The Defender @ebwiki-blog - Tumblr Blog

The Precarious Status of Independent Video Accounts

This week we read an important article in the New Yorker Magazine recounting the history of bystander recordings of incidents involving police. In the process of reporting on a new exhibit at the Bronx Documentary Center called “New Documents,” the author references eyewitness recordings from as long ago as 1988 when activist Clayton Patterson used his VHS camcorder to capture the actions of police officers during the Tompkins Square Park riot and from 1991 George Holliday's recording of L.A.P.D. officers mercilessly beating Rodney King, to the more recent case of Diamond Reynolds calmly live streaming her interaction with police officers who had moments before shot her fiance Philando Castile.

However, with the explosion of this relatively new form, we have also seen law enforcement's increasing attempts to control the medium. We have heard of witness cell phones and surveillance cameras being collected by officers. The release of bodycam videos is often delayed by law enforcement. In North Carolina, a law has been passed that restricts police cameras from the public record. In some cases, like that of Paul O'Neal where video was released from before and immediately after his shooting, key portions of recordings seem to be missing from bodycam recordings that are released.

A case not mentioned in the New Yorker article was that of Korryn Gaines who was live streaming her interaction with police on Facebook. During the incident, police contacted Facebook and asked them to cut off Ms Gaines access to her social media account, thereby eliminating any independent video account of what happened next which resulted in them shooting and killing Ms. Gaines in her apartment in serving a misdemeanor warrant.

We recognize that Facebook is not a utility, but a for-profit corporation. Still, we are deeply concerned about the social media company's speedy complicitness in denying Ms. Gaines the ability to broadcast, and ultimately, the rest of us, the ability to view her account of the events that led to her death at the hands of police. Without that account, we are left with only one view point that we can be fairly certain will be self-serving.

If Facebook sides with police, others may follow. Already, EBWiki has seen Youtube videos taken down without explanation. Likewise, internet service providers could easily shut down an independent site that was committed to sharing these videos. If these outlets become unavailable, these important witness accounts would largely be silenced.

If that happens we need only to look at cases of Walter Scott, Eric Harris, Eric Garner and countless others and ask ourselves how would the respone to these cases have been different in the absence of this clear video evidence?

The EBWiki Defender Vol. 16

Key Update: Kajieme Powell, St. Louis, MO. On Tuesday, November 3, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer M. Joyce announced that there would be no criminal charges filed against the two St. Louis police officers who shot and killed Kajieme Powell.

Our Mission: The Defender is the newsletter published by EBWiki, a new web application aimed at using the force of community and technology to end the acts of racial violence perpetrated by law enforcement and others against people of color. Each week, we will provide a summary of new cases of violence as well as updates on the other cases we are tracking. Click here to subscribe to The Defender

Some of the New Cases We Began Tracking This Week:

John Allen, Houston, Texas -- November 1, 2015. Houston Police say John Allen pulled on gun on officers on the morning of November 1, 2015 and was killed by police. It happened around 12:30am at Drew Street and Nettleton in the 3rd Ward. Officers say Allen pulled a gun during a traffic stop. Houston police say two officers were patrolling this area of Third Ward as part of a Crime Reduction Task Force when they saw John Allen run a red light and his truck had a broken taillight. According to police, both officers got out of their patrol vehicle and as they approached the pickup truck on either side the officer on the driver side gave verbal commands to roll down the window which Allen ignored. Investigators say the officer on the passenger side could see Allen pulling a gun from his pocket and discharged his weapon, killing Allen at the scene.

Bennie Lee Tignor, Opelika, AL -- November 1, 2015. An Opelika police officer shot and killed Bennie Lee Tignor, 56 after a low-speed car chase and a struggle Saturday, Oct. 31. Greer first spotted Tignor driving east on Williamson Avenue and followed him, according to police. They continued onto Marvyn Parkway. Greer attempted to stop Tignor while they were driving on Crawford Road by turning on his lights and siren. When Tignor refused to pull over, a short "chase" ensued. Tignor drove home to the 400 block of Comanchee Drive, never exceeding 30 mph. The shooting occurred at approximately 11:50 p.m., after an altercation, according to McEachern. According to police, "At some point during the struggle, Mr. Tignor brandished a small-caliber pistol. Officer Greer, fearing for his safety, drew his department-issued weapon and fired multiple rounds at Mr. Tignor.

Anthony Ashford, San Diego, CA -- October 27, 2015. On Tuesday October 27, 2015, Anthony Ashford, 29, was shot to death by Harbor Police Officer Sulimoni Ahfook. At about 10:45 p.m., Ahfook noticed Ashford looking into cars and stopped his patrol car on North Harbor Drive near Nimitz Boulevard. Police say Ashford immediately crossed to the street in front of the Holiday Inn and attacked the officer. When Ahfook tried to taser the suspect, both men were hit by it. It’s possible Ashford held the taser at one point, according to San Diego police homicide investigators. Police say Ashford then tried to take the officer’s handgun. Ahfook was able to break free, and when Ahfook charged him again, the officer fired, according to officials. The shots struck Ashford in the torso and killed him.

Case Updates:

Demouria Hogg, Oakland, CA. It was reported on November 4, 2015 that the family of Demouria Hogg has filed a federal wrongful-death lawsuit against the city of Oakland, accusing officers of using excessive force during the deadly standoff which began with Hogg sleeping in his car. The family is seeking unspecified damages after the fatal encounter.

Darrius Stewart, Memphis, TN . On Tuesday November 3, 2015, Weirich announced that a Shelby County grand jury chose not to indict Officer Connor Schilling for the shooting death of Darrius Stewart.

Kajieme Powell, St. Louis, MO. On Tuesday, November 3, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer M. Joyce announced that there would be no criminal charges filed against the two St. Louis police officers who shot and killed Kajieme Powell.

Corey Jones, Palm BEach, FL. On October 31, 2015, hundreds gathered at a South Florida church to mourn Corey Jones, whose family said they were still trying to understand why he had been shot. The funeral for the 31-year-old was held Saturday at Payne Chapel AME in West Palm Beach. The nearly four-hour service included a speech by the Rev. Al Sharpton, who said he was working to ensure that Jones' death would be a catalyst for change.

Patrick Lundstrom, Rapid City, SD. On Wednesday October 27, 2015, the Rapid City Division of Criminal Investigation released their report stating that officer Matthew Macrander's shooting of Patrick Lundstrom was justified in the Sept. 29 incident.

EBWiki Defender Vol. 15

Key Update: Tamir Rice, Cleveland, OH. On October 27, it was reported that Cuyahoga County prosecutors had begun presenting evidence in the police shooting of 12-year-old Tamir Rice to a grand jury, multiple sources confirm.

New Cases We Began Tracking This Week:

Kobvey Igbuhay, Tampa, FL -- October 26, 2015. Kobvey Igbuhay, 18, died at the hospital where he was taken after being shot during the altercation with an officer. Police said the altercation occurred after four suspects in a stolen car fled into a swampy area to elude police. Police pursued the SUV until the suspects got out of the SUV and ran into a wooded area with deep, swampy water. Two of the suspects were quickly taken into custody, and police followed the other suspects, one of which was Igbuhay, into the woods with K-9 police dogs. According to police, Igbuhay attempted to push the officer's head under water. The officer fired one shot, wounding Igbuhay who was taken to the hospital where he later died.

Kevin T. Brunson, Frederick, MD -- October 26, 2015. Kevin T. Brunson was driving a Lincoln Navigator Tuesday morning October 26, 2015 when troopers tried to arrest him. He was shot by a Maryland state trooper during a confrontation after he rammed the car of a Frederick Police officer. Initial police reports indicated Brunson brandished a gun, but none was found at the scene. Investigators are reviewing video from nearby businesses and from a camera in one of the state trooper cars.

Dominic Hutchinson, Cathedral City, CA -- October 25, 2015. Cathedral City police officers fatally shot Dominic Hutchinson, 30, during a domestic violence investigation Saturday night. Hutchinson was shot about 11 p.m. at Creekside Apartments, 68-200 33rd Avenue., according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, which is investigating the shooting. According to the Riverside County Coroner's office, Hutchinson was pronounced dead at 11:09 p.m. No officers were injured and those involved have been placed on administrative leave.

Rolly Thomas, Cape Coral, FL -- October 24, 2015. Cape Coral police say 34-year-old Rolly Thomas was killed at his home on the 1500 block of NE 43 Lane when a domestic disturbance turned violent. Officers say Thomas shot one person in the home and opened fire on police, forcing authorities to shoot back.

Jeremy Galvez, Fern Park, FL -- October 23, 2015. Jeremy Galvez, 22, died on October 23, 2015 after he ran across State Road 436 and into the path of an unmarked Casselberry police cruiser, the Florida Highway Patrol said. Galvez died after the crash at 12:28 a.m. at SR 436 near Fern Park Boulevard. The driver of the unmarked vehicle — a 2010 Chevy Impala — was identified as Zachary Price, 23, of Casselberry. Galvez ran across SR 436, going from north to south, but he wasn't in a crosswalk or at an intersection, troopers said. Galvez ran into the path of the Impala, FHP said. He was thrown onto grassy shoulder of the roadway. No additional details have been released.

Charles A. Pettit, Oklahoma City, OK -- October 23, 2015. Charles A. Pettit, Jr., 18, of Oklahoma City, was shot by officer James Hill after Pettit pointed a loaded firearm at Hill, police said. Pettit, who was hospitalized after the shooting, died Friday, October 23, 2015 at OU Medical Center. Police said Pettit fled the scene of a burglary on Peppertree Lane about 4 a.m. Oct. 5 and was pursued on foot by Hill. Hill chased Pettit and another male across a south parking lot of Rose State College. The unidentified male fled the scene west and Pettit stopped on the east side of a trash bin near the aquatics center on the campus. Hill ordered Pettit multiple times to show his hands and Pettit pointed a loaded semi-automatic handgun at Hill, Clabes said. Hill shot Pettit several times. Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater ruled the shooting was justified.

Lawrence Green, Shreveport, LA -- October 23, 2015. 38 year-old Lawrence Green was killed in Shreveport by police on October 22, 2015. Police responded to the 300 block of Clyde Fant Parkway around 8 AM after someone called to report Green waving a three-inch knife at passers-by. Once they contacted Green, the officers reportedly tried to have him drop the knife, but they were ultimately unsuccessful. According to police, Green refused to drop the knife and charged one of the officers. The officer fired his weapon, hitting him multiple times in the upper body. Police say the confrontation was caught on at least one officer's body camera. Shreveport police are also working with Sam's Town Casino to get a copy of their surveillance video.

Adrienne Jamarr Lud, Carmichael, CA -- October 22, 2015. Adrienne Jamarr Ludd, 36, was killed Thursday afternoon, October 22, 2015 in a shootout involving Sacramento County sheriff’s deputies in Carmichael, CA. Sheriff’s officials said the incident began about noon Thursday when a deputy tried to stop a vehicle with expired registration near Manzanita Avenue and Winding Way. They said Ludd finally yielded, and his passenger immediately exited the car with his hands in the air. As the deputy was making contact with the passenger, officials said Ludd fled the scene in the car. The fleeing vehicle stopped in the middle of Cypress Avenue west of Garfield Avenue. Officials said Ludd exited the vehicle armed with a handgun and took cover behind his car. Officers fired “several rounds” at Ludd. In a news release, officials said “further investigation has shown the suspect’s weapon was not functional because of a jam.”

Miguel Angel Marin Galena, Calexico, CA -- October 21, 2015. Miguel Angel Marin Galena, a 35-year-old Mexican national, was shot and killed at about 12 a.m. Wednesday, October 21, 2015 after he brandished a knife and “aggressively” approached a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer that was working a primary inspection booth at the Calexico Downtown Port of Entry, officials said. Galena had approached the port of entry from Mexico on a bicycle and appeared to have attempted to bypass the primary inspection booth, said Pete Flores, director of the CBP San Diego Field Office.

