so mean," because sometimes I have OCD and sometimes I can get really frustrated. Not like mean towards him. I just like, I just, my vibe is, I'm in a bad mood. And, I was just saying I'm sorry if I'm in a bad mood. I just ... I had so much work I was doing on my computer this morning. ... And, I just now quit my job to travel across the country and I'm trying to start a blog. I have a blog. So I've been building my website. I've been really stressed and he doesn't really believe that I could do any of it, so, we just been fighting all morning and he wouldn't let me in the car before. Petito first downplayed the physical altercation, but after the officer pointed out marks on her arm and face and told her to "just be honest," she told him that Laundrie "kept telling me to shut up" and "grabbed my face," which had produced an injury. Laundrie told the officer: I said, let's just take a breather and let's not go anywhere, and just calm down for a minute, she was getting worked up. And, then she had her phone and was trying to get the keys from me. I was just trying to, I know I shouldn't push her. I was just trying to push her away to go, let's take a minute and step back and breathe and see, she got me with her phone. Petito told the officer that she hit Laundrie first, and asked the officers to not separate them. In their report, the officers wrote: At no point in my investigation did Gabrielle stop crying, breathing heavily, or compose a sentence without needing to wipe away tears, wipe her nose, or rub her knees with her hands... The male tried to create distance by telling Gabby to take a walk to calm down ... She did not want to be separated from the male and began slapping him. He grabbed her face and pushed her back as she pressed upon him and the van. Neither Petito nor Laundrie wanted to press charges as a result of the incident, which was characterized by police as a mental/emotional health break rather than as domestic violence, which would have required an arrest. The police separated the couple, arranging for Laundrie to spend a night at the Bowen Motel in Moab, and for Petito to stay in the van. The MCPD is currently investigating whether or not its officers handled the case in accordance with the department's policies. Its chief of police took a leave of absence amid the investigation. Last reported activities and sightings On August 17, Laundrie took a flight from Salt Lake City to Tampa, Florida, leaving Petito to herself. Petito stayed several days at a Fairfield Inn and Suites hotel near Salt Lake City International Airport, according to staff, checking out on August 24. It was later explained by the Laundrie family attorney that he made the trip to "obtain some items and empty and close the storage unit to save money as they contemplated extending the road trip." Laundrie returned on August 23 to rejoin Petito and continue the trip. Petito's mother said that she last spoke to her daughter on August 25 and had been told that the couple were traveling from Utah to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. On August 25, the final post was made on Petito's Instagram account, which consisted of photos of herself taken in front of a butterfly mural outside of a restaurant in Ogden, Utah. Eyewitness accounts of the couple thereafter were as follows: A witness claimed that, on August 27 between 1:00pm and 2:00pm, she saw Laundrie and Petito together at Merry Piglets, a Tex-Mex restaurant in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Per the witness, Laundrie had an argument with the manager, waitress, and hostess, apparently about money, and was "aggressive." The witness said she later saw Petito return to the restaurant, crying and apologizing for Laundrie's behavior. Restaurant staff confirmed via Instagram that the couple were indeed at the restaurant. Another witness reportedly contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to report the activities and coordinates of a slow-moving white van and a "generic" young white man "acting weird" near the Spread Creek Dispersed Camping area on August 26, 27 and possibly 28. She posted a video to TikTok with her observations. According to the witness, an FBI agent said that her account, with regard to finding Petito's body, "tipped us off to the right place." A woman claimed in a TikTok video that on August 29, she and her boyfriend gave Laundrie a lift from an area near Colter Bay Village, after seeing him hitchhiking alone. She reported that Laundrie "freaked out" upon learning that they were going to Jackson Hole instead of Jackson, Wyoming, he "freaked out", disembarking the vehicle at 6:09pm near the Jackson Lake Dam, less than thirty minutes after being picked up. The witness found it "weird" that Laundrie offered $200 for the ride and did not appear to be very dirty, despite claiming that he had been camping for days. Another witness stated that she picked up Laundrie from the Jackson Lake Dam area at 6:20 or 6:30pm on August 29, dropping him off at the entrance to the Spread Creek Dispersed Camping area. Laundrie offered gas money for the twenty minute ride, but did not want to be taken further than the entrance of the campground, which was several miles from the van. According to the witness, Laundrie acted "antsy" about getting out of the vehicle before it got closer to the campsite. On August 27, a text from Petito's phone was sent to her mother which read, "Can you help Stan, I just keep getting his voicemails and missed calls." The message raised concerns for Petito's mother, who said Stan was Petito's grandfather and that she never referred to him by his first name. The last message, sent on August 30, said, "No service in Yosemite." Her mother expressed uncertainty about who sent these messages. On September 1, 2021, Laundrie returned alone to his parents' home in North Port, Florida, in the Ford Transit. On September 6 and 7, 2021, Laundrie and his parents went camping at Fort De Soto Park in Pinellas County. Investigation Petito and Laundrie reported missing On September 11, after not hearing from her daughter since late August, Petito's mother filed a missing person report. Four days later, Laundrie was named a person of interest. Laundrie's parents hired a lawyer and, based on his advice, remained silent, refusing to talk to anyone about the case. Police surveilled the Laundrie home and saw him leave on September 13. On September 15, they saw his car return; police believed the person who exited the car and entered the home was Laundrie. The following day, North Port Police Chief Todd Garrison told reporters, "All I'm going to say is we know where Brian Laundrie is at". On September 17, Laundrie was reported missing by his parents, who claimed not to have seen him since September 13. It was at this time that police realized that they had mistaken Laundrie's mother for Laundrie himself on September 15. After obtaining search warrants, police seized the Ford Transit, an external hard drive, and the Laundrie family's Ford Mustang from the North Point residence. Discovery of Petito's remains On September 19, human remains matching the description of Petito were found at the Spread Creek Dispersed Camping area in Wyoming, not far from where the Ford Transit was previously observed. Her identity was confirmed and an autopsy determined that the manner of death was homicide by "blunt-force injuries to the head and neck, with manual strangulation", which occurred three to four weeks before the body was found. Search for Laundrie and discovery of remains On September 23, the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming issued an arrest warrant for Laundrie due to his unauthorized use of Petito's debit card to obtain $1,000 or more between August 30 and September 1. The FBI took material to match Laundrie's DNA from his home. On October 5, in an interview with ABC News, Laundrie's sister encouraged him to turn himself in to authorities. Two days later, Laundrie's father joined investigators in searching for Laundrie at the T. Mabry Carlton Reserve in Sarasota County, Florida, focusing on areas he used to frequent in the reserve and the adjacent Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park. On October 20, Laundrie's skeletal remains, confirmed by forensic dentistry, and some of his belongings were found in the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park in an area that had recently been underwater due to flooding. His cause of death could not be determined by an autopsy, and his remains were given to an anthropologist for further examination. On November 23, it was announced that the anthropologist concluded that Laundrie died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound and that the manner of death was suicide. Laundrie's admission On January 21, 2022, the FBI revealed that after examining Laundrie's notebook, they found he admitted to killing Petito, then deceiving people through text message that she was still alive. He was officially blamed for Petito's death by authorities afterwards. The FBI Denver Division closed out the investigation, stating that "The investigation did not identify any other individuals other than Brian Laundrie directly involved in the tragic death of Gabby Petito. The FBI’s primary focus throughout the investigation was to bring justice to Gabby and her family." Public interest The case sparked more public interest and coverage on news and social media than other missing persons and murder cases. This heightened interest was attributed to several factors including: the refusal by Laundrie and his parents to comment on Petito's whereabouts; the amount of content on social media documenting their lifestyle; the video footage of the Utah traffic stop; the audio recording of the 9-1-1 call; the video posts by witnesses which provided a lot of publicly available evidence; the idea that the couple was young and attractive and in a romantic excursion gone wrong; the domestic violence incidents in their relationship; an increase in interest in cross-country vandwelling trips due to the COVID-19 pandemic; as well as the general increase in interest in true crime-related entertainment in the preceding decade. There was speculation that the case is linked to the murders of Kylen Schulte and Crystal Turner, which occurred in Moab around the same time Laundrie and Petito were there. Public involvement in the case included witnesses and others posting their observations and theories on social media, protests outside the Laundrie home demanding answers, a candlelight vigil for Petito in her hometown, and donations to the Gabby Petito Foundation established by her parents to support searches for other missing persons. The increased interest in the search for Laundrie and Petito led to the discovery of five bodies of other missing persons. While some posts on social media regarding the case were helpful in the investigation, many of them have been characterized as insensitive, unhelpful, monetized, motivated by increased exposure, or outright misinformation. The high volume of media coverage in the case was cited among some commentators as an example of missing white woman syndrome, or the over-emphasis of news about individuals based on their race, gender, age, or appearance. In comparing Petito's case to others, several outlets noted the relative lack of media attention towards the roughly 710 indigenous people that were reported missing in Wyoming between 2011 and 2020. See also List of solved missing person cases References External links 2021 in Florida 2020s crimes in Florida 2021 in Utah 2021 in Wyoming 2021 murders in the United States 2020s missing person cases August 2021 events in the United States August 2021 crimes in the United States Deaths by person in the United States Deaths by strangulation in the United States Female murder victims People murdered in Wyoming Bridger–Teton National Forest History of women in Wyoming Missing person cases in Utah September 2021 events in the United States Missing person cases in Wyoming

68758762

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Lindani%20Myeni

Killing of Lindani Myeni

On April 14, 2021, three officers from the Honolulu Police Department shot and killed 29-year-old Lindani Myeni fronting a home in Nuʻuanu, Honolulu County, Hawaii during an alleged burglary. Myeni was a Black South African who played professional rugby and had two young children. The shooting took place in a residence's driveway after apparent fighting with Honolulu police officers. All three police officers were injured, and one was hospitalized. After the killing, Myeni's widow Lindsay Myeni filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Honolulu, while Honolulu Prosecutor Steve Alm decided not to prosecute any of the involved officers after an investigation by his office. Background Lindani Myeni was a Black South African man from the Zulu tribe, raised in the town of Empangeni in KwaZulu-Natal, who played professional rugby and had two young children. He was married to Lindsay Myeni, who grew up in Hawaii. The couple met at a hotel in Durban, where Lindani was playing an away game of rugby and Lindsay had a layover during a worldwide Christian missionary trip. Their wedding was 18 months later, and they moved to the United States in January 2020 because of Lindsay's real estate career. Initially living in Tampa, Florida, the couple disliked the racial disparities there and did not feel safe as a mixed-race couple. They subsequently moved to Denver, where Lindani joined the Glendale Merlins while waiting for a work permit, but was arrested and released without charges while traveling with the Merlins in Austin, Texas, and was later stopped by police while walking to rugby practice in Denver. The couple moved to Hawaii as a result, arriving in February 2021 with their two children. Lindsay began work selling real estate, while Lindani was a stay-at-home dad. According to Lindsay Myeni, the family were touring Oahu on April 14, 2021, the day Lindani Myeni was killed. Lindsay Myeni told The New York Times that while the family was driving home after visiting Hānaiakamalama, they stopped at a roadside stand selling wood carvings, and Lindani became fixated on a large carved fish hook which the carver told them was a source of spiritual protection. According to Lindsay, they did not purchase the hook because it was too expensive at $250, but Lindani continued to talk about it even after they arrived at home, saying that he felt a need for spiritual protection and that he wanted to go back and buy the hook. He felt uneasy and went for a drive alone to clear his head. In Lindsay Myeni's interview with the city's Medical Examiner, disclosed by Alm's report, she said her husband didn't have known health problems. She denied any significant depression or suicidal ideations. However, she mentioned that Myeni was "excited and stressed" about several things, including "discovered who he thought was his father was his uncle, and who he thought was his uncle was his father." She said that would make Myeni potentially King; however, it was stressful for him to realize that his family had lied to him his entire life. According to the report, Lindsay said Myeni and their children had a "spiritual day" on April 14, 2021, visiting various locations in Oahu, including Hānaiakamalama. In Laie, Myeni even baptized himself again in the ocean. Then, around 19:15 to 19:30, Myeni left for a drive to "clear his mind," and she spoke to him at 19:52, and he was "on his way home." The Medical Examiner noted that she didn't comment why Myeni may have been at the residence, only stating he was "5 blocks away from home". Earlier encounter with police According to Alm's investigation, about 20 minutes before the shooting, Myeni approached the scene of an unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, talking to several investigating police officers and the victim. The victim told Myeni to go away. He asked one of the officers for money for food and wanted to get in the back seat of a police car. Myeni told another officer that he needed help contacting someone but then realized that he had his own phone. Myeni then drove in his car to a nearby house and followed a couple inside. Alm commented that "several of (Myeni’s) statements and actions were strange, even bizarre”. Honolulu Police Department (HPD) released the police bodycam regarding this encounter on October 12, 2021, as described by Hawaii News Now. The body camera video starts with an officer who just arrived on the scene about 7:40 p.m. He was startled because Myeni tried to get into the patrol car. Myeni said to that officer, "I was walking this way, and I thought I should get in. I thought wrong. I'm sorry." The officer asked him to get away from the car. Myeni walked up to the officer again after the officer left the police vehicle. Officer asked, "Can I help you? ", Myeni replied "I was driven by a car and got me here," The officer then told Myeni to stay 6 feet and wear a face mask. Myeni went to his car to retrieve a face mask and returned to the officer said, "I need to find a boat or some way to meet people." He said he was looking for someone, but HPD bleeped out the details of this person. The officer seemed confused and asked Myeni if he could call that person. Myeni then got his phone and started calling as he left. Then, Myeni drove up and engaged the officer again, "Bye. Thank you," he said, the officer waved back and said, "OK, thank you." The officer made a report about the encounter. The attorney for Myeni's family, James Bickerton, declined to comment. He said he was waiting for HPD to turn over the unredacted video. During an earlier press conference reported by Star Advertiser, Bickerton dismissed the idea that Myeni may have been in an altered state of mind — including suggestions that he was suffering from mental health issues or had taken drugs that night. Bickerton said there was no “sign of any disturbance or acting strange.” Shooting At 8:09p.m. on April 14, 2021, a person in Nuʻuanu called the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) to say that someone was entering the caller's house. The call lasted nine minutes and 47 seconds. Five minutes into the call, at which point Myeni seems to have left the house, three HPD police officers arrived. They approached him in the dark driveway and ordered him to get on the ground, and he subsequently attacked them while asking twice who they were. The police deployed a Taser. As Myeni continued to fight, they shot and killed him. One of the officers was hospitalized after he sustained facial fractures, a concussion, and bodily injuries. Another officer sustained multiple bodily injuries, and the third sustained a concussion and multiple abrasions to his body. Honolulu Police Department statement The day after the killing, Chief of Police Susan Ballard told the press that officers responded to a reported burglary. Myeni had exhibited "erratic and odd behavior" inside the residence before assaulting three police officers outside. When the first officer arrived and ordered Myeni to get on the ground, she said Myeni charged at him, punching him several times. Another officer tried to intervene, and the third officer tried non-lethal force first, deployed a Taser, which didn't stop him. The first officer fired a single round, but Myeni "continued and straddled" another officer, and that's when "Officer two" fired three rounds. She added that all three officers had been sent to the hospital and that the officers' shooting of Myeni was justified because "(Myeni) seriously injured the officers and their lives were in jeopardy." The department released a recording of the 911 call to the press, along with footage from police body cameras at the scene. Two days after the killing, Acting Deputy Chief Allan Nagata said that the three involved officers "were very brave and they fought for their lives," adding that the shooting "was not a case of overreaction." Wrongful death lawsuit On April 21, 2021, Lindsay Myeni filed a wrongful death claim against the city. Her lawyer, James Bickerton, subsequently conducted depositions of witnesses, including the couple and the owner of the home. Bickerton was able to obtain more video footage with a subpoena as a result of the claim, including more body camera footage and a Ring video recording from the residence. Subpoenaed Ring camera footage The redacted Ring camera footage, provided by Bickerton and described by Honolulu Civil Beat, depicts two cars pulling up to the residence at about 8p.m. The couple walks into the house, and Lindani Myeni follows, wearing a face mask and a traditional Zulu headband called an umqhele. Myeni removes his shoes before entering the house, and is inside for about 40 seconds. He then backs out of the house while one of the couple who called 911 can be heard saying that someone has broken in. According to Bickerton, the caller said during their deposition that they were initially pretending to call the police but then decided to do so for real. Bickerton told Civil Beat that the Ring footage supports his theory that Myeni intended to enter the International Society for Krishna Consciousness temple adjacent to the property, saying that the Zulu headband he was wearing would be typical attire for a church or temple. Lindsay Myeni additionally said that she believed Myeni had intended to enter the Hare Krishna temple. While in an earlier interview with Hawaii News Now, Lindsay said she didn't know why Myeni was there but he wouldn’t burglarize. Scot Brower, a lawyer representing the couple and the house owner, disputed the idea that Myeni was looking for a temple. He said the ring camera was motion-sensitive and only record when movements occurred outside the home's front door, in fact, Myeni was inside for several minutes, during which Myeni behaved strangely, walking down the hallway and rummaging through things in rooms, claimed to own the home, and said "I have a video on you. You know why I’m here." He acknowledged that there was no