Ryan Christopher Rodriguez, Visalia, CA -- October 21, 2015. Ryan Christopher Rodriguez, 21 was shot and killed Wednesday morning, October 21, 2015 as officers attempted to arrest him on domestic violence charges in West Goshen. Two officers were participating in a multi-agency domestic violence sweep in Tulare County when they attempted to serve an arrest warrant in the 5000 block of Avenue 309 in West Goshen, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department said. Rodriguez ran from officers, who chased and caught him, the sheriff’s department said. A physical altercation ensued, resulting in the officer-involved shooting.

Lamontez Jones, San Diego, CA -- October 20, 2015. Two motorcycle officers shot Lamontez Jones, 39, fatally wounding him, when he allegedly pulled a gun on them as they chased him through the Gaslamp District Tuesday afternoon. The officers did not activate their uniform-worn cameras during the attempted enforcement stop. Jones ran off when one of the traffic patrolmen tried to contact him about making a disturbance and interfering with traffic near Horton Plaza about 2 p.m., according to police. Jones fled, ignoring repeated orders to halt. According to police, the suspect allegedly turned toward his pursuers and pulled a pistol out of a backpack he was carrying. Fearing for their lives, the officers opened fire on Jones, who fell onto the roadway. The names of the two involved officers have yet to be made public.

Case Updates:

Tamir Rice, Cleveland, OH. On October 27, it was reported that Cuyahoga County prosecutors had begun presenting evidence in the police shooting of 12-year-old Tamir Rice to a grand jury, multiple sources confirm.

Corey Jones, Palm Beach, FL. At a rally on October 26, 2015, elected officials called for an independent investigation and police reform in light of the shooting of Jones.

Kawanza Beaty, Newport News, VA. It was reported on October 25, 2015 that all five Newport News Circuit Court judges had recused themselves from presiding over a $10 million wrongful death lawsuit in the Kawanza Beaty shooting.

Anthony Hill, Atlanta, GA. On Thursday, October 22, 2015, a Georgia grand jury reviewed the shooting death of Anthony Hill, but no charges have been brought so far against the officer, Robert Olsen of the DeKalb County police department.

EBWiki Defender Vol. 14

Key Update: Corey Jones, 31, Palm Beach Gardens, FL -- October 18, 2015 Drummer Corey Jones, 31 was shot and killed by a plain clothes police officer in an unmarked vehicle when his car stalled on a highway as he was returning home from a gig.

New Cases We Began Tracking This Week:

Silviano Ortiz, Harlingen, Texas -- October 18, 2015. Harlingen police say they arrested Silviano Ortiz, 37, at a local donut shop. Police say Ortiz was seen earlier falling on the road and was nearly struck by several vehicles and pulling on vehicle door handles. As officers were arriving to the scene they said Ortiz appeared disoriented and was bleeding from minor injuries. They say he became combative and was placed inside a patrol unit to be taken to the city jail. Officers say as they approached the jail Ortiz appeared unresponsive. Ortiz was transported to the hospital where he later died.

Corey Jones, 31 Palm Beach Gardens, FL -- October 18, 2015. Drummer Corey Jones, 31 was shot and killed by a police officer when his car stalled on a highway as he was returning home from a gig. Police officer Raja was on duty in an unmarked police vehicle early Sunday morning when he came across Corey Jones and his disabled car. According to police, Raja, who was in plain clothes, believed Jones’ vehicle was abandoned and stopped to investigate it. As Raja exited his vehicle, he was suddenly confronted by Jones whom he fatally shot. Jones' bandmate, Matthew Huntsberger, met Jones at about 2:30 am on the exit ramp where Jones told him the car started having trouble while on Interstate 95. Huntsberger got some oil for him but it didn’t help. Jones called for Roadside Assistance, and Huntsberger decided because he couldn’t help he’d head home.“I guess I was the last one to see him,” Huntsberger said. “He was like a really peaceful guy.”

Paterson Brown Jr, Richmond, VA -- October 17, 2015. Chesterfield County police said 18-year-old Paterson Brown Jr. was fatally shot Saturday, October 17, 2015 by an off-duty officer who was having his car washed. Police say Brown was unarmed when he was killed. The officer hasn't been identified. Police say Brown got into the officer's vehicle and drove it out of the washing stall. They say the officer approached Brown and told him to leave his vehicle. Surveillance video shows the officer physically struggled with Brown.

Dequan L. Williams, York, PA -- October 17, 2015. 28-year old Dequan L. Williams, of York, Pennsylvania was shot by two police officers outside his home on the 1000-block of Kelley Drive just before 2:00 p.m. According to state troopers, officers were initially called to the area for reports of a man threatening people with a knife. Witnesses say the officer repeatedly told Williams to drop the knife, but he refused. The officers used a taser gun on Williams, but that was unsuccessful and after an altercation, they fired shots. Williams was taken to York Hospital where he later died.

Ricky Javenta Ball, Columbus, MS -- October 16, 2015. Ricky Javenta Ball, 33, was shot and killed by police in Columbus Friday night, October 16, 2015, after he ran from a traffic stop, according to police. The name of the officer is not currently being released. According to police, at approximately 10 p.m. Friday, an officer attempted to make a traffic stop of a vehicle Ball was a passenger in. The vehicle did not adhere to the stop, and Ball jumped out and ran, Strain said. The officer pursued Ball on foot. Police say they do not know what occurred between the time the officer pursued Ball and the time Ball was shot.

Johnny Angel Rangel, La Puente, CA -- October 16, 2015. 25-year-old Johnny Angel Rangel was fatally shot by a deputy Friday after he allegedly broke into a family’s home while fleeing deputies, then reached for a deputy’s gun, officials said. Deputies patrolling spotted Rangel at Azusa Avenue and Amar Road early Friday morning and thought him to be suspicious, Detective Louie Aguilera of the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau said. When they approached him, he ran. Rangel broke into a nearby home on Ashcomb Drive, Aguilera said. A family of two men and two women was sleeping inside. Deputies evacuated the residents, but Rangel refused to exit the home, officials said. Rangel was shot once in the upper torso and died at the scene, officials said.

Herbert Benitez, San Francisco, CA -- October 15, 2015. Benitez, of San Francisco, was allegedly throwing glass bottles near a construction site on the southeast corner of Eighth and Market streets just after 12 p.m., police said. A construction worker flagged down a passing patrol car. When the two veteran sergeants confronted Benitez, a scuffle ensued and the suspect reportedly grabbed a gun belonging to one of them. Police Chief Greg Suhr told reporters the sergeant shouted “‘he’s getting my gun, he’s got my gun, shoot him.'” Benitez was then shot twice in the torso, which killed him. The Medical Examiner’s Office determined the manner of his death to be homicide.

Kaleb R. Alexander, Columbus, OH -- October 15, 2015. According to police, Kaleb R. Alexander, 25, was shot to death by a Columbus SWAT officer early Thursday, October 15, 2015 after robbing the same United Dairy Farmers convenience store a third time, police said. Police have not yet released the name of the officer who shot him. Sgt. Rich Weiner, a police division spokesman, said police had staked out the UDF after receiving information that the business might be robbed for the third night in a row. As undercover officers looked on, the man entered the store shortly after midnight, pulled a gun on the clerk and demanded cash.

Jorge Santiago Tapia, Homestead, FL -- October 15, 2015. Miami-Dade Police identified 15 year old Jorge Santiago Tapia as the person walking into a Walgreens store wearing a blue bandana over his mouth and neck and wearing sunglasses. Surveillance video shows the Coconut Palm Academy 8th grader walking up to the clerk with a gun in his left hand and demanding cash. It all started just before 2 a.m. when a call to 9-1-1 said an armed man in a mask robbed a Walgreens at SW 288th Street and South Dixie Highway. Police say he threatened the clerk at gunpoint. Arriving officers spotted a car that matched the description of a vehicle that the armed man drove off in. After a brief pursuit, Zabaleta said Santiago’s car got a flat tire and came to a stop. A total of seven officers fired at the man who was killed. It’s not clear if the man shot at the officers. Police recovered a handgun and backpack from the man’s car. None of the officers were injured. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating whether the shooting was justified.

Samuel Villarreal, Indio, CA -- October 14, 2015. According to police, Samuel Villarreal, 18, gunned his car in reverse and rammed a police car, prompting at least one officer to open fire. About 1 p.m. Wednesday, Indio police officers working on a vehicle theft investigation spotted a vehicle that had been reported stolen and followed it into a parking lot in the 81-900 block of Shadow Palm Avenue, sheriff’s spokesman Armando Munoz said. As the officers moved in to make an arrest, Villareal accelerated the vehicle in reverse and hit the officers’ vehicle, the spokesman said. At least one officer opened fire, striking Villareal an undisclosed number of times, sheriff’s officials said. Villareal was taken to a local hospital, where he died.

Case Updates:

Freddie Gray, Baltimore, MD. Reported October 20, 2015: defense attorneys for the first Baltimore police officer due in court in the Freddie Gray case have asked that jurors be fully sequestered during trial: put up in a hotel with no access to cellphones, limited access to television, and sheriff's deputies monitoring any interactions with family and friends to lessen pressure for a conviction.

Matthew Ajibade, Savannah, GA. On October 16, it was reported that the two deputies were acquitted of manslaughter in the case. The deputies were found guilty of the lesser charges of lying to the grand jury and public records fraud.

Tamir Rice, Cleveland, OH. On October 16, it was reported that Attorneys and family members of Tamir Rice are accusing the Cuyahoga County prosecutor of not being committed to securing an indictment in the case and are asking for a special prosecutor in the case.

EBWiki Defender Vol. 13

Key Update: Walter Scott, North Charleston, SC The North Charleston City Council voted 10-0 to authorize a civil settlement on Thursday night, October 8, 2015. Scott’s family will receive $6.5 million in compensation from the city.

New Cases We Began Tracking This Week:

Kevin Lau, Lake Charles, LA -- October 11, 2015. Police in Louisiana say officers answering a domestic disturbance call shot and killed Kevin Lau after he pointed a gun at them and refused to drop it. Lake Charles Deputy Chief Mark Kraus says 44-year-old Lau, an Asian-American, died at a hospital. Kraus says police got an "open phone" 911 call early Sunday and could hear a disturbance. Responding officers were talking with Lau's wife in the front yard when Lau appeared at the door, holding a pistol. Kraus says officers and Venus Lau heard a gunshot. He says Kevin Lau then came out and pointed his gun toward the officers.

Robert Humberto Medellin, Odessa, TX -- October 11, 2015. Robert Humberto Medellin, who state records list as living at 821 W. 65th St., died at Medical Center Hospital on Sunday afternoon, where he was sent with gunshot wounds suffered when he was shot by deputies. Sgt. Gary Duesler, the sheriff’s spokesman, said Medellin began “charging” at deputies with a knife in hand after a vehicle pursuit and ignored commands to drop the weapon before the shooting. No other injuries were reported. Ector County Sheriff Mark Donaldson, who said the shooting appears justified, said his deputies fired 11 shots, although the sheriff was unsure where the bullets struck Medellin. The sheriff said Medellin was at most 15 feet away from the deputies when they shot him.

Bernard Brandon Powers, Taylors, SC -- October 11, 2015. Bernard Brandon Powers, 23, died of multiple gunshot wounds in an exchange of gun fire with Greenville County deputies. The Greenville County Sheriff's Office earlier said that deputies obtained a warrant to search a building, where according to neighbors, locals gather to cook out, watch football and play pool.which was occupied by a large group of people. While executing the search warrant, deputies said a Powers ran from the building and opened fire on deputies. One deputy was grazed by two bullets and officers returned fire, according to the sheriff's office. The S.C. Law Enforcement Division is investigating the shooting, as well as the Greenville County Sheriff's Office. The deputy that was grazed by the bullet wasn't injured, according to the sheriff's office.