recording to support his claims. He said although English was not the couple's primary language, they are fluent in English. Brower additionally noted that the couple worried that they were targeted because of their ethnicity due to Xenophobia and racism related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Alm, Honolulu Prosecutor, said that no facts were supporting Myeni was looking for the temple. Alm elaborated "If in fact Mr. Myeni was looking for the temple, it would have taken him maybe a few seconds after getting into the house to realize oh, no temple, wrong place, turn around, leave." Alm additionally said that Myeni told the 911 caller “I have videos of you. You know why I’m here.” He then said he lived in the house, and a cat in the house was his. Alm said Myeni stayed inside for five minutes even though the 911 caller asked him to leave several times and told him they were calling the police. Alm said Myeni told the caller that he is not afraid of the police and he was on a hunt, on safari, which the couple interpreted as a threat and said that they were the hunted prey and he was the hunter. In his documents for the press, Alm also enclosed a statement from the president of the Hare Krishna temple. The president claimed, "we do not know Mr. Myeni and have no information concerning him or the events of April 14. We are not aware that he has ever been to our temple or had any intention to come to our temple on April 14.". He stated that the temple was closed during the time of the incident. 911 call audio In audio from the 911 call as described by Civil Beat, the caller tells Myeni to "please leave". Bickerton claims that the caller's spouse can be heard saying “we have no temple” in the background. The caller tells the dispatcher that Myeni identified himself as Lindani or Linden per New York Times, that he said he was from South Africa, and that he was not armed or shouting. The caller is audibly crying for much of the phone call. In the Ring camera footage, Myeni is seen leaving while repeatedly apologizing and saying "I know you guys though. Can I see your phone". The caller tells the dispatcher that they are too afraid to go outside. As Officers arrive, the caller directs them to Myeni. Scot Brower disputed the claim that the spouse of the caller can be heard mentioning a temple in the background. He additionally noted that Myeni went in the house without any permission or consent. Body camera footage In body camera footage as described by Civil Beat, an officer points a handgun and a flashlight toward Myeni in the dark, and shouts at him twice to "get on the ground". Myeni begins to fight with the officers, causing the camera to shake, while asking twice who they are. Another officer deploys a taser as Myeni continues to fight. Someone yells "shoot him!", and one shot can be heard. Another officer says "fuck you" and three more shots are fired as the officer says "Police!" Prosecutorial response In April, Honolulu Prosecutor Steve Alm announced that his office was investigating the police response to the incident. On the shooting On July 1, 2021, The New York Times reported that Alm had decided not to prosecute any of the three involved officers. Alm said that the officers' use of deadly force was justified. He noted that the officers tried to use multiple non-lethal, non-deadly force techniques to control Mr. Myeni before they used their service firearms. Alm said that Myeni attacked the officers immediately as they arrived at the scene (identified by Alm as Officer one, two, and three), hitting Officer one. Officer three used his Taser, but ineffective. Myeni attacked Officer three, and Officer two tried to stop him by hand but failed. Myeni charged at Officer one again. The Officer shot Myeni in his chest that didn't subdue him; Myeni then tackled him and began punching him repeatedly on the ground. Alm said Officer two then drew his weapon and ordered Myeni to stop. When Myeni kept punching Officer one in the face, Officer two fired three times, striking Myeni twice in the torso and once in the leg. Alm said that both officers were justified because officer one feared for his life and Officer two was afraid Officer one would be killed, or that Myeni would gain control of Officer one's weapon. In the persecutor's documents that he gave to the media, he pointed out that Myeni committed the offense of unauthorized entry in a dwelling in a second degree and the offense of assault against a law enforcement officer in the first degree. Finally, Alm gave a remark saying all three police officers were sent to the emergency room after the incidents with injuries, including one who was seriously injured and hadn't returned to work at the time of the press release. He noted that Myeni was unarmed, additionally stated that his office "did not see any evidence that race played any part in this entire incident." Autopsy report According to an autopsy report provided by Alm's office, the toxicology found the presence of a marijuana component with metabolites in his blood. Still, the autopsy report offered no opinion concerning the psychological or physiological effect of marijuana on Myeni’s state of mind or his behavior. The Medical Examiner noted in the report that they proposed a Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy consultation through Boston University but it was declined by Myeni's family saying, "make him look bad." The Medical Examiner concluded the cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds. Criticisms The New York Times quoted Bridget G. Morgan-Bickerton, a lawyer for Myeni's widow Lindsay Myeni, who said that she was "very disappointed" in the Prosecutor's decision. Morgan-Bickerton said that Alm's investigation had not addressed the fact that the officers did not identify themselves as police before shooting Myeni, stating that this was because Myeni was Black, and noting that Lindsay Myeni's wrongful death lawsuit against the city would continue. Alm responded that the officers' uniforms would have been clearly visible and that Myeni would have been able to see them because of the bright streetlights in the area, and therefore there was no need for the officers to verbally identify themselves as police. Public response In US Locally, the killing of Myeni led to some gatherings and small protests, but there were no mass protests. Kenneth Lawson, a professor at the William S. Richardson School of Law, told Associated Press that the killing "would have generated mass protests in any other American city", while Akiemi Glenn, founder and executive director of The Pōpolo Project, said that acknowledging racial bias in Hawaii's law enforcement "explodes the myth that this is a paradise". Al Sharpton released a statement condemning the shooting as "yet another sensational racialization and criminalization of an innocent unarmed black man at the hands of police not following the law and proper police procedures". A Back Da Blue rally was held on April 25 Kapolei, Mililani, Kane'ohe District Parks to Kapolani Regional Park in Waikiki following the shooting, showing support to HPD. A participant told KITV that "Every time they step out, they put their lives on the line for everybody." A downtown Honolulu restaurant offered free meals to officers till the end of the month. In South Africa Lindani Myeni's body was sent to South Africa for his funeral. A group of youth from the African National Congress met the coffin at O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, waving a banner that read "Black Lives Matter" and depicted his face. Nonhlanhla Khoza, who was present as part of a delegation from the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government, called for justice and said that the killing of Myeni had "diminished the little hope that there will be a sudden change in police attitudes after the globally reported murder of George Floyd". She described the actions of the police officers who killed Myeni as reminiscent of the Atlantic slave trade and lynching of Black people in the United States as well as the apartheid security forces in South Africa, expressed a loss of faith in the Honolulu Police Department, and stated that "we have confidence in U.S. President Joe Biden, that as crusader for human rights and justice, he will ensure that justice will finally prevail". On May 6, 2021, a memorial service for Myeni was held at Empangeni Rugby Club. Sihle Zikalala, the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, delivered a speech calling for justice for Myeni. At Myeni's funeral, which was held in eSikhawini on May 8, 2021, Lindsay Myeni expressed a desire to raise the couple's children in South Africa, saying that she didn't "want to raise kids that are considered black in America, where clearly it's not safe" and asking the South African government for help gaining citizenship. The government of KwaZulu-Natal stated that it would support Myeni's family in finding justice, with government official Neliswa Nkonyeni claiming that Myeni's death was racially motivated and stating that “to understand the racial disparities in the USA, we must look beyond its borders and its institutionalised racism [...] We must interrogate its violent interventionist approach in other countries in the name of exporting democracy." Hlengiwe Mavimbela, local minister for Arts, Culture and Sport, also attended. The funeral, along with recordings of the 911 call, was broadcast in South African media and Myeni's death was compared to police killings of other African immigrants to America such as those of Amadou Diallo, Ousmane Zongo, and Alfred Olango. Myeni was buried in eSikhaleni, KwaZulu-Natal. See also Killing of Iremamber Sykap References Killings by law enforcement officers in the United States African people shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States Black Lives Matter 2021 deaths Deaths by firearm in Hawaii History of racism in Hawaii April 2021 events in the United States South African rugby union players Filmed killings by law enforcement

68767742

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Jairo%20Ortiz

Killing of Jairo Ortiz

Jairo Johan Ortiz Bustamante (2 September 1997-6 April 2017) was a Venezuelan student. Ortiz was the first person killed during the 2017 protests in Venezuela. Killing Jairo Ortiz was a student at the Universidad Experimental Politécnica (UNEXPO) in Caracas. On 6 April 2017, he was shot while participating in a demonstration held in Carrizal, in Miranda state, dying at the age of 19. The independent investigation carried out by the Public Ministry determined that the shots were fired by a Bolivarian National Police official, Rohenluis Leonel Rojas Mara, who drew his regulation weapon and fired multiple shots at a group of 81 young people, despite the constitutional rule that prohibits the use of firearms to control demonstrations. The killing of Jairo Ortiz was documented in a report by a panel of independent experts from the Organization of American States, considering that it could constitute a crime against humanity committed in Venezuela along with other killings during the protests. See also Armando Cañizales Miguel Castillo Neomar Lander Paúl Moreno Juan Pablo Pernalete Paola Ramírez Xiomara Scott Fabián Urbina David Vallenilla Timeline of the 2017 Venezuelan protests References People shot dead by law enforcement officers Victims of police brutality People murdered in Venezuela 1997 births 2017 deaths

68767821

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Paola%20Ram%C3%ADrez

Killing of Paola Ramírez

Paola Andreína Ramírez Gómez (26 July 199319 April 2017) was a Venezuelan student from the Catholic University of Tachira killed during the 2017 Venezuelan protests. Killing On 19 April 2017, Paola was nearby the Las Palomas Square in the San Carlos neighborhood in San Cristóbal, Táchira state, when she was intercepted by several armed civilians on motorcycles that were patrolling the area due to the demonstrations that were taking place in the zone. They tried to strip her of her belongings, and when she ran away she was hit by a projectile that pierced her lungs. On 21 April, during her funeral, her parents were taken by the CICPC forensic police and interrogated following their comments that she had called them minutes before her death, stating that colectivos were pursuing her. Their testimony contrasted Interior Minister Néstor Reverol's statement, who said that a member of an opposition party killed Ramírez. Ramírez's death was documented in a report by a panel of independent experts from the Organization of American States, considering that it could constitute a crime against humanity committed in Venezuela along with other killings during the protests. See also Armando Cañizales Miguel Castillo Neomar Lander Paúl Moreno Jairo Ortiz Juan Pablo Pernalete Xiomara Scott Fabián Urbina David Vallenilla Timeline of the 2017 Venezuelan protests References 1993 births 2017 deaths Deaths by firearm in Venezuela Deaths by person in South America Female murder victims Filmed deaths People murdered in Venezuela 2017 murders in South America 2017 Venezuelan protests Violence against women in Venezuela

68767907

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Armando%20Ca%C3%B1izales

Killing of Armando Cañizales

Armando Cañizales Carrillo (circa 1999-3 May 2017) was a Venezuelan violist member of the National Symphony Orchestra System killed during the 2017 Venezuelan protests. Killing Cañizales was going to start studying at the Central University of Venezuela Medicine School. On 3 May 2017, he was participating in a demonstration on Rio de Janeiro Avenue, in Las Mercedes urbanization, in Caracas, when he was shot at the base of his neck by a spherical metallic projectile, dying at the age of 18 years. On 13 July, a night march was summoned in honor of those killed during the protests, including Cañizales, marching to the places where the demonstrators died. Dissident CICPC inspector Óscar Pérez made a surprise appearance in the march, before leaving and disappearing. The killing of Armando Cañizales was documented in a report by a panel of independent experts from the Organization of American States, considering that it could constitute a crime against humanity committed in Venezuela along with other killings during the protests. See also Miguel Castillo Paúl Moreno Jairo Ortiz Juan Pablo Pernalete Neomar Lander Paola Ramírez Xiomara Scott Fabián Urbina David Vallenilla Timeline of the 2017 Venezuelan protests References People shot dead by law enforcement officers Venezuelan violinists Victims of police brutality People murdered in Venezuela 1990s births 2017 deaths Year of birth uncertain 2017 Venezuelan protests

68767991

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Miguel%20Castillo

Killing of Miguel Castillo

Miguel Castillo Bracho (died 11 May 2017) was a Venezuelan social communicator who was killed during the 2017 Venezuelan protests. Killing On 11 May 2017, Miguel was on the main avenue of Las Mercedes, Baruta municipality, in Caracas, when National Guard officials fired metal spheres, hitting him at the left intercostal. On 13 July, a night march was summoned in honor of those killed during the protests, including Castillo, marching to the places where the demonstrators died. Dissident CICPC inspector Óscar Pérez made a surprise appearance in the march, before leaving and disappearing. The killing of Miguel Castillo was documented in a report by a panel of independent experts from the Organization of American States, considering that it could constitute a crime against humanity committed in Venezuela along with other killings during the protests. See also Armando Cañizales Neomar Lander Paúl Moreno Jairo Ortiz Juan Pablo Pernalete Neomar Lander Paola Ramírez Xiomara Scott Fabián Urbina David Vallenilla Timeline of the 2017 Venezuelan protests References Deaths by firearm in Venezuela Deaths by person in South America Filmed deaths Male murder victims People murdered in Venezuela People shot dead by law enforcement officers 2017 deaths 2017 murders in South America 2017 Venezuelan protests Victims of police brutality Year of birth missing

68768307

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Fabi%C3%A1n%20Urbina

Killing of Fabián Urbina

Fabián Urbina ( 2000-19 June 2017) was a Venezuelan protester killed during the 2017 Venezuelan protests. Killing Urbina had been already wounded during a protest on 17 March near Universidad Pedagógica Experimental Libertador in Maracay. On 19 June 2017, Urbina was participating in a protest at the Altamira distributor in Caracas when a National Guardsman fired a pistol at protesters, fatally wounding him and injuring five more. Urbina was transferred to the El Ávila clinic, where he was admitted without vital signs at the age of 17. The Public Ministry identified those responsible and ordered their arrest. Interior Ministry Néstor Reverol admitted that the National Guard was responsible for his death. A march in memory of Fabián Urbina was scheduled for 20 June; although it was rescheduled to 21 June due to the passing of Tropical Storm Bret, many still appeared to demonstrate through the storm. The following day, hundreds marched to the Organization of American States (OAS) headquarters in eastern Caracas, passing the spot where Fabian Urbina was shot dead by the National Guardsman. On 13 July, a night march was summoned in honor of those killed during the protests, including Urbina, marching to the places where the demonstrators died. Dissident CICPC inspector Óscar Pérez made a surprise appearance in the march, before leaving and disappearing. The killing of Fabián Urbina was documented in a report by a panel of independent experts from the OAS, considering that it could constitute a crime against humanity committed in Venezuela along with other killings during the protests. See also Armando Cañizales Miguel Castillo Neomar Lander Paúl Moreno Jairo Ortiz Juan Pablo Pernalete Paola Ramírez Xiomara Scott David Vallenilla Timeline of the 2017 Venezuelan protests References 2000 births 2017 deaths Deaths by firearm in Venezuela Deaths by person in South America Filmed deaths Male murder victims People murdered in Venezuela People shot dead by law enforcement officers 2017 murders in South America 2017 Venezuelan protests Victims of police brutality Year of birth uncertain

68768379

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20David%20Vallenilla

Killing of David Vallenilla

David José Vallenilla Luis ( 1995 – 22 June 2017) was a Venezuelan student killed during the 2017 Venezuelan protests. Killing David Vallenilla was a graduate student in nursing. Son of David Vallenilla, who was the superior of Nicolás Maduro when he worked in the Caracas Metro. On 22 June 2017, Vallenilla was in a protest on the Francisco Fajardo highway, in Caracas, when a military official fired a shotgun at him from inside the La Carlota air base. He was wounded at the thorax level and was transferred to the El Ávila clinic, where he was admitted without vital signs at the age of 22. On 13 July, a night march was summoned in honor of those killed during the protests, including Vallenilla, marching to the places where the demonstrators died. Dissident CICPC inspector Óscar Pérez made a surprise appearance in the march, before leaving and disappearing. The killing of David Vallenilla was documented in a report by a panel of independent experts from the Organization of American States, considering that it could constitute a crime against humanity committed in Venezuela along with other killings during the protests. See also Armando Cañizales Miguel Castillo Paúl Moreno Jairo Ortiz Juan Pablo Pernalete Paola Ramírez Xiomara Scott Fabián Urbina Timeline of the 2017 Venezuelan protests References 1990s births 2017 deaths Deaths by firearm in Venezuela Deaths by person in South America Filmed deaths Male murder victims People murdered in Venezuela People shot dead by law enforcement officers 2017 murders in South America Victims of police brutality Year of birth uncertain