Gary Carmona Boitano, Columbia, MD -- Ocober 9, 2015. Police shot and killed Gary Carmona Boitano, 19 when he failed to drop a knife as requested by police. Police said they received a 911 call about 10:40 a.m. regarding a man inside a home in the 6400 block of Cardinal Lane in the Village of Hickory Ridge. According to police, the caller said the man had a knife and was threatening to kill him. When officers arrived, they were confronted in the driveway by a man holding a knife, police said. An officer ordered the man to drop the knife multiple times, but the man refused, police said. According to a police news release, the officer "was forced to fire at the man," who was pronounced dead at the scene. He was identified late Friday as Gary Carmona Boitano, 19, of Hyattsville.

Amado Lago, West Palm Beach, FL -- October 7, 2015. A Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputy shot and killed Amado Lago, 46 who was carrying a machete, and had fatally stabbed another man, authorities said. The events unfolded shortly after 8 p.m. Wednesday, October 7, 2015 when deputies were answering a call about an assault along the 600 block of Mercury Street, according to Sheriff Ric Bradshaw. A neighbor told Sun Sentinel news partner WPEC-Ch. 12 that the fight stemmed from an argument between neighbors about dog feces. According to Bradshaw, two deputies arriving at the scene first saw Londono on the ground in a driveway in a pool of blood. About 25 feet away, he said a second man, later identified as Lago, was pacing up and down in the driveway with a machete in his hand. While one of the deputies was retrieving a stun gun in order to subdue Lago, the other repeatedly told him to put the knife down. According to police the deputy fired at the man after he charged police. Lago died on the scene.

Brandon Lamar Johnson, Beckley, WV -- September 21, 2015. Omar Ali, 27, a hookah bar owner, died at Akron City Hospital from the gunshot wound he suffered on Sept. 21 during a police raid at his Hookah House. The incident began out of a domestic violence report. She refused medical attention for the neck injuries the officers observed. Officers went to the hookah bar but Ali refused to open the door. A SWAT team raided the business and ordered Ali to come out with his hands in the air. Ali refused to comply with officer's orders and reached into his back waistband, police said. An officer fired one shot, which struck Ali in the torso.

Case Updates:

Saige Hack, Cheyenne, WY. On October 12, 2015, after initial speculation that Hack had committed suicide, the Wyoming Department of Criminal Investigation released details showing that Saige Hack died from a police gunshot wound to the chest.

Tamir Rice, Cleveland, OH. On Saturday, October 7, 2015, the Cuyahoga County prosecutor published two reports on the Tamir Rice shooting that each concludes that the shooting was justified. The conclusions, reached separately by a retired FBI agent and a Colorado prosecutor.

Ralkina Jones, Cleveland Heights, OH. On October 8, 2015, officlals explained in a press release that two technical reports revealed that the cameras missed small movements and had insufficient memory. According to the release, the cameras were active at all times but only recorded to the DVR when motion was detected.

Walter Scott, North Charleston, SC. The North Charleston City Council voted 10-0 to authorize a civil settlement on Thursday night, October 8, 2015. Scott’s family will receive $6.5 million in compensation from the city.

Malissa Williams and Timothy Russell, Cleveland, OH. On October 7, 2015, Ohio’s Eighth District Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court decision to reinstate a Cleveland police sergeant who was fired after the November 2012 police chase and shooting that killed two unarmed people.

Darrien Hunt, Salt Lake City, UT. An attorney for Saratoga Springs has asked a federal court judge to enforce the settlement agreement in the death of Darrien Hunt. Though Hunts mother said she rejected the settlement, attorney Heather White said in a motion filed last week in U.S. District Court that the parties had agreed on a settlement amount in early August and a check was sent to the Hunt’s counsel, Robert Sykes, on Aug. 21.

The Defender Vol. 12

Key Update: Matthew Ajibade, Atlanta, GA. On October 5, 2015, proceedings began with jury selection in the criminal trial of two former deputies and a jail nurse in the death of Matthew Ajibade.

Upcoming Events:

These are the events we know of currently. If you know of other events we should be including, please send us email at [email protected] or add the event directly to our Protest Event Spreadsheet. Where: 1332A Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, New York 11216 When: Monday, October 12th, 2015, 1:30PM Who: The New American Theatre Company NY What: The New American Theatre Company presents ART TO ACTION!, a community "call-to-arms" that will take place in The Kymberle Project, our artistic home, in the heart of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.

New Cases We Began Tracking This Week:

Brandon Lamar Johnson, Beckley, WV -- September 29, 2015. Brandon Lamar Johnson, a 28-year-old DeKalb County resident, was shot to death by West Virginia State Police on Tuesday September 29, 2015, according to the Rockdale Sheriff’s Office. Johnson exited his vehicle after being pursued by West Virginia police and pointed a gun at troopers. Investigators believe Johnson shot his former co-worker outside a Rockdale County Goodwill store, then drove nearly 500 miles away to West Virginia, where he was killed by police.

Walter Roches, San Jose, CA -- September 28, 2015. Walter Roches, 33, died Monday, September 28, 2015 while in custody at the Santa Clara County Main Jail in San Jose. The Santa Clara County medical examiner’s office conducted an independent investigation and “the preliminary autopsy findings did not disclose a definitive cause of death,” county executive Jeff Smith said in a statement. Roches, was being held at the jail’s north tower, where he was found in medical distress during a routine check around 10:30 a.m. and pronounced dead roughly 30 minutes later, sheriff’s officials said.

Junior Prosper, Miami, FL -- September 28, 2015. Junior Prosper crashed the Yellow Cab he was driving into a small light pole at the entrance to I-95 about two hours before sunrise Monday September 28, 2015. There wasn’t much traffic and the car was only slightly damaged. Out of the car, Prosper ran up the southbound ramp at Northwest 119th Street as if trying to merge his body with traffic. Then a Miami-Dade cop on foot caught up to him. According to police, they struggled, tumbling into bushes and trees on the west side of the highway. A Taser went off. Prosper bit the officer’s finger to the bone. The officer fired his weapon. Prosper was killed.

Alberto Hernandez, San Diego, CA -- September 28, 2015. Police say San Diego resident Alberto Hernandez, 59, was shot and killed in a confrontation with three SDPD officers on Sept. 28. The SDPD officers went to an apartment after a man called 911 and said he wanted to shoot a woman. When officers arrived at a second-story apartment unit, Hernandez answered the door, armed with what appeared to be a semi-automatic handgun. Police said the suspect pointed the weapon. Later, according to police, Hernandez pointed the gun at officers. The three officers discharged their service weapons, striking Hernandez with multiple rounds. Hernandez was taken to a local hospital where he ultimately died from wounds suffered in the officer-involved shooting.

Anthony McKinney, Baton Rouge, LA -- September 26, 2015. An East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff’s deputy shot and killed Anthony McKinney, 46, who was stabbing a woman at a home on Maplewood Drive on Saturday, September 26, 2015 authorities said. The woman who was stabbed was at a local hospital in critical condition with multiple stab wounds, police said. Police said McKinney had been released on $1,500 bond. East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the house after the victim made a frantic 911 call screaming for help shortly after 3 p.m., police said. Shots were fired when an officer made entry in the residence and was confronted with a person armed with a knife.

Alejandro Lerma, Lovington, NM -- September 26, 2015. According to a news release from the New Mexico State Police, 23-year-old Alejandro Lerma was shot in Lovington, when officers responded to an emergency call at a residence where shots had been fired. Officers at the residence encountered Lerma, who they said possessed a handgun. According to the release, Lerma refused to comply with officers’ commands to drop the handgun, and was then struck by gunfire and a .45 caliber handgun was located in his immediate possession. He was transported to the local Lovington hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Dante Osborne, East Hayward, CA -- September 22, 2015. Dante Osborne was killed in a shootout with Alameda County Sheriff's deputies on September 22, 2015. Police said Osborne was a suspect in a drive-by shooting in which a man was wounded but survived. Officers spotted Osborne driving but he refused to pull over for police. The car was found minutes later abandoned. Around the same time, police got reports that a man, later identified as Osborne, tried and failed to carjack a driver and was seen running on Interstate 238. Osborne allegedly shot at Highway Patrol officers, hitting a passing car, near the East 14th Street exit, then ran off the freeway and into the unincorporated neighborhood of Ashland, near San Leandro, according to police. He was shot and killed in a shootout with deputies in an alley.

Case Updates:

Theodore Johnson, Cleveland, OH. On October 6, it was reported that the shooting death of Johnson by Cleveland police officers was ruled justified by the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office.

Matthew Ajibade, Atlanta, GA. On October 5, 2015, proceedings began with jury selection in the criminal trial of two former deputies and a jail nurse in the death of Matthew Ajibade.

Natasha McKenna, Fairfax, VA. The Fairfax branch of the NAACP organized a “Justice for Natasha McKenna” rally with about two dozen protesters gathering outside the Fairfax County Courthouse on Sunday, September 27, 2015 to call for changes in the county’s law enforcement and legal systems following the death of McKenna.

Jonathan Ferrell, Charlotte, NC. Defense attorneys confirmed on October 1, 2015 that paperwork was filed to expunge the record of Randall Kerrick.

Terrance Moxley, Mansfield, OH. The Richland County Prosecutor’s office announced on September 30, 2015 that no criminal charges would be filed in the death of 29-year-old Terrance Moxley after a violent incident at the Volunteers of America Halfway House.

Eric Harris, Tulsa, OK. On September 30, 2015, Tulsa sheriff Stanley Glanz quickly decided to resign after he was indicted on two misdemeanors by a grand jury investigating his office following the shooting of Eric Harris. The grand jury accused the longtime law enforcement officer of refusing to perform his official duties for not promptly releasing documents in the internal investigation related to the volunteer deputy, Robert Bates, one of Glanz’s longtime friends.

Akai Gurley, New York, NY. The trial of Officer Peter Liang in Brooklyn's State Supreme Court is set to begin January 7, 2016. Liang faces manslaughter and other charges in connection with the death of Akai Gurley.

Defender Vol. 12

Key Update: Matthew Ajibade, Atlanta, GA. On October 5, 2015, proceedings began with jury selection in the criminal trial of two former deputies and a jail nurse in the death of Matthew Ajibade.

Upcoming Events:

New Cases We Began Tracking This Week:

Case Updates:

Theodore Johnson, Cleveland, OH. On October 6, it was reported that the shooting death of Johnson by Cleveland police officers was ruled justified by the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office.

Matthew Ajibade, Atlanta, GA. On October 5, 2015, proceedings began with jury selection in the criminal trial of two former deputies and a jail nurse in the death of Matthew Ajibade.

Jonathan Ferrell, Charlotte, NC. Defense attorneys confirmed on October 1, 2015 that paperwork was filed to expunge the record of Randall Kerrick.

Defender Vol. 11

Upcoming Events:

These are only the events we know of currently. If you know of other events we should be including, please send us email at [email protected] or add the event directly to our Protest Event Spreadsheet.

Where: 1332A Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, New York 11216 When: Monday, October 12th, 2015, 1:30PM Who: The New American Theatre Company NY What: The New American Theatre Company presents ART TO ACTION!, a community "call-to-arms" that will take place in The Kymberle Project, our artistic home, in the heart of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.

New Cases We Began Tracking This Week:

Victor Oswaldo Coronado-Martinez, Mount Ponder, TX -- September 28, 2015. Ponder Police Chief Robert Genova said Victor Oswaldo Coronado-Martinez, 40, was shot and killed after he approached a Ponder police officer with a gun. Genova said Coronado-Martinez, fired in the direction of the officer and the officer fired back. Coronado-Martinez died at 10:21 p.m. at the scene. The officer was not injured, and there were no other reported injuries stemming from the shooting, according to police. The Texas Rangers are investigating, officials said.

Norma Angelica Guzman, San Pedro, CA -- September 27, 2015. 37-year-old Norma Angelica Guzman was allegedly armed with a knife when she was fatally shot by police in South Los Angeles on Sunday morning September 27, 2015. Officers received reports of a woman threatening people with a knife near East 22nd and San Pedro streets about 9:30 a.m., according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Responding officers encountered a woman with an 8-inch blade and shot her, the LAPD said. The woman died while being taken to a hospital, according to LAPD. Family members say Guzman was homeless and suffered from mental illness.

James Anderson, Chicago, IL -- September 25, 2015. James Anderson was killed on the night of September 25, after his mother called police to help bring him in for psyciatric help. Police say while responding they came across 34-year-old, James Anderson with what appeared to be a knife or a sharp object in his hand. According to police, the man refused to put the weapon down. Police say officers attempted to taser the man twice, but it had no effect. Anderson said she told officers that her son was not dangerous, but that he did keep a box cutter in his pocket. Anderson contradicts the police account saying officers did not taser her son before shooting him.

Philip Quinn, St. Paul, MN -- September 24, 2015. Philip Quinn, 30 years old with a history of mental illness, was shot and killed by police in St. Paul’s West End. According to police, at the time of his death, Quinn was armed with a screwdriver and had failed to obey police commands. The shooting occurred after police were called to a house where Quinn lived with his fiance Tareeq who returned home and realized Quinn had stabbed himself several times. When he locked himself in the garage, Tareeq said, she called 911 for a medic. When police showed up, Quinn fled, evading police before returning home when police were again called. At one point, Tareeq saw Quinn standing in the front of the drive with a screwdriver in his hand and several officers near him. Tareeq said police ordered Quinn to drop the screwdriver. She then heard several pops and realized that he had been shot.

Ernesto Medina Lopez, Cutler Bay, FL -- September 24, 2015. Police said officers were forced to fatally shoot Ernesto Medina Lopez, 42. The shooting happened about 2 a.m. at a Florida apartment complex. Miami-Dade police said they received a 911 call about a possible stabbing. When officers arrived, they said a 13-year-old boy and his mother were found stabbed. When police found Lopez, there was an altercation that led to the shooting. Police said Lopez, who is the husband and father of the two victims, may have had mental illness.

Keith Harrison McLeod, Reisterstown, MD -- September 23, 2015. Keith Harrison McLeod, 19, was shot to death by a Baltimore County police officer in Reisterstown Wednesday after trying to pass off a fake prescription at a pharmacy, then running from the officer, police said. A pharmacy employee called police just before 5 p.m. to report the fake prescription, police said. The responding officer saw the suspect in the shopping center parking lot and chased him across the street to the parking lot of the Word of Life International Church, where a "confrontation" occurred and the officer fired multiple shots. McLeod was taken to Northwest Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police said the officer fired three shots, and the medical examiner confirmed he was shot three times. Police also said on Thursday that no weapon was found at the scene.

Jeremy McDole, Wilmington, DE -- September 23, 2015. McDole, 28, was shot in his wheelchair by several Wilmington police officers who were responding to a 911 call reporting that he had shot himself, according to authorities. Graphic cellphone footage, shows an officer approaching McDole on a street and shouting at him to put up his hands and drop a gun. A gunshot can be heard and a person behind the camera says McDole was struck and bleeding. Several other officers then join and make their own commands while McDole struggles in his wheelchair and moves his hands. No gun, other than those belonging to the officers, is visible in the video footage. Police said on Thursday they had recovered a .38-caliber handgun that they said had been at his side.

Dominic Fuller, Auburndale, FL -- September 22, 2015. Dominic Fuller was killed by Florida police after a neighborhood chase on September 22, 2015. Around 8:50 p.m. Deputy Sheriff Carlos Valle spotted Dominic Fuller standing in the doorway of 1200 Dixie Drive. Deputy Valle ordered Fuller several times to show his hands – Fuller stood off-center from the deputy, showing only his left hand and concealing his right hand behind his back, refusing commands. Deputies say Fuller lifted his right hand, holding a black and chrome stapler. Thinking it was a pistol, Deputy Gabriel Reveron fired five times at Fuller, killing him.

Gerardo Ramirez, Dallas, TX -- September 21, 2015. Gerardo Ramirez was shot and killed late Sunday night at the Avondale Parc Apartments near Highway 75 and Royal Lane in North Dallas as police responded to reports about a man with a gun. Dallas police said officers were at the complex for an unrelated incident when residents told them someone had been firing shots in the parking lot. The officers found 24-year-old and tried to confront him. But as they approached, he opened fire. The officers fired their weapons in return.

Cecil D. Lacy, Tulalip, CA -- September 19, 2015. Cecil D. Lacy, 50, of the Marysville-Tulalip area, died after a struggle with officers while in police custody on the reservation. Police on Monday wouldn’t specify what kinds of force officers employed before the death. His cause and manner of death remain under investigation by the Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office. Two Tulalip Tribal Police officers and a Snohomish County Sheriff’s deputy were responding to a report of a man walking in the road. He was detained and taken into custody. Officers reported that Lacy started fighting with them as they tried to put him into a patrol car. Lacy became unresponsive during the altercation and died.

Mohamed Ibrahim, Shreveport, LA -- September 7, 2015. Mentally ill 28-year-old Mohamed Ibrahim died after being shot 29 times by police. Cpl. Marcus Hines with Shreveport Police says the suspect began with a purse snatching incident. Eventually, deputies engaged in a pursuit through Bossier City and then back to Shreveport, and finally stopped Ibrahim's car. Hines says Ibrahim got out of the car, showing a handgun. Officers from the Shreveport Police Department, the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Centenary College Department of Public Safety fired at Ibrahim striking him multiple times. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. No officers were injured.

Case Updates:

Felix Kumi, Mount Vernon, NY. It was reported on September 28, 2015 that City Council President Marcus Griffith requested New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton to meet with officials from Mount Vernon to discus Mount Vernon officials' concerns regarding the Kumi case.

Kevin Allen, Lyndhurst, NJ. On September 25, the Bergen Record reported that Allen's mother filed notice that she plans to sue the police department.

Darrius Stewart, Memphis, TN. A coalition of ministers wrote a letter on September 25, 2015, urging Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich to update the public on the investigation of the July 17 fatal shooting of Darrius Stewart by a Memphis police office

Yvette Smith, Bastrop, TX. After a mistrial was declared due to a hung jury, special prosecutor Forrest Sanderson said he will try the officer again. Sanderson added he won’t seek a lesser charge, saying that the facts in the case only support one charge: murder.

Defender Vol. 10

We continue to try to get more attention to these cases. Please take a minute and help us by sharing this with three other concerned people.

New Cases We Began Tracking This Week:

Vincent E. Scott, Huchinson, KS -- September 11, 201549-year-old Vincent E. Scott died after an altercation with corrections staff at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility in Kansas. Just before 2 p.m. on September 11, 2015, an emergency was called at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility-Central Unit Medical Clinic due to an altercation between Scott and another inmate. After the altercation, Scott was taken to the Administrative Segregation unit. After he arrived at the unit he became combative with the correctional officers. During the altercation with corrections officers, Scott collapsed and became unresponsive. Facility staff provided immediate medical assistance while awaiting transport to the Hutchinson Regional Hospital. The inmate was taken to the hospital by Reno County EMS where he was later pronounced dead.

Florencio Chaidez, Los Angeles, CA -- September 15, 2015Florencio Chaidez, 32 was killed by Los Angeles Police officers responding to a report of a disturbance. The fatal shooting was caught on body cameras Tuesday in Panorama City and may help answer what happened before the officer-involved shooting occurred. Officers had been called to the area to investigate a report of someone disturbing the peace, according to the LAPD. The officers saw a man, identified as Florencio Chaidez, matching the suspect's description and saw he was holding a gun. That's when the officer-involved shooting occurred, said LAPD Lt. John Jenel.

Anthony Flores Camacho, Rialto, CA -- September 13, 2015Anthony Flores Camacho, a 19 year-old bystander, was killed after being struck by a police car being driven by a Rialto police officer heading to a service call Sunday night, September 13, 2015. Camacho was transported by Rialto Fire Department paramedics to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center and rushed into surgery with internal trauma and head trauma, said Capt. Randy De Anda. Shortly before 9 p.m., the officer was driving to a suspicious person call at an apartment complex when he struck the Camacho on Cactus Avenue near Rosewood Street. The unidentified police officer did not have lights or sirens on at the time of the accident.

Tristan Vent, Fairbanks, AK -- September 8, 2015Tristan Vent, a 19-year-old Galena man was shot by Alaska State Troopers on Sept. 8 in Fairbanks and has died of his injuries, according to police. Troopers say Tristan Vent was contacted by troopers during a traffic stop near the Davis Road ball fields when authorities saw he had been driving a stolen vehicle. Vent was armed, troopers said, and authorities opened fire when attempts to negotiate and use less-lethal force were unsuccessful.

Bobby R. Anderson, Alexandria, LA -- September 16, 201527-year-old Bobby R. Anderson was shot and killed as a task force tried to take him into custody, according to police. Members of a U.S. Marshals Violent Offender Task Force were trying to serve Anderson around 3 p.m. with warrants charging him with a variey of felonies. The warrants were from both Alexandria police and the Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office. Both departments had members on the task force. According to police, Anderson was reportedly armed and threatened officers as they were attempting to take him into custody, resulting in a Task Force Member discharging his duty weapon.

Tyrone Bass, St. Bernard Parish, LA -- September 14, 2015Tyrone Bass, who was shot by a St. Bernard Parish sheriff's deputy in a Chalmette incident Tuesday (Sept. 15) is dead, Louisiana State Police confirmed. A witness said the man wrestled briefly with a deputy on the ground before a second officer fired his gun several times.

Jorge Suarez-Ruiz, Eddyville, KY -- September 16, 201551-year-old Jorge Suarez-Ruiz was killed by police outside of his home on Wednesday September 16, 2015. According to police, Suarez-Ruiz had made threats to hurt himself and then took off in a Toyota Camry. Family told police he was known to carry a gun. Residents were told to stay inside their homes after police attempted to stop Suarez-Ruiz who eventually led them back to his home. When he got there, investigators said, he got out of the car and there was a confrontation and shots were fired.

Carl Devince King, Raleigh, NC -- September 14, 2015Carl Devince King, 52, died Monday September 14, 2015 morning shortly after he was arrested by police who answered a 911 call about a man “going crazy” in a residential neighborhood near Southeast Raleigh High School. Police have not yet provided details about how King died. King, a native of Goldsboro and a U.S. Army veteran, has gone through tumultuous periods since he was honorably discharged in 2011, according to state criminal records.

Case Updates:

Walter Scott, Charleson, SC. Reported on September 21, at a bond hearing for Slager, the bystander statement was revealed: According to the witness, Scott was on the ground, and the officer crouched over him — once punching Scott’s right side. (Slager later said he jabbed his Taser into Scott’s side to deliver a shock.) Scott “got up fast and aggressive,” turned and ran, and Slager shot him in the back. After telling an officer that he had recorded the shooting, Santana walked away. He went to a nearby store, where he played the video to people there. That’s when he realized its importance. Slager's bond petition was denied.

Lashano Gilbert, New London, CT. On Thursday, September, 17, 2015, a Connecticut prosecutor ruled that New London officers were justified in using force to subdue medical student Lashano Gilbert, who was visiting family and killed in October 2014..

Rekia Boyd, Chicago, IL. On September 16, 2015, the Independent Police Review Authority, an independent body that investigates all police-involved shootings in Chicago recommended that the police officer involved in the shooting of Rekia Boyd be fired, according to a statement from a Chicago Police News Affairs spokesman. IPRA . Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy has 90 days to decide if officer Dante Servin should be disciplined.

Gilbert Flores, San Antonio, TX. Gilbert Flores' family filed the lawsuit Monday against Bexar County, the sheriff's office and Deputies Greg Vasquez and Robert Sanchez, the San Antonio Express-News reported. The lawsuit claims Flores' civil rights were violated and that officers used excessive force in the Aug. 28 shooting. It seeks unspecified damages, including medical and funeral expenses.

Michael Brown, Ferguson, MO. A panel of activists, researchers, community members, and other volunteers on Monday, September 14, 2015, unveiled a new report with 189 "calls to action" to address the scourge of racial inequity in and around St. Louis, Missouri, illuminated by a year of protests following the police shooting death of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown last August.

Defender Vol. 9

We continue to try to get more attention to these cases. Please take a minute and help us by sharing this with three other concerned people.

New Cases We Began Tracking This Week:

Joseph Thomas Johnson-Shanks, Eddyville, KY -- September 14, 2015. 25-year-old Joseph Thomas Johnson-Shanks, of Missouri, suspected of fatally shooting a Kentucky state trooper was killed in a remote rural area near I-24 around 7 a.m., September 14, 2015 following an all-night manhunt. Johnson-Shanks was armed with a handgun and did not comply with several commands to drop his weapon, according to Sgt. Mike Webb. That gave the trooper closest to him no choice but to fire his agency-issued weapon.

Clifford Butler, Pond Creek, OK -- September 13, 2015. Clifford Butler, Jr, 67 was killed by an unnamed sheriff’s deputy after he shot a local police chief. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said authorities arrived on Sunday to a house in Pond Creek where homeowners reported that a man was trying to get inside their home. Officers from three agencies arrived and began speaking with Clifford Butler Jr. The state bureau said that as officers tried to subdue Butler, he pulled a gun and shot the Pond Creek police chief. A Grant County sheriff’s deputy returned fire, killing Butler.

Brandon Foy, Indianapolis, IN -- September 10, 2015. Brandon Foy was shot by a police officer after an encounter between the trooper and Foy just before 3 p.m. on September 10, 2015, police said. After they met, the Foy pulled a gun on the trooper according to police. Foy then ran and Officer Wright chased him through the Eagle Pointe apartment complex, police said. Outside, the suspect jumped over a fence in the area, the trooper followed and then shots were fired. Foy was pronounced dead at the scene.

Ma Tian, Potsdam, NY -- September 10, 2015. 31-year-old Clarkson graduate student Ma Tian, was killed by a village police officer after he was found stabbing a classmate and himself in his apartment. Village Police Chief Kevin M. Bates said Ma refused to obey the officers’ commands to drop the knife. “They had their weapons drawn and asked the assailant several times to drop the knife and he did not comply,” Mr. Bates said. “Officer Seymour shot four times, killing Ma on the spot.”

Eddie Tapia, Downey, CA -- September 10, 2015. 41-year-old Eddie Tapia was killed by a SWAT team after leading police in California on lengthy car chase, running into a crowded restaurant and seizing at least four hostages. The SWAT team fatally shot Tapia after entering the restaurant from the front and back. Hernandez says Tapia didn't fire on them. Tapia's hostages helped him record a video saying good bye to his family before he was killed.

Vincent Perdue, North Pole, AK -- September 9, 2015. Vincent Perdue was shot to death on the morning of September 9, 2015 during a gunfire exchange with Alaskan State Troopers in Fairbanks, Alaska. The shootout began at about 9 a.m., after a troopers patrol car attempted to stop a silver 2000 Pontiac near the intersection of South Cushman Street and the Mitchell Expressway for having windows that were tinted too dark and for failing to use a turn signal, troopers said. Perdue, 33, was in the driver's seat with a 20-year-old woman in the passenger seat. The car didn’t stop as directed by police. During the ensuing chase, Perdue and the woman both leaned out the car’s windows to shoot at police.

Tyrone L. Holman, Kansas City, MO -- September 9, 2015. 37-year-old squatter Tyrone L. Holman was killed by Kansas City police Wednesday night, September 9, 2015 when he refused to comply with officers serving an eviction notice. For years, Holman has battled mental health issues, unsuccessfully filed disability claims and threatened federal workers. During a 12-hour standoff with police, Holman claimed he had wired the house with explosives and threatened officers with a hand grenade and a gun, police said. After Holman came outside and threatened police with the hand grenade about 10:30 p.m., one officer fired and killed him, police said. It turned out the hand grenade was not live, police said. And the home was not wired with explosives.

Casimero “Shane” Carlos Casillas, Fresno, CA -- September 7, 2015. Casimero “Shane” Carlos Casillas, 45 was shot and killed after a confrontation with a Fresno police officer Monday afternoon, September 7, 2015, after a chase. The Sheriff’s Office said the shooting took place after Casillas tried to elude officers when they attempted a routine traffic stop and ran from the car. Sheriff’s spokesman Tony Botti said officers found Casillas hiding in a backyard, holding a 2-foot-long metal pipe. He refused to surrender and ran toward a police officer with the pipe, police said, adding that the officer “feared for his life,” so he fired his gun and struck Casillas.

India Kager and Angelo Delano Perry, Virginia Beach, VA -- September 6, 2015. India Kager, 28, a Navy veteran and Angelo Delano Perry, 35, were people fatally shot by Virginia Beach police after they say one fired a gun at officers. Police say the officers had received information about a person of interest in a homicide. As they approached a vehicle outside the store, someone inside fired at them. The officers returned fire, killing both of them. An infant inside the vehicle wasn't injured. The infant was placed in the care of Child Protective Services.

Ben de Baca, Bernalillo, NM -- September 6, 2015. Bernalillo Police Chief Tom Romero said Ben de Baca was involved in a car crash just after 6 p.m. Sunday in a nearby McDonald's parking lot that investigators believe was sparked by a domestic altercation with a woman. Romero said his department started getting calls after de Baca, 45, ran into the Walmart after the crash and began fighting with people inside the store. Romero said officers called for backup, because the man wasn't cooperating. The chief said de Baca was finally handcuffed and taken outside because he was still struggling with officers. At some point, de Baca suddenly became unresponsive.

Ben de Baca, Miami, FL -- September 6, 2015. Carlos Yero, 59 was killed by Miami police called to a domestic violence incident Sunday at a home in the area of Southwest Third Street in Little Havana. When officers arrived, a woman was discovered with several lacerations to her body. The victim's neighbor, David Bover, told Local 10 News that the woman ran to his apartment after Yero attacked her. Bover said Yero was close behind the victim, holding a handgun in one hand and a piece of a table in the other. Police said Yero was unable to get in and pointed his gun at police when they arrived. After failing to comply with officers to drop his gun, police said they were forced to fire.

Case Updates:

Yvette Smith, Bastrop, TX. The trial of Willis on a charge of murder was set to begin September 14, 2015. Bastrop County has settled a civil complaint brought by Smith’s family for $1.22 million.

Darrien Hunt, Salt Lake City, UT. Hunt's mom last week rejected a $900,000 settlement offer in the case, saying it was too restrictive. Susan Hunt told a news outlet that the deal contained an unacceptable provision, a requirement that she refrain from commenting about the death of her son.

Michael Brown, Ferguson, MO. It was reported on September 11, 2015 that a December sentencing hearing was set for thirty-three-year-old Justin Payne who admitted in federal court that he helped orchestrate a cyberattack that disabled a police union's website during the unrest following the shooting death of Michael Brown. Federal prosecutors say last December's cyberattack that targeted the St. Louis County Police Association website was part of a so-called "Operation Ferguson" effort in support of protesters of Brown's August 2014 shooting death by a Ferguson police officer. Investigators say Payne used Twitter accounts to orchestrate the cyberattack that overwhelmed the police union's website. A federal judge in St. Louis has scheduled an October 2016 trial in the case of Michael Brown Sr. and Lesley McSpadden against the city of Ferguson, its former police chief and Darren Wilson.

Marvin Maestas, Santa Fe, NM. The Albuquerque Journal reported on September 11, 2015 that some of the officers involved in the killing of Marvin Maestas have hired lawyers and their counsel has advised them not to give any statements.

Donte Sowell, Indianapolis, IN. The Marion County grand jury declined to criminally indict any of the officers, or a passing security guard who joined in the firing of shots, for their actions that night. The family of Sowell is suing the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) in federal court for wrongful death. The suit also claims the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department covered up the death of Donte Sowell by perpetrating a false story about the events of the Jan. 15 shooting.

Samuel Dubose, Cincinnati, OH. A University report found that the killing of Samuel Dubose was entirely preventable.

Matthew Ajibade, Savannah, GA. Two former sheriff’s deputies on were indicted on September 9, 2015 on perjury charges for allegedly lying during a grand jury proceeding in the death of Matthew Ajibade. During the proceeding, Officer Kenny said he had tasered Ajibade before he was restrained. He actually tased the 22-year-old while he was being restrained, according to the Savannah Morning News. He faces one count of perjury for the statement. Officer Evans is facing three counts of perjury based on three statements made, including that "she recorded the checks in the restraint chair log as they happened,” according to court documents.

Freddie Gray, Baltimore, MD. On September, 8, 2015, Baltimore officials announced that they had reached a $6.4 million wrongful death settlement with the family of Gray. On Thursday, September 10, 2015, a judge in Baltimore ruled that the trial against the six officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray would not be moved out of Baltimore.

Natasha McKenna, Fairfax, VA. On September 8, 2015, McKenna's death was ruled an accident by Fairfax County, Va. authorities, according to NBC Washington. Prosecutors also released video of an unclothed McKenna being restrained and Tasered by corrections officers prior to her death.

Defender Vol. 8

We continue to try to get more attention to these cases. Please take a minute and help us by sharing this with three other concerned people.

New Cases We Began Tracking This Week:

Manuel Ornelas, Long Beach, CA -- September 05, 2015. 47-year-old Manuel Ornelas died following a struggle with Long Beach police on Saturday September 5, 2015. Officers were called to a home in the 3200 block of Ladoga Avenue about 10:40 a.m. in response to complaints that Ornelas was under the influence of narcotics and acting violently, according to police. Ornelas attempted to flee the home. Once Ornelas was subdued, he went into cardiac arrest.

Lavante Trevon Biggs, Durham, NC -- September 5, 2015. Durham police are investigating an officer-involved shooting that left 21-year-old Lavante Trevon Biggs dead Saturday morning, September 5, 2015. Police received a call about an "armed suicidal male." Officers said they made every effort to try to have him drop his weapon. Authorities said they began firing at Biggs once he started walking toward the officers. He was transported to the hospital where he died.

Cedric Maurice Williams, Bluefield, WV -- September 1, 2015. Officers say Cedric Maurice Williams, 33, was heavily armed outside of the First Community Bank. They say Williams had an AK-47, a .45 caliber pistol and a .38 caliber revolver. Williams was killed and no officers were hit. CNN affiliate WVVA reports Williams is from Bluefield, West Virginia.

Manuel Soriano, Los Angeles, CA -- September 1, 2015. Manuel Soriano, 29 and homeless was killed according to police after striking and injuring officers. Officers from the Van Nuys Community Police Station responded to a report of a neighbor dispute in the 14600 block of Valerio Street about 11:40 p.m. Thursday. When officers arrived, they met with a person who directed them to the house next door, said LAPD Officer Norma Eisenman, a spokeswoman. Officers found the suspect at the residence and a physical altercation ensued; she said. The suspect then armed himself with an unknown hard object and began striking the officers in the head and shoulder area with it, which prompted the officer-involved shooting, she said.

Tyree Crawford, Newark, NJ -- September 1, 2015. Crawford was one of six teenagers involved in a carjacking and police chase. He was eventually struck by a police car and pronounced dead at the scene. The other five suspects are in police custody, said Clara Rodriguez, chief assistant prosecutor at the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.

James Carney, Cincinnati, OH-- August 31, 2015 According to Cincinnati police, they spotted a James Carney III, 48, wedged in a vehicle’s window as he struggled with a woman behind the wheel. An officer tried to subdue Carney with a Taser. The attempt didn’t work and Carney kept punching, choking and even biting the 41-year-old woman who had stopped at a Shell gas station to use the ATM at about 10 p.m. Monday. Officer Anthony White then deployed the Taser a second time. Carney stopped assaulting the woman, went limp and died shortly after, police said. An investigation is under way.

David Moreno Leon, Tucson, AZ -- August 30, 2015 40-year-old David Moreno Leon was shot to death early in the morning on August 30, 2015 after a foot chase with police on Tucson’s south side. The incident began around 4:30 Sunday morning when police were called to a house where residents reported that a shirtless man was trying to break into a house. Minutes later, police spotted a shirtless man on a bicycle. A police officer tried to stop the man but the man rode off, then ran into the desert area near Morris and Drexel. At some point during the foot chase, the man pulled out a hand gun and an officer opened fire, killing him.

James Marcus Brown, Las Vegas, NV -- August 29, 2015James Marcus Brown, 25, died from a gunshot wound to the chest after a North Las Vegas foot chase on Saturday morning, August 29, 2015 the coroner's office said. Two people in the car were arrested without incident, but Brown, who Metro said was armed, ran into a desert lot. An officer chased Brown and tried to use a stun gun on him when he didn't follow several orders to drop the weapon, McCarthy said. The stun gun was "ineffective." The officer, "fearing for his life," fired multiple rounds from his service weapon when Brown turned toward the officer with the gun still in his hand, police said.

James Carney, Cincinnati, OH -- August 28, 2015. Two Texas police officers were recorded on a cellphone video shooting and killing 41-year-old Gilbert Flores while his hands were raised as reported by the New York Times on August 28.

Carlos Mercado, Rikers Island, NY -- August 23, 2015 A diabetic Rikers Island inmate in desperate need of insulin slowly died over 14 hours as correction officers did nothing — even after the man collapsed and vomited, bombshell documents show. Internal investigations by the Department of Correction and New York State Commission of Correction place the death of Carlos Mercado squarely on the shoulders of correction officers. At one point during the heroin addict’s long decline on August 23, 2013, Mercado fell face-first out of a holding pen filled with a dozen other inmates when Correction Officer Eric Jacobs opened the door, the investigations found. Jacobs stepped over Mercado, 45, twice and never helped him, papers filed in Linda’s lawsuit in Manhattan Federal Court show.

Raul Herrera, Ontario, CA -- August 20, 2015. Ontario police shot and killed 17-year-old Raul Herrera Thursday August 20, 2015, after he robbed a restaurant, then skateboarded down Archibald Avenue threatening passers-by with a handgun before being confronted by officers, authorities said. The suspect’s bizarre and erratic behavior prior to the incident, as well as a suicide note discovered at his home, led investigators to look into the possibility the officer-involved shooting was a “suicide by cop.”

James Carney, Cincinnati, OH-- August 19, 2015 The body of 24-year-old Jamycheal Mitchell was found inside the Hampton Roads Regional Jail on Wednesday, Aug. 19. Jail officials said there was no indication of foul play nor signs of assault or injuries. Jamycheal Mitchell, who had mental health problems, was discovered lying on the floor of his cell by guards according to authorities. While his body is still awaiting an autopsy, senior prison officials said his death was not being treated as suspicious. Mitchell's death comes nearly four months after he was jailed for stealing $5 worth of snacks -- a Snickers bar, a Zebra cake and a bottle of Mountain Dew -- from a 7-Eleven convenience store.

Case Updates:

Freddie Gray, Baltimore, MD. On September, 8, 2015, Baltimore officials announced that they had reached a $6.4 million wrongful death settlement with the family of Gray. The deal still must be approved by the city’s Board of Estimates, the governing body that oversees the city’s spending. That group, which includes Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake (D), is expected to meet Wednesday. The judge in the case awarded the defense one major victory on September 2, granting six separate trials for the officers involved, but refused to throw out the case entirely, or have state's attorney Marilyn Mosby removed from it, as defense attorneys had requested.

Walter Scott, Charleston, SC. On September 8, Slager's defense announced that they would be presenting new photographic evidence showing Scott attacking Slager before the former officer killed him.

D'Angelo Stallworth, Baltimore, MD. It was reported on September 4th that the Florida State Attorney's Office has ruled the May fatal shooting of D'Angelo Reyes Stallworth justified, clearing the use of deadly force by both Jacksonville Sheriff's Officers involved.

Jonathan Ferrell, Charlotte, NC. Religious leaders from Charlotte and other areas of North Carolina met with North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper, asking him to reconsider his decision to forego a retrial for Randall Kerrick. On September 4th the clergy said in a release that they had an "impassioned conversation" with the Attorney General, but Cooper stuck with his decision to not retry the case.

William Chapman, Portsmouth, VA. On Thursday, September 3, recently fired Officer Stephen D. Rankin, 36, was in custody after he was indicted on a first-degree murder charge in the case. He was also charged with use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in the shooting. An autopsy found that Chapman was shot in the face and the chest, had no alcohol or drugs in his system, and that his pockets had been turned inside out.

Andre Green, Indianapolis, IN. On September 3, 2015, the parents of Green announced plans to file a wrongful death lawsuit alleging that officers were negligent and violated their son's constitutional rights.

Calvon Reid, Coconut Creek, FL. On September 3, 2015, the Reid family filed a lawsuit in Broward Circuit Court alleging wrongful death and deprivation of his civil rights.

Eric Harris, Tulsa, OK. On September 2, 2015, Bill Adams, who left the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office in 2010 after clashing with supervisors, testified for about half an hour before a grand jury investigating the agency, saying that a 2009 memo accurately questioned the competence of reserve deputy Robert Bates before the Harris shooting. Adams also said he turned over documents to jurors, but declined to comment on the nature of the information.

Jose Roman Rodruguez, Brownsville, TX. On September 2, 2015, a Cameron County grand jury cleared officer Trujillo of the shooting.

Alexia Christian, Atlanta, GA. On September 1, family, activists, and several community organizations gathered to pressure APD Chief George Turner to release the dash cameras and surveillance videos from a nearby parking garage that would shed light on what happened.

Felix Kumi, Mount Vernon, NY. On September 1, 2015, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman declined take over the investigation into the death of Kumi despite a recent order by Governor Cuomo, giving him the right to do so. Cuomo two days later said he supported Schneiderman's decision in this case.

Erick Sanchez, El Paso, TX. On August 31, El Paso police released the autopsy report which calls into question the original police report. The night of the shooting, police said when they encountered Sanchez, he threatened to kill them with a metal object. When he allegedly charged at them, they tried to tase him, but an eventually shot and killed him. However, the autopsy report has revealed that he was shot in the back, calling into question whether Sanchez could have been charging at officers when he was shot.

Defender Vol. 7

Upcoming Protest Events:

Where: Wragg Square, Charleston, SC When: September 5 Who: International Longshoremen's Association Local 1422 Chapter What: Thousands of people will make their way to Charleston over Labor Day weekend to honor the lives of the Emanuel Nine and Walter Scott for an event called "Days of Grace." Over 70 organizations have pledged to support the idea of unity and change by the International Longshoremen's Association Local 1422 Chapter..

New Cases We Began Tracking This Week:

Felix Kumi, Mount Vernon, NY -- August 29, 2015. Felix Kumi, a 61-year-old bystander died after he was accidentally shot by a plainclothes officer during an undercover gun buy that went wrong. Police said during the undercover buy, the suspects tried robbing the officer. That’s when the officer signaled to his backup team, which opened fire on the suspects as they fled with the money. In the process, two bullets struck Kumi as he stood on Beekman Avenue. The suspect who had put the gun to the officer’s head was also shot, police said. He’s listed in stable condition.

Marvin Arroliga, North Miami, FL -- August 25, 2015. Miami-Dade police detectives shot Marvin Arroliga Tuesday night, August 25, 2015 after they arrived at an apartment complex to follow up on a shooting investigation, authorities said. Arroliga, 21, was taken to Aventura Hospital. He was pronounced dead just before 3 a.m. Wednesday. Miami-Dade police said the officers arrived at the apartment about 7 p.m. and were confronted by Arroliga, who began shooting at the officers.

Bertrand Davis, Dallas, TX -- August 25, 2015. Police said Bertrand Davis fought officers who tried to subdue him after he allegedly set fire to a South Dallas house. Police said they twice tried to use a stun gun to take Davis down. One time, witnesses told police that Davis appeared to pull the prongs out and continued to try to get away. Police said nine officers tried to stop Davis from getting in a car. And, Brown said, witnesses saw Davis holding a box cutter during the fight. The officer, Matthew Terry, allegedly fired at Davis during a struggle in the car./p>

Marvin Maestas, Santa Fe, NM -- August 25, 2015. New Mexico State Police say 30-year-old Marvin Maestas of Mora, was killed during an exchange of gunfire. According to State Police, a deputy attempted to stop Maestas, but Maestas continued speeding at more than 100 mph. Eventually, Maestas got out of the vehicle and began to run from officers. A foot pursuit ensued involving Santa Fe police, state police, the Sandoval Co. Sheriff's Department and the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office. State police say that Maestas pulled out a gun during the pursuit and exchanged gunfire with officers. Maestas was hit by the gunfire and pronounced dead at the scene.

Curtis Smith, West Chester, PA -- August 25, 2015. According to police, Curtis Smith of Coatesville, Pa., walked into the lobby of a Pennsylvania courthouse, pulled out a knife and attacked a deputy sheriff before being shot and killed by another sheriff’s deputy. Smith was one of three men who breached the secure area around the White House during one 16-hour window in March of 2015.

Celestine Allen, French Camp, CA -- August 19, 2015. Relatives of 50-year-old Celestine Allen told FOX40 she was found dead inside her cell on Wednesday, August 19, but they were not told until early the following morning. Allen was booked for assault with a deadly weapon, Deputy Dave Konecny said. The following day, Allen was found unresponsive in her cell during the evening inmate checks. Konecny said the custody officers attempted lifesaving measures but were unable to save her.

Case Updates:

Freddie Gray, Baltimore, MD. The Baltimore City Circuit Court is scheduled to hear pretrial motions Sept. 2 and Sept. 10 in the Freddie Gray case. Activists plan to protest at the courthouse and elsewhere in the city as hearings begin Wednesday.

Dante Parker, Victorville, CA. On Monday August 24, 2015, prosecutors announced that the deputy’s actions were determined justified in the case. According to prosecutors, it was the drug PCP, not a San Bernardino County sheriff deputy’s Taser, that was the main cause of Parker’s death.

William Chapman, Portsmouth, VA. It was reported on August 24, 2015 that the investigations were complete and the case passed to the Portsmouth Commonwealth's Attorney Office to review the circumstances that led to a deadly police-involved shooting in April. On August 27, it was reported that the Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie Morales announced that she will seek an indictment before the next grand jury. The grand jury hearing is scheduled for September 3.

Ralkina Jones, Cleveland Heights, OH. Northeast Ohio Media Group reports that city officials on Tuesday, August 25, 2015, said Cleveland Heights Police Chief Jeffrey Robertson had asked the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction to investigate the death of Ralkina Jones.

Kashad Ashford, Rutherford, NJ. At a hearing in NJ court on August 26, 2015, the state argued that the names of the officers involved should not be released during an ongoing investigation while the North Jersey Media Group said that the names should be released under the Open Public Records Act and also under the common law.

Walter Brown, Portsmouth, VA. Prosecutors say the Portsmouth, Virginia, officers involved in the fatal shooting of Walter Brown won't be charged.

Jonathan Ferrell, Charlotte, NC. On August 28, 2015, prosecutors announced that they would not retry Officer Kerrick for the killing of Jonathan Ferrell.

Defender Vol. 6

Upcoming Protest Events:

Where: First Corinithian Baptist Church Harlem, NY When: Thursday, August 27 at 6:00pm Who: The Stop Mass Incarceration Network What: Carl Dix and Dr. Cornel West Speaking at First Corinthian Baptist Church in Harlem

Where: Hamline Park in St. Paul, MN When: August 29 at 11:00 AM Who: #blacklivesmatter St. Paul What: Black Lives Matter St. Paul is planning a march and rally during the Minnesota State Fair, the group announced Thursday. The event, called #BlackFair by the organizers, starts at 11 a.m. Aug. 29 in Hamline Park in St. Paul. The protesters will proceed up Snelling Avenue to the fairgrounds in Falcon Heights.

New Cases We Began Tracking This Week:

Thaddeus Faison, Troy, NY -- August 22, 2015. Thaddeus Faison was shot during a shootout with officers in Troy, NY on August 22, 2015 and later died in St. Mary's hospital. The shooting followed a report of an attempted carjacking shortly after 10:30 p.m., Troy Police Capt. Dan DeWolf told reporters. An officer in the area spotted a pedestrian who fit the general description in the carjacking attempt, called for backup, and when both officers approached, the suspect shot at the police and they returned fire, DeWolf said. Officer Joshua Comitale was struck in the leg and officer Chad Klein was shot in the upper body, WNYT reported. The officers were taken to a local hospital and were expected to live. A handgun was recovered from the scene and police are not looking for any other suspects, DeWolf said.

Deviere Ernel Ransom, Warren, MI -- August 21, 2015. Investigators say police opened fire on Deviere Ernel Ransom, 24, of Detroit, after he ran behind a drug store and then pulled a handgun on approaching officers. Police say he had fired shot at a Troy police officer during the car chase, which started in Warren. According to investigators, Ransom had sawed off his tether earlier Wednesday evening, and armed with a gun, made threats to kill someone. Warren police were notified chased the vehicle into Troy, where Ransom reportedly fired shots at a Troy police officer who was joining the pursuit. Bloomfield Police officers were alerted as the vehicle left the freeway and collided with another car. Ransom ran from the car to behind a CVS drug store.

Mansur Ball-Bey, St. Louis, MO -- August 19, 2015. Mansur Ball-Bey,18 was killed on the morning of August 19, 2015 while St. Louis police officers executed a search warrant. When police approached the home, two suspects were seen running out of the back armed with guns. Officers ordered the suspects to drop their weapons, at which time one of the suspects, Mansur Ball-Bey, stopped and pointed a gun at police, authorities said. The two officers then fired a total of four gunshots towards Mansur Ball-Bey, according to police. On August 21, 2015, the results of the autopsy show Ball-Bey was struck in the upper right part of his back by a bullet that hit his heart and an artery next to the.

Frederick Roy, Houston, TX -- August 17, 2015. According to Houston police, Frederick Roy was killed on August 17, 2015 after he was seen behaving erratically and firing a pistol outside his mother's residence around 1 pm. Police say he was shot by police after a struggle for a weapon he was carrying. Family members contacted police after Roy allegedly kicked in the front door of his mother's house while she was inside. A nearby officer arrived and saw Roy and another man outside the residence. Roy then began walking away and the other man, a relative of Roy, told the officer that Roy was armed and was shooting. The officer then approached Roy and asked if he was armed. Roy ignored the officer's questions, police said. According to police, as the officer asked to search Roy, the suspect pulled up his shirt and pulled a revolver from his waistband. Officer Vargas grabbed Roy's arm with one hand and they struggled over the weapon. Fearing for his life, the officer discharged his duty weapon and shot Roy, who died at the scene. Roy's revolver was also recovered.

Richard Jacquez, San Jose, CA -- August 17, 2015. Officers shot and killed Richard Jacquez who was believed to be connected to a previous homicide -- less than 24 hours after police shot and killed another man connected to that same crime. After initial reports from the officer, officials now say Jacquez wasn't armed and didn't reach for his waistband. The officer shot at him first when his back was turned and again when he spun around. The officer said he feared for the safety of those inside the home Jacquez was running toward. Officers also believed he was going to kill the woman riding with him because she knew about the slaying Jacquez was tied to.

Matthew Castillo, San Jose, CA -- August 16, 2015. San Jose police fatally shot Matthew Castillo when he allegedly reached for a handgun when contacted by officers late Sunday night. Police on Monday said the Castillo was a suspect in a homicide that happened on August 13, 2015. Sergeant Enrique Garcia said police approached the suspect while conducting a follow-up investigation. However, a pair of officers fired their duty weapons and struck the man when he made a move to grab his own firearm. The man was pronounced dead at the scene, police said, adding that no other injuries were reported.

Michael Robinson, Caruthersville, MO -- August 16, 2015. Michael Robinson, a 33-year-old Missouri man died in custody just hours after being transported in an ambulance from the Pemiscot County Jail. The Robinson family is questioning whether he received the medication he needed while he was jailed. Michael Robinson was arrested Friday August 14, 2015 on a warrant for unpaid child support, local KFVS reports. Robinson was a diabetic that needed insulin shots at least twice a day. He was taken to Pemiscot County Jail, where his family says he begged jailers for insulin but was denied until he became so weak he couldn’t hold his head up.

Allen Mathew Baker, Sunnyvale, CA -- August 15, 2015. 23-year-old Allen Matthew Baker III, of San Diego was shot and killed by a Sunnyvale public safety officer on Saturday August 15, 2015. Around 4:15 p.m. someone reported suspicious activity at a Motel 6, including two women going back and forth between a Jaguar and a motel room. When officers approached the vehicle they say two of the three men inside took off running. According to Hunter, one dropped a high capacity magazine and then pointed a gun at the officer.

Oscar Ruiz, Baldwin Park, CA -- August 15, 2015. Oscar Ruiz died after police took him into custody with the use of a Taser while responding to reports he was acting strangely along Ramona Boulevard, officials said. The man, who was reported to be in his 40s, was calm when officers arrived but witnesses directed them to a parking lot across the street. Officers used a Taser to subdue Ruiz and get him into custody. Once he was handcuffed police noticed he was no longer responsive. The suspect was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Hector Gonzalez, Boerne, TX -- August 14, 2015. Hector Gonzalez, 26, was killed during a confrontation with a Boerne police officer. Two officers responded to the 700 block of River Road around 7:30 p.m. for a report of a verbal disturbance and a subsequent report of a man with a gun, the Boerne Police Department said. Police said the first officer on the scene spotted the subjects, based on a clothing description, and approached. The officer instructed one of the men multiple times to turn around, police said. When the man did turn around, he "brandished a weapon in the direction of the officer," the department said in a statement. The officer instructed the man to drop the weapon, police said, but the man did not comply. Police said the officer then fired his gun, hitting the man multiple times.</ p> Updates:

Gregory Towns, East Point, GA. On August 18, Georgia authorities announced that the two officers involved would be indicted for the killing of Gregory Towns. According to the indictment, when they caught up with Towns, Eberhart and Weems used their Tasers numerous times while Towns was handcuffed. The Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office listed the cause of death as hypertensive cardiovascular disease exacerbated by physical exertion and conducted electrical stimulation. Eberhart resigned and Weemes was terminated after the incident.

Jerame Reid, Bridgeton, NJ. NJ.com reports that the mother and family of Jerame Reid, along with a community activist, gathered at a home in Bridgeton, New Jersey on Saturday, saying they will seek a federal civil rights investigation.

Michael Brown, Ferguson, MO. In a surprise move, just before the statute of limitations was about to expire, St. Louis County Counselor Peter Krane filed charges last week against at least 100 people who were arrested a year ago peacefully protesting the murder of Michael Brown outside of the Ferguson Police Department.

Samuel Harrell, Fishkill, NY. The Correctional Association of New York, on August 18, 2015, called for expanded federal investigation of the state prison system, saying the recent death of a 30-year-old inmate after a confrontation with guards shows a complete overhaul is overdue.

Ralkina Jones, Cleveland Heights, OH. Cleveland Heights officials refuse to explain gaps in new Ralkina Jones jail cell video, including the missing last six hours before she was found unresponsive.

Jonathan Ferrell, Charlotte, NC.. On August 19, 2015, the jury began deliberations. On August 21 with the jury unable to reach a decision, a mistrial was declared in the case.

Rekia Boyd, Chicago, IL. On Thursday night, August 20, 2015, community activists and demonstrators shut down a Chicago Police Board meeting as they angrily demanded the firing of Detective Dante Servin, an officer acquitted in the fatal shooting of Rekia Boyd in 2012. About 200 people packed the meeting at Chicago Police headquarters in the Bronzeville neighborhood, many wearing yellow shirts with black print reading: "Fire Police Officer Dante Servin." The group comprised demonstrators from the Black Lives Matter, Black Youth Project 100 and We Charge Genocide groups.

Jerame Reid, Bridgeton, NJ. On August 20, it was announced that the grand jury had decided not to indict either officer.

Malissa Williams, Cleveland, OH. A local TV news channel has learned the city of Cleveland will finally determine what internal punishments will be issued to the 13 police officers

who fired 137 shots and killed two suspects after a long and massive chase in 2012. The news station confirmed papers have started going out to the officers outlining administrative charges.

Darrius Stewart, Memphis, TN. On August 20, 2015, Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich announced that her office had received TBI's 800-page report on the Darrius Stewart investigation. She said that she had not yet read the report or determined if charges would be filed against Memphis Police officer Connor Schilling.

Terrance Kellom, Detroit, MI. On August 19, 2015, the prosecutor ruled that the officer was justified in killing Kellom.

Jonathan Ferrell, Charlotte, NC. On August 19, 2015, the jury began deliberations.

Samuel Dubose, Cincinnati, OH. The murder trial of Ray Tensing in the case of Samuel Dubose has been set to begin on November 16.

Defender Vol. 5

New Cases We Began Tracking This Week:

Vincente Montano, Antioch, TN -- August 06, 2015 Montano allegedly sprayed three theater goers with pepper spray and wounded one man with the hatchet. He was wearing a surgical mask to protect himself from the pepper spray and was armed with an Airsoft gun that looked like a real handgun. Police say he acted threateningly toward them shortly before they killed him.

Benjamin Peter Ashley, Inyokern, CA -- August 16, 2015. Sheriff’s deputies in California shot and killed Benjamin Peter Ashley, the target of a two-week-long manhunt in the rugged, mountainous high desert of central California, authorities said late Saturday. Ashley, 34, was fatally struck by two deputies who tried to stop him as he walked on a rural road towards the foothills after he brandished a handgun, police said.

Asshams Pharoah Manley, Forestville, MD -- August 16, 2015. Manley died at the hospital after police say he was shot after there was a struggle over the officer's gun. The shooting happened around 11:20 p.m. when police say an officer went to investigate a car crash near Brooks Drive and Marlboro Pike. Police say Manley was running from the crash scene. The officer caught up with Manley on Walker Mill Road. Police say Manley was shot during a struggle over the officer's gun. After being shot, police say Manley continued to fight with the officer. A second officer arrived and deployed a Taser, but police say Manley was not restrained until a third officer arrived.

Allen Matthew Baker, Sunnyvale, CA -- August 15, 2015. 23-year-old Baker, of San Diego was shot and killed by a Sunnyvale public safety officer when officers responded to a report of suspicious activity at a Motel 6. When officers approached the vehicle described by the report, they say two of the three men inside took off running. According to police, Baker pointed a gun at the officer before the officer fired nine rounds at the suspect.

Anthony Lorenzo Vallejo, Hemet, CA -- August 12, 2015. Anthony Lorenzo Vallejo, 27, died after he was shot as he emerged from his pickup and pointed a gun at a deputy, a Sheriff's Department news release said. Deputies had tried to pull him over, but he sped off before crashing at Cawston and Acacia avenues. A warrant was issued for Vallejo's arrest on July 17 for violating his parole.

Nathaniel Wilks, Oakland, CA -- August 12, 2015. Nathaniel Wilks was fatally shot by Oakland Police under disputed circumstances. Police said the shooting occurred shortly after 2:30 p.m. when a robbery suspect crashed his car during a police pursuit and allegedly tried to carjack another vehicle and then advance on officers with a gun. Family and friends say they have witnesses who said that he was not armed, he was not confrontational, and he was running but he was slowing down, trying to surrender saying ‘Ok, Ok, Ok,’ with his hands up.

Garland Tyree, Staten Island, NY -- August 14, 2015. Garland Tyree, 38, an alleged member of the Bloods subset Nine Trey gang was killed when the Regional Fugitive Task Force tried to arrest him for a probation violation after a 6-hour standoff. He emerged from his basement home at 15 Destiny Court firing an AK-47 assault rifle just before noon, according to NYPD Chief of Detectives Bob Boyce. According to police, Tyree was wearing a bullet-proof vest and sprayed bullets wildly, hitting police vehicles and houses before police returned fire and killed him.

Redel Kentel Jones, Los Angeles, CA -- August 13, 2015 A 21-year-old witness said that she saw Los Angeles police fatally shoot Redel Kentel Jones who was running from officers down a Baldwin Hills alley in Los Angeles, California. The LAPD has said that officers deployed a Taser during the encounter. The witness said, " When they fired the three shots, I just saw her body fly on the ground." An LAPD spokesman, confirmed Thursday that two police officers chased the woman -- who was suspected of robbing a nearby pharmacy.

Reginald Marshall, Toledo, OH -- August 12, 2015 U.S. Marshals say Reginald Marshall was killed in a police-involved shooting after a standoff with Toledo Police . According to Police, officers spotted a stolen vehicle in east Toledo and pursued it. After a brief chase, two men fled from the vehicle. One was arrested immediately, but the other barricaded himself inside an abandoned home nearby. Police and SWAT surrounded the home and a standoff ensued. Toledo Police sent in K-9 Officer Falko. Hours later when police were able to safely enter the home, Falko and Marshall were found dead.

Edrian Rivera, San Jose, CA -- August 9, 2015 Edrian Rivera, 22, was a stabbing suspect allegedly armed with a meat cleaver who was fatally shot by officers in San Jose on Sunday, police said. Around 6:20 p.m. Sunday, officers responded to a report of a stabbing in the area of Virginia Avenue and South 34th Street. Arriving officers found a 31-year-old man suffering from multiple stab wounds. Two officers later caught up with the fleeing suspect, who allegedly brandished a meat cleaver, according to police. The officers shot at the suspect, later identified as Rivera, who was struck and killed, police said.

Gustavo Ponce-Galon, Elsmere, KY -- August 6, 2015Ponce-Galon, 42, was shot by police on August 6, 2015 after stabbing his wife to death in a Kentucky mobile home park.

Abel Correa, Las Vegas -- August 7, 2015Abel Correa was shot by police in his home on August 7, 2015 when he refused to drop a screwdriver. At around 6:00 a.m., officers arrived at Correa's home to investigate a report of someone breaking the window of a residence. Officers say the suspect, 24-year-old Abel Correa, came out of a closet with an object, which turned out to be a screw driver. Officers immediately shot and killed the victim. Family of Abel Correa believe Metro officers could have handled the situation differently, without using lethal force. “I didn’t hear a command all they did was shoot him,” said Gilberto Correa, the victim’s brother.

Jason Galaviz, Tacoma, WA -- August 5, 2015Tacoma police say Galaviz was fatally wounded after refusing to drop his gun. Witnesses say the incident started when Galaviz stole a woman's phone at a bus stop and knocked her down. Two men chased after him and pinned him against his truck. Officers say Galaviz pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the men. When ordered by the off-duty officer to drop the weapon, they say Galaviz didn't comply. "When the suspect pulled the gun then the officer identified himself, drew his gun and, unfortunately, had to shoot him," said Tacoma police Officer Loretta Cool.

Raymond Hodge, Maui, HI -- August 5, 2015At approximately 8:50 p.m. on August 5, Maui Police Department’s Central Dispatch received a call from a man who said he was approached by a man who carried what appeared to be a U.S. immigration badge. The suspect was identified as Raymond Hodge, 39. At about 8:54 p.m., two patrol officers arrived on scene within Keopuolani Park and made contact with Hodge, who became agitated and confrontational. As Hodge walked away from the officers, police say he removed a 9mm handgun from his waistband, turned and began firing in the direction of the officers. Hodge was shot in numerous parts of his body, from the legs to top of his torso according to police.

Elvin Diaz, Hackensack, NJ -- August 5, 2015Three city police officers went to check on Elvin Diaz at the request of county probation officials, Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli said in a Twitter message. Hackensack Police Director Michael Mordaga said Diaz was armed with "a very large knife" when the shooting occurred. In a tweet later Thursday, Molinelli said a meat cleaver had been found at the scene but an investigation remained under way.

Case Updates:

Sandra Bland, Hempstead, TX. Reported by the Christian Science Monitor on August 18, in light of the Bland case, the State of Texas has launched a probe of all jail suicides. On August 17, it was also reported that five special prosecutors had been appointed to look into the death of Sandra Bland.

Samuel Harrell, Fishkill, NY. On August 18, 2015, the New York Times reported that Harrell was beaten by as many as 20 officers and thrown down the stairs and killed. According to the article, Harrell, an inmate with a history of bipolar disorder, packed his bags and announced he was going home resulting in a confrontation with corrections officers and being thrown to the floor and handcuffed. Officers including members of a group known around the prison as the Beat Up Squad — repeatedly kicked and punched Mr. Harrell, who is black, with some of them shouting racial slurs.

Eric Garner, New York, NY. After a NY appeals court affirmed the decision not to release the grand jury minutes underlying the decision not to indict Officer Pantaleo, on August 17, 2015, it was reported that The Staten Island and state branches of the NAACP have appealed to New York's highest court to unseal the grand jury record.

Michael Brown, Ferguson, MO. A member of the grand jury that declined to indict a white Ferguson police officer in the shooting death of Michael Brown is challenging a federal judge’s dismissal of her lawsuit that sought to allow her to speak publicly about those secret proceedings.

Louis Atencio, Greeley, CO. On August 13, 2015, prosecutors announced that Greeley police officers were justified when they killed Atencio. The Weld County District Attorney's Office said Thursday the officers were cleared in the June 19 shooting "because they reasonably believed it was necessary to defend themselves and others."

Ralkina Jones, Cleveland Heights, OH. On Wednesday, August 12, 2015, authorities released Jones' prisoner medication log as well as the main jail log — and officials admit that she may have been improperly medicated: Jones' prisoner log indicates that she was given medications twice over the course of about 24 hours, while the jail log indicates that drugs were dispensed three times.

Tony Robinson, Madison, WI. The Robinson family on Wednesday August 12, 2015, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit, accusing the officer of acting unconstitutionally and lying to investigators.

California on Tuesday August 11, became the first state to ban the use of secret grand juries when deciding whether to indict police officers in cases of deadly force. The bill, signed by Gov. Jerry Brown, was a response to the unrest that followed the grand jury decisions in Ferguson, Missouri, and in Staten Island, New York, not to indict the officers who killed Michael Brown and Eric Garner.

Defender Vol. 4

New Cases We Began Tracking This Week:

Andre Green, Indianapolis, IN -- August 9, 2015. 15-year-old Andre Green was shot and killed by Indianapolis police on the city’s northeast side Sunday night. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said officers noticed a car near East 30th Street and North Chester Avenue that matched the description of a vehicle that had been carjacked earlier that evening. Investigators say officers first followed the car at a safe distance. When the car turned down a dead end, police say the driver accelerated and tried to do a U-turn. The driver rammed a police vehicle on the driver’s side. Police say the Green refused to exit the vehicle and almost hit an officer with the car. They said the suspect began turning the wheel of the car toward the officers and accelerated. At that time officers fired their weapons at the driver, according to IMPD. They say Green then got out of the car armed with a gun and collapsed by the driver’s side door. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Tsombe Jashon Clark, Greenville, NC -- August 7, 2015. Tsombe Jashon Clark, 25 was killed on August 8, 2015 in Greenville, NC, when an off-duty officer, Gary Barrett, intervened in a fight at a local restaurant. Witnesses say a fight broke out inside the restaurant and spilled out into the parking lot. The officer was not initially involved in the fight but attempted to intervene after customers asked him to step in. The officer identified himself to the people fighting as an officer. One of the individuals involved pulled a gun and started shooting at the officer. The officer then returned fire and hit Clark.

Derrick Lee Hunt, Long Beach, CA -- August 7, 2015. Derrick Lee Hunt, 28 was shot on August 7, 2015 by police when he refused to drop his knife after allegedly stabbing several people. According to police multiple people in and around the apartment complex had been stabbed by Hunt who was ultimately shot by police. The 28-year-old Long Beach resident was pronounced dead at the scene. A large kitchen knife was recovered at the scene, police said. Hunt did not obey officers’ command to put down the weapon and was shot multiple times, they said. Five of the six stabbing victims were taken to local hospitals, police said. All are in stable condition.

Shamir Palmer, Atlanta, SC -- August 8, 2015. According to police, deputies were called to a home on Ridge Road just before 11 p.m. where a man said two black males named "Pookie" and "Rock" followed him home and fired multiple shots at him from a maroon Crown Victoria. A short time later, a South Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper tried to stop a vehicle that happened to be the one wanted in connection to the shooting call. Berry said that vehicle did not stop, which led to a chase through parts of Dorchester County which ended when the suspect crashed his car, colliding with a tree and a house. Palmer got out of the car and appeared to have a weapon, officials said. Deputies ordered Palmer to drop the apparent weapon. However, he didn’t obey deputies commands. Deputies fired, striking Palmer, who was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Christian Taylor, Arlington, TX -- August 7, 2015. On the morning of August 7, 2015, unarmed 19 year old Christian Taylor was shot dead by police who claim he was attempting to rob a car dealership. According to the Star-Telegram, around 1 a.m. police were notified of a burglary in progress at a GMC Classic Buick dealership. Police claim that a security company witnessed the suspect using his car to crash through the dealership's showroom window. Clyde Fuller, Taylor's great uncle, told the Star-Telegram that the story that is being described doesn't add up. He said his great nephew was set to return to college and that he excelled at football. On August 11, 2015, Chief Will Johnson of the Arlington police said that the officer, Brad Miller, 49, had been fired for the “inappropriate judgment” in the fatal shooting. Chief Johnson said Officer Miller had entered the building without his partner, leading to an “an environment of cascading consequences.”

Troy Robinson, Atlanta, GA -- August 6, 2015. Authorities in Georgia say Troy Robinson, 33 fell from a wall after being shot by police with a stun gun while fleeing and died from severe head and neck trauma suffered in the fall. The GBI says DeKalb County police stopped a vehicle for a tag violation. Robinson, who was a passenger, fled on foot after the driver was asked about a gun in the vehicle. The GBI says Robinson climbed a fence, and Officer Casey Benton