68912301

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Zak%20Kostopoulos

Killing of Zak Kostopoulos

Zak Kostopoulos was killed on a busy street near Omonoia Square, Athens during the day on 21 September 2018, first beaten by civilians and later by the police. The victim, a LGBT rights activist in Greece, died on the way to the hospital. The suspects in the case are awaiting trial for inflicting fatal bodily harm. Victim Zak Kostopoulos (born 22 August 1985) was a Greek-American activist, for the rights of LGBT people, those who were HIV positive, sex workers and refugees. He was also a drag performer under the name Zackie Oh. Death It is unknown how Kostopoulos entered the jewelry shop on Gladstonos street where his killing began. Another Greek LGBT activist, , said that he entered the shop to escape an altercation on the street. Videos of the killing show Kostopoulos unarmed and trying to escape from the store as he is being attacked by the store's owner and another man, a real estate agent who was a high-ranking member of the National Front. After the window was broken by the owner, Kostopoulos crawled out and fell to the ground after being kicked in the head. Police arrived at the scene. Despite Kostopoulos' injuries, the police apprehended and handcuffed him and also beat him. Kostopoulos died on the way to the hospital. Eyewitness Philippos Karagiorgis described the killing as a "lynching" and criticized onlookers for "watching as if it was a movie" instead of intervening. Investigations The police did not immediately arrest the perpetrators of the killing, interview all of the witnesses present, or seal off the crime scene. Therefore, the store owner had the opportunity to clean up potentially incriminating evidence. Initial Greek media reports said that Kostopoulos was a drug addict who was committing an armed robbery of the jewelry shop. However, a forensic analysis found no traces of drugs in his system and his fingerprints were not on any of the knives present at the scene of the crime. The coroner found that he had died of multiple injuries especially to his head. Kostopoulos' family commissioned the UK-based research center Forensic Architecture to investigate his death. Forensic Architecture found that the police had overlooked twelve cameras that were recording the scene and failed to question a key witness who appeared in the footage. As a result of the Forensic Architecture investigation, the case was reopened in 2019. The trial of the shop owner, another man who was filmed beating Kostopoulos, and four police officers for inflicting "fatal bodily harm", is scheduled to start on 20 October 2021. The trial, which judge Giorgos Kassimis described as "historic", was originally scheduled for October 2020 but was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Kostopoulos' family want his death tried as murder. Legacy Kostopoulos was buried in the town of Kirra where he grew up. In 2018, 2019, and 2021 people organized marches in Athens to commemorate Kostopoulos' death and call for justice against his killers. The slogan "Zackie lives, smash the Nazis" (which rhymes in Greek) was chanted at events across the country. References Further reading Violence against LGBT people in Europe 2018 in Greece LGBT rights activists from Greece 2010s in Athens Police brutality in the 2010s September 2018 events in Europe

69027673

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20David%20Amess

Killing of David Amess

On 15 October 2021, Sir David Amess, a British Conservative Party politician and Member of Parliament (MP) for Southend West, died after being stabbed multiple times at his constituency surgery at Belfairs Methodist Church Hall in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:13 pm. Ali Harbi Ali, a 25-year-old British man, was arrested at the scene and was later charged with murder and the preparation of terrorist acts. Background Amess was a long-serving politician who entered Parliament in 1983 as MP for Basildon; at the time of his death, he was MP for Southend West. He held no senior positions during his career but was described by journalist Nick Paton Walsh as an "instantly recognizable" member of the Conservative Party, and was knighted for his political and public service in 2015. He was a devout Catholic and a socially conservative politician who opposed abortion, supported capital punishment, and campaigned in favour of Brexit. He was a supporter of animal welfare and was one of the few Conservative MPs to support a ban on fox hunting. He also supported a campaign to award city status to Southend-on-Sea, Essex. Following the murder of MP Jo Cox on her way to a constituency surgery in 2016, Amess wrote in his 2020 autobiography that fears of similar attacks "rather spoilt the great British tradition of the people openly meeting their elected politicians", and that he had faced "nuisance from the odd member of the general public" and insecurity at his own home. MPs are protected by armed police within Parliament, with security tightened after the 2017 Westminster attack. They are generally not given police protection during surgeries, and they are normally accompanied by only one member of staff. After Cox's murder, parliamentary spending on MPs' personal security rose from under £200,000 to £4.5 million in two years. Attack On 15 October 2021, Amess held a constituency surgery at the church hall of Belfairs Methodist Church on Eastwood Road North in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, where he was scheduled to meet constituents from 10 am to 1 pm. He held a virtual meeting on Zoom with a colleague and talked to local residents on the steps of the hall before entering the building around 12:05 pm, accompanied by two female members of staff, to speak with people who had arrived earlier. While inside the church hall, a man armed with a knife emerged from a group of constituents and fatally stabbed Amess multiple times. Police and paramedics arrived at the scene within minutes. The suspect waited inside the church hall, where he was arrested and a police cordon was set up. An air ambulance landed at Belfairs Sports Ground to take Amess to hospital, but the medical team decided that his condition was not stable enough to transport him and so continued to work on him at the scene. His death was confirmed at 1:13 pm. Investigation Counter-terrorist police officers were involved in the early stages of the investigation. Essex Police said that a "25-year-old man was quickly arrested after officers arrived at the scene on suspicion of murder and a knife was recovered". They arrested Ali Harbi Ali, from Kentish Town, North London. In 2014, as a teenager, he was referred to Prevent, the United Kingdom's voluntary programme for those thought to be at risk of radicalisation, from which he was referred on to the Channel programme. He is believed not to have spent long in the programme, and he was not a "subject of interest" to MI5. At approximately 6:32 pm on 15 October, Essex Police announced that the investigation had been handed over to the Counter Terrorism Command of London's Metropolitan Police Service. On the evening of 16 October, the Metropolitan Police Service confirmed the suspect had been detained under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000, and that magistrates had extended the period the suspect could be held in custody for questioning until 22 October. On 17 October, police identified the stabbing as a terrorist incident potentially motivated by Islamic extremism. Police searched three addresses in London over the weekend following the stabbing. On 21 October, a prosecutor told Westminster Magistrates' Court that Ali considered himself an affiliate of the Islamic State and that he had planned the attack two years in advance. The court also heard that his actions were "connected to the conflict in Syria". Legal proceedings On 21 October 2021, Ali was charged with the murder of Amess and the prior preparation of terrorist acts. On 22 October, he appeared at London's Old Bailey via video link from Belmarsh, during which he was remanded in custody. On 27 October, an inquest was opened into Amess's death, but it was immediately suspended "pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings". The suspension would be reviewed in April 2022. Coroner's officer Paul Donaghy told the inquest that, the day after Amess's death, a Home Office pathologist carried out a post-mortem examination, which showed that Amess had died from multiple stab wounds to the chest. At a plea hearing on 21 December, Ali entered not guilty pleas for the charges of murder and preparing acts of terrorism. He was again remanded in custody, with his trial scheduled to begin on 21 March 2022. Reactions After the attack, Prime Minister Boris Johnson returned to London, where flags were lowered to half-mast. Various parliamentary groups, and current and former politicians from across the political spectrum, expressed shock and offered condolences, as did members of the British royal family, international politicians, and relatives of Jo Cox. A vigil for Amess was held in his constituency of Southend West at 6 pm on the day of his death, and another the next day. Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, announced that the security of MPs would be reviewed. The safety of MPs during open, public constituency surgeries was debated by politicians. Calls to enact a law to crack down on online targeting of MPs and end anonymity were made. The Conservatives suspended political campaigning. Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey paid tribute to the late MP, during the parliamentary sitting at the House of Commons. A Catholic priest reported he was not allowed to enter the crime scene to administer the last rites for Amess. Following the killing, British Catholic policymakers issued statements affirming Amess's commitment to his faith and lauding his achievements. Labour MP Mike Kane also sought to add an "Amess amendment" to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill that would ensure Catholic priests are able to gain access to crime scenes in order to administer the last rites. On 16 October, Johnson and Leader of the Opposition Sir Keir Starmer, accompanied by Hoyle and Home Secretary Priti Patel, laid wreaths at the church hall where Amess was killed. On 18 October, a minute's silence was held in the House of Commons before MPs paid tribute to Amess. That evening, a service of remembrance for Amess, attended by MPs, was held at St Margaret's, Westminster. The service included an address by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. MPs paid tribute in a book of condolence that was placed in the House of Commons Library, as well as in Westminster Hall and Portcullis House. Tributes were also laid at Belfairs Methodist Church, where Amess was killed. In the days following Amess's death, a number of MPs, including the Conservative Chris Skidmore and Labour's Charlotte Nichols, voiced their support for a campaign to grant city status to Southend-on-Sea as a way of honouring Amess's memory; he had frequently spoken on the topic in Parliament. During tributes to Amess in the House of Commons on 18 October, Johnson announced that the Queen had consented to Southend being given city status. As a result of Amess's death, a by-election was triggered to fill his former seat. Major and minor parties announced they would not stand a candidate to oppose the Conservatives, as a sign of respect, following the precedent set in the 2016 Batley and Spen by-election after the murder of Jo Cox. Conservative candidate Anna Firth won the by-election on 3 February 2022. Following the arrest of Ali, who is London-born of Somali ancestry, Somalis in Britain reported being subject to abuse, harassment, and death threats. A procession and memorial service took place at St Mary's Church, the Church of England parish church in Prittlewell, on 22 November. A family statement was read by the former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe. Afterwards his casket processed through the streets in a horse-drawn hearse. The following day a funeral service was held at Westminster Cathedral. Johnson was joined by Hoyle, Starmer, and former prime ministers at the service. A message from Pope Francis was delivered by Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, the Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain. See also Operation Bridger References 2021 in British politics 2021 in England 2020s in Essex Attacks in the United Kingdom in 2021 Attacks on British politicians Deaths by person in England October 2021 events in the United Kingdom Southend-on-Sea (district) Stabbing attacks in 2021 Stabbing attacks in England

69132577

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Eurie%20Martin

Killing of Eurie Martin

Eurie Martin was a 58-year-old mentally ill African-American man killed by three Washington County, Georgia sheriff's deputies, on the evening of July 7, 2017. Martin was walking along, or perhaps on, the road going from his home in Milledgeville toward Sandersville. In the all-White settlement of Deepstep, Georgia, he asked Cyrus Harris, a local resident, for water. Harris called 911. While attempting to arrest and handcuff Martin, the deputies used Taser devices against him fifteen times in less than five minutes. Video shows the policemen kneeling on Martin's shoulders, legs and waist holding the devices against his body until he stopped moving. Witnesses pointed out that two of the officers were obese. The three policemen were charged with felony murder, involuntary manslaughter, false imprisonment, aggravated assault and reckless conduct. At the trial, experts testified that it was electrocution, not an underlying medical condition that caused Martin's death. Medical testimony showed Martin had no drugs in his system. The prosecution also produced witnesses that such a use of a Taser was not within the department's guidelines. The deputies had to justify the use of Tasers. They first said that Martin physically threatened him. But eyewitnesses said there were no threats, which was confirmed by the video. Without reasonable suspicion of a crime, Martin could legally resist being handcuffed. After Martin was motionless, the deputies tried to figure out a crime to charge him with, a discussion that was captured on video. They first mentioned trespassing, then changed it to walking on the road. Deputies testified that Martin was walking on the road as they arrived, a crime that justified the arrest. The prosecution argued that it was a rural road with no sidewalk, and people commonly walked down the road. Eyewitnesses Lee Curtis Bentley and Susan Steele testified the lawmen did not give aid to Martin when he was restrained. The officer's defense initially claimed the killing was covered by Georgia's Stand Your Ground law. This was disallowed. They then maintained their actions were in fact within the Sheriff's Office guidelines and that they were not trained in those guidelines. On Monday, October 25, 2021, the jury asked to see the video of the incident again. They then sent the judge a note saying they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict. The judge then jury read the Allen charge encouraging them to continue deliberations. Two days later, a mistrial was declared. References 2017 controversies in the United States 2017 in Georgia (U.S. state) People killed by law enforcement officers in the United States Washington County, Georgia Law enforcement in Georgia (U.S. state) Police brutality in the 2010s Electroshock weapon controversies African-American-related controversies Deaths by electrocution Taser

69397812

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Gracie%20Spinks

Killing of Gracie Spinks

Gracie Spinks was a lifeguard and model from Old Whittington who is suspected of being murdered by a former colleague. Background She was a swimming instructor and lifeguard but had been working as a warehouse operative at the time of her death. She was a keen horse rider and kept a horse called Paddy at Blue Lodge Farm in Duckmanton. In February 2021 she had reported a former colleague, Michael Sellers, to police for stalking. He had been her supervisor at a warehouse where she once worked. Discovery She was last seen alive by her mother at 7:30am when she left home to tend to her horse. She was found unconscious in the field after 8am and a man was seen running away. Initially it was thought she had been kicked by her horse, but paramedics realised she had been attacked and called police. She was declared dead at 8:50am. Sellars was found dead at 11am. Inquests Separate inquests were held into the two deaths. Derbyshire police referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. A postmortem discovered she had died from a stab wound that severed an artery and her spine. There was no evidence she was sexually assaulted. It is believed that Michael Sellars stabbed her. Police conduct Disciplinary notices were served on five police officers. Two were served with notices over their handling of her allegations of stalking against Michael Sellers. A sergeant and two constables were served with misconduct orders over the steps they took after discovering a bag of weapons in May 2021 near the site where Gracie was eventually stabbed. Her family has campaigned for "Gracie's law", which would increase funding for investigating stalking cases. Her parents said she was failed by police. References Stalking Crime in Derbyshire Harassment Violence against women in England Deaths by stabbing in England

69599417

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Daniela%20Figueredo

Killing of Daniela Figueredo

Daniela Geraldine Figueredo Salazar ( 2001-13 March 2021) was a Venezuelan young woman detained in a police cell in the Zamora municipality, Miranda state. Figueredo was killed while in state custody, shot by a police officer in the prison cell. The officer, Daniel Galarraga, has maintained that the death was accidental, but testimony from other inmates indicates that it occurred after Galarraga drew his service weapon to force her to have sexual relations with him. Galarraga was subsequently arrested and charged; the charges filed by the prosecution ruled out that it was an accidental shooting. National Assembly deputies, activists and human rights defenders denounced her killing. Killing Figueredo had been arrested in October 2020, accused of possession of strategic material, and detained in El Helicoide. She was killed on 13 March 2021, at the age of nineteen, by police officer Daniel Galarraga when he was handling her regulation weapon inside the cell, a Pietro Beretta pistol model 92FS, and shot her in the face. She was taken to the Eugenio Bellard General Hospital in Guatire, where she arrived without vital signs. The NGO Una Ventana a la Libertad (A Window to Freedom), which defends the rights of detainees, stated that the incident occurred when the officer tried to sexually abuse her. The organization collected testimonies of six female inmates who were in the cell, who denounced that they are "harassed and forced to have sexual relations" with police officers in exchange for benefits. They also provided the information to the forensic police officers of the Scientific, Criminal and Criminalistic Investigations Corps (CICPC). National Assembly deputies, activists and human rights defenders began to prepare a report on the killing to be sent to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, to the Office of the Rapporteur for Detained Persons of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, a body that Venezuela left in 2013. Deputy Marianela Fernández described the fact as "abominable", asserting that the rape of female inmates in Venezuelan prisons "has become the practice of many police officers". The deputies issued the statements during a session of the Delegated Commission, a body that is activated when the parliament goes into recess, but which Juan Guaidó put in place to remain at the head of the legislature after the 2020 parliamentary elections. Officer Daniel Alexander Galarraga Ortega, 24 years old and having graduated three months before, was arrested subsequently and charged with intentional homicide for futile and ignoble motives, improper use of an organic weapon, sexual violence and treason. Galarraga alleged that the death was accidental when the pistol was unintentionally discharged. The prosecution ruled out that it was an accidental shooting with the filed charges. Una Ventana a la Libertad reported that the hearing for the presentation of the officer was held on the night of 17 March, after being deferred due to delays in the ballistic tests that were to be annexed to the file. Figueredo was shot in the nasal region and exited through the right occipital region, which calls into question the police officer's version. During the investigation, CICPC officers have looked after elements that link Galarraga and other officers with sexual abuse of female detainees in exchange for granting them certain benefits. According to statements made by several of those questioned, there were agreements between police officers and female detainees where they were taken out of their cells at night to have sexual relations with police officers, including some detainees at the police headquarters. See also María Lourdes Afiuni References 2000s births 2021 deaths Venezuelan women Prisoners who died in Venezuelan detention People shot dead by law enforcement officers Venezuelan prisoners and detainees Deaths by firearm in Venezuela

69651800

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Ashley%20Zhao

Killing of Ashley Zhao

Ashley Zhao was a 5-year-old girl who was discovered dead in her family's restaurant in Jackson Township, Stark County, on 10 January 2017. Her death sparked an investigation lead by the local police department in cooperation with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Ming Ming Chen, Ashley's mother, was charged with her death and convicted of involuntary manslaughter. Ashley's father, Liang Zhao, was also tried and found guilty of obstructing justice and corpse abuse for assisting Chen to hide the body. Chen and Zhao were sentenced to 22 and 12 years in prison respectively. Missing persons report & discovery of body On 9 January 2017, Ashley Zhao disappeared from Ang's Asian Cuisine, a restaurant owned by her parents. She was reported missing on the same day at around 9:00 PM. Her parents told the police that she may have “wandered out a back door”. On the morning of 10 January, authorities issued a Statewide Endangered Child Alert for her. While searching the restaurant, police found her body “concealed” in the kitchen, close to the freezer. Investigation & legal proceedings Chen and Zhao were arrested for their daughter's death on 11 January; at the Massillon Municipal Court, their bonds were set at $5 million each because the judge believed that they posed a flight risk. Although her parents had reported her missing, the police believed that Chen had repeatedly punched Ashley in the face until she died. Ming Ming Chen Charged with murder and felonious assault, Ming Ming Chen taped a video with the police in which she confessed to beating Ashley to death. She talked about how she was exhausted by working at the restaurant and that Ashley had become disobedient. After informing her husband that Ashley was dead, she tasked him with hiding the body. During a hearing on 12 October 2017, Chen pleaded not guilty to the murder charge by reason of insanity. On 29 December 2017, after she pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, she was sentenced to 22 years in prison. As she had come to the United States illegally when she was a teenager, she will be deported back to China after being released from prison. Liang Zhao As part of a plea deal, Zhao agreed to testify against Ming Ming Chen in exchange for a sentence of 12 years in prison. According to Zhao, when he found Ashley, she was lying on the floor with head injuries (that Chen presumably inflicted) and “green fluid” coming out of her mouth. He took her to the bathroom to clean the fluid off her face; by that point she had stopped breathing. He tried to perform CPR, but did not successfully revive her. He also confessed to helping Chen hide Ashley's body in the restaurant following her death. On 11 September 2017, he pleaded guilty to two counts of child endangerment, corpse abuse, obstruction of justice, and evidence tampering. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison on 10 January 2018. References 2010s crimes in Ohio January 2017 crimes in North America

69741271

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Mitch%20Henriquez

Killing of Mitch Henriquez

Mitch Henriquez was killed by Dutch police at a music festival in the Hague on 27 June, 2015. During an altercation, he was restrained by five police officers and was choked to death. The official narrative that Henriquez had died at the hospital was immediately disputed by bystanders who had filmed the incident; the killing led to four days of rioting in the Hague and a ban on public assembly. At trial two years later, two police officers were convicted and sentenced to six months in prison. On appeal, one sentence was quashed and the other upheld. At the final court of appeal, the Supreme Court, the remaining sentence was upheld in 2021. The case has been compared to other police homicides such as the murder of George Floyd and the death of Freddie Gray. RTL Nieuws revealed in 2021 that the Hague police force had spent €1.3 million on lawyers to defend the police officers involved in the killing. Killing Aruban man Mitch Henriquez (aged 42) was on holiday in the Netherlands in the summer of 2015. On 27 June, he went to the Night at the Park music festival which was headlined by UB40 at the Zuiderpark in the Hague. He died after being arrested by five police officers, who choked him until he was dead. On the police account, Henriquez had told the officers he had a weapon and then pointed at his crotch. The officers went to arrest him on suspicion of being armed, he resisted arrest and then became unwell as he was being transported to the police station. This narrative was immediately contested by footage filmed by concerned bystanders which showed the police picking up Henriquez's limp corpse and moving it to the van. Immediate aftermath Henriquez was killed on Sunday and footage of his death immediately began to circulate on social media; #mitchhenriquez became the top Dutch hashtag on Twitter. On Monday night, people gathered outside a police station in the inner-city district of Schilderswijk to protest, resulting in 61 arrests after three days of riots. On the fourth night, the police announced a ban on the public assembly of more than three people, with use of weapons and scooters prohibited. The police then arrested 200 people for breaching the order. Chief Public Prosecutor Kitty Nooy claimed that Henriquez had died in hospital. She said the autopsy stated that Henriquez had died of asphyxiation, as result of being choked. There were no natural causes of death and Henriquez's body did not contain alcohol or drugs. Five police officers were then suspended and put under investigation. Paul van Musscher, Chief of the Hague police force, said "it really went wrong". On the Caribbean island of Aruba (a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands) the killing received much coverage in the media. Ronald Plasterk, the Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations spoke to Mike Eman, the Prime Minister of Aruba, in order to assure him that a full investigation would be carried out. One week later on Saturday 7 July, Henriquez's family led a silent procession of 300 people from Moerwijk station to the Zuiderpark. Trial The Public Prosecution Service (Dutch: Openbaar Ministerie, OM) decided in 2016 to charge two of the five police officers who had been suspended. It considered that the arrest was justified but the means of restraint was not. One of the two officers had clamped Henriquez's neck, the other had punched him in the face and sprayed pepper spray. Of the other three officers, two were given written warnings. Henriquez's family responded that all five police officers should stand trial since they had not called an ambulance, despite the obvious need to do so. The family had also requested twice without success for the names of the officers to be released. The District Court of the Hague postponed the trial because a new expert report had given a different cause of death for Henriquez, namely cardiac arrest or heart arrhythmia. It was also noted that the conduct of former chief of police Gerard Bouman would be analysed since he had promised the five officers that they would not be sacked and that they would financially compensated for their suspension. The case came to trial in November 2017. Both officers said they felt threatened when Henriquez told them he had a gun and assumed he was serious when he stopped smiling. The prosecution disputed this account, saying that the officers did not search for a firearm at any stage. Since there were two differing explanations for Henriquez's death, a third specialist report had been commissioned and this expert told the court that Henriquez had died from acute stress as a result of police violence. A lip-reader affirmed that the police officers had known Henriquez was dead when they put him in the van, saying things such as "It's finished", "He doesn't respond" and "According to me, dead". On day 4 of proceeding, the family of Henriquez and their supporters left the court en masse in protest at the lack of interest in new images they had presented showing that Henriquez was already turning blue before being lifted into the van. The two officers on trial were sentenced to a prison sentence of six months (suspended). The anonymous public servants were told that the use of a neck clamp, punching in the face and spraying pepper spray in the face were all illegal acts. The court believed they had caused the death of Henriquez but did not consider it murder. Paul van Musscher expressed sympathy both for the family of Henriquez and for the officers involved, saying "Noone wanted this to happen". The officers appealed their convictions and at an introductory hearing in 2018, their right to remain anonymous was upheld. The officers had given evidence in secret in court, using voice distorters, since they feared for the safety of their families. In 2019, the court of appeal decided that one officer's conviction could be quashed and the other conviction for the neck clamp was fitting. Henriquez's mother disputed the verdict, saying "Officers can now continue to kill people". The sole remaining convicted police officer then took their case to the final court of appeal, the Supreme Court. In 2021, the court ruled that the neck clamp was illegal and the sentence was just. Members of the family of Henriquez were pleased with the verdict, although they expressed disbelief that the officers involved were still working for the force. Legacy The killing of Mitch Henriquez received sustained media attention in the Netherlands and was mentioned at Black Lives Matter protests. It has been compared to the murder of George Floyd and the death of Freddie Gray. Academic work has noted that it was only because the death of Henriquez was filmed that the false official narrative could be challenged and eventually overturned. A controversy developed in 2021, when it was revealed by RTL Nieuws that the Hague police force had spent €1.3 million on lawyers to defend the police officers involved in the killing of Mitch Henriquez. Richard Korver who represented Henriquez's mother in the case disclosed that he had been paid a total of €50,000. He commented "1.3 million is an outrageous amount of money. And the government is financing this". The chairman of the Dutch Association of Criminal Lawyers said it was clear that the police officers were being given the best possible legal assistance and this created an imbalance in the proceedings. See also Killing of Rishi Chandrikasing References External links Juridical record of the Henriquez case (in Dutch) 2015 deaths 2015 in the Netherlands Deaths by person in the Netherlands History of The Hague People killed by law enforcement officers

69743850

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Rishi%20Chandrikasing

Killing of Rishi Chandrikasing

Rishi Chandrikasing (2 February 1995 – 24 November 2012) was shot dead by a Dutch police officer at Hollands Spoor railway station in the Hague on 24 November 2012. He was 17 years old and the killing became a controversial case in the Netherlands. At trial, the police officer who shot him was cleared of manslaughter. Killing Rishi Chandrikasing was a 17 year old Dutch national who lived in a shelter for disadvantaged youths in Scheveningen. On 23 November 2012, he went out to a club for his cousin's birthday and then in the morning headed to his mother's house, to bid farewell to his grandmother who was travelling to Suriname that day. At 6:00 am on 24 November 2012, three police officers went to Hollands Spoor railway station, having been informed there was someone who was making threats with a firearm. They encountered Chandrikasing on platform 4 and he did not stop moving away from them. Whilst pursuing him with gun drawn, one officer shot him in the neck, from behind. The police waited for one minute before attempting to resuscitate him and he was then rushed to Westeinde Hospital, where he died. He was not carrying a firearm and had only keys and a mobile phone in his pockets. The police took eight hours to contact Chandrikasing's family, even though his mother's telephone number was on his keychain. Reactions Friends of Chandrikasing expressed disbelief that the police had not fired a warning shot or shot him in the leg. On 2 February 2013, they celebrated what would have been Chandrikasing's 18th birthday with a memorial service on platform 4. De Telegraaf announced that Chandrikasing had been living under a court-imposed curfew and should not have been outside at the time of his death; this was later proven to be untrue because he had appeared in court two days before his death and the curfew had been lifted. His friends and family members began to fight what they saw as a campaign of vilification in the media. A witness told her story that she had seen the police shout "Stop" and before Chandrikasing had a chance to turn around, he was shot. By December, the family of Chandrikasing had lost patience with the investigation and launched a civil case against the officer who had shot him. They also made formal complaints against the person who had told the police there was someone at the station acting in a threatening manner and against the municipality of the Hague because information about Chandrikasing's criminal record had been leaked. Before the trial, the police paid for the funeral of Chandrikasing, which was attended by a thousand people. The National Criminal Investigation Department then announced it had completed its investigation and the public prosecutor decided to prosecute the officer who shot Chandrikasing for manslaughter. The report stated that when at the station, Chandrikasing had allegedly told an English man that he could not stand in the waiting area because it was only for Dutch people and subsequently told him he had a weapon. The Englishman told the station staff, who called the police. This story was immediately disputed by Chandrikasing's cousin who said that in fact a station employee had given a statement saying Chandrikasing's behaviour on the night in question had been exemplary. He also queried why the family had not been allowed to view footage from the station's many CCTV cameras. The report itself questioned why the officer had shot whilst moving, in direct contravention of guidelines, and asked why he had not aimed at the legs. Trial At trial in December 2013, the Hague court announced that the anonymous police officer was cleared of the charges of manslaughter and murder. The verdict said the officer had been left with no other option but to shoot the young man and the officer had tried to aim for the leg. Chandrikasing's family said they were deeply disappointed by the ruling. Later events Following the aquittal of the officer, a demonstration was held by 50 people which demanded the resignations of Mayor Jozias van Aartsen and local chief of police Paul van Musscher. Three people were arrested. In 2017, the police officer who shot Chandrikasing was arrested on suspicion of corruption and breach of secrecy, for leaking information from police systems to third parties. Dutch playwright Kees Roorda wrote a play based on first hand accounts of the shooting called Rishi. It premiered at Pakhuis De Règâh in the Hague in 2017. In 2021, a production of the play entitled A kid like Rishi was put on by the Origin Theatre Company in New York. See also Killing of Michael Koomen Killing of Mitch Henriquez References 2012 in the Netherlands Deaths by person in the Netherlands 21st century in The Hague People shot dead by law enforcement officers in the Netherlands November 2012 events in Europe

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Michael%20Koomen

Killing of Michael Koomen

Michael Arjan Koomen (20 July 1979 – 14 May 2011) was a Dutch amateur footballer who was shot and killed by a police officer while trying to calm down a struggle between his team mates and the officer in Amsterdam. The Dutch public prosecutor announced the officer would not be charged over the shooting, a decision upheld on appeal, so the Koomen family lawyers announced they would go to the European Court of Justice. Biography Koomen was born on 20 July 1979 in Buitenveldert, Amsterdam, as an eldest son. He studied notary law, graduating from the University of Amsterdam in 1997, and worked as a jurist at SNS Reaal. At the time of his death, he was single and had two cats. Koomen captained the amateur football team , located in neighbouring Amstelveen. Incident On 14 May 2011 in North Holland, Dutch team RKAVIC 4 was celebrating that it had won their league championship. 20 team members boarded a boat at Ouderkerk aan de Amstel and began to drink heavily. The captain of the boat decided to cut the trip short and went to the endpoint at Museumplein in Amsterdam. The men then walked through the inner city, and at the corner of Weteringschans and Spiegelgracht, around 22:00, they met a passing police officer who attempted to arrest two men from the group for public intoxication (one of them being Nick Koomen, Michael's brother). The officer handcuffed them together and put them in his van. The police officer then pushed another man, Diego Medina, to the ground and Medina retaliated. Five more men joined the attack and in the ensuing struggle, the police officer took out his gun. He fired off four shots in quick succession, fatally hitting Michael Koomen in the heart with the first bullet, which was later claimed to have been a warning shot. Another man was hit in the leg and Nick Koomen was wounded lightly by two bullets. Passing witnesses thought that the officer was panicked and fighting for his life, whilst an aide worker alleged that the footballers had used beer and cocaine. Later events In September 2011, AFC Ajax fans broke into applause at the 31st minute of a match against FC Twente to commemorate the life of Koomen, who had been a season ticket holder. At trial in the Amsterdam District Court in October 2011, Nick Koomen and Diego Medina were accused of violence against a police officer; it was stated that Michael Koomen had not used violence. Amsterdam FM reported that the officer who shot Koomen had a bad reputation in the force and had been convicted in 1999 of assaulting a handcuffed arrestee. On the evening of 30 January 2012, part of Stadhouderskade and Weteringschans were closed off to enable a reconstruction of events by twenty researchers. The public prosecutor announced that the officer would not be charged, having been justified in using lethal force. After the court of appeal upheld the decision not to prosecute the officer, lawyers for Koomen's family said in 2014 that they would be taking the case to the European Court of Justice based on the grounds that a police officer can only fire a weapon as a last resort. They also saw a conflict of interest because the public prosecutor had formerly worked with the accused officer. The Dutch appeals court emphasised how regrettable it was that a man who had been attempting to calm everyone down had been killed. The judges commented "At no time did he behave violently toward the police officer". See also Killing of Rishi Chandrikasing References 2011 in the Netherlands 2010s in Amsterdam Deaths by person in the Netherlands May 2011 events in Europe

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing%20of%20Halim%20Dener

Killing of Halim Dener

Halim Dener was a 16-year-old Kurdish boy shot dead by a German police officer in Hanover, on 30 June 1994. The Halim Dener Campaign commemorates the anniversary of his death. Shooting Halim Dener was a 16-year-old Kurdish boy who had been tortured by the Turkish military. He fled Turkey before his village was destroyed and he was living in Hanover as an asylum seeker in 1994. On 30 June, he went out at night to put up posters for the National Liberation Front of Kurdistan (ERNK), an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The PKK had recently been banned in Germany as a terrorist group. Dener was in the central Steintor pedestrian zone when he encountered several police officers. According to the account of the police, what happened next was that he tried to run away and they restrained him. There was a scuffle and when a police officer tried to pick up his gun it fired, killing the boy. Later events On the 20th anniversary of Dener's death in 2014, a proposal was made to rename a square after Dener, as a memorial. In the Linden-Limmer district, council members voted to do so, but the plan was then vetoed by the city council. The cancellation of the plan was controversial; one campaigner said "I don't think anyone would arrive at the idea that they wouldn't name a square after victims of fascism because that would upset neo-Nazis". The Halim Dener Campaign continued to press for a memorial to Dener in the city, but Mayor Stefan Schostok resisted, saying he did not want to enflame tensions between Turks and Kurds. A mural painted to commemorate Dener in 1994 on a social centre in Bielefeld became subject to a three-year legal battle and was eventually declared in 2020 to be a work of art (and therefore not illegal). In 2021, 300 people marched in memory of Dener and to protest recent police raids on a Kurdish social centre. See also Killing of Rishi Chandrikasing References External links 1994 deaths History of Hanover (city) Kurdish independence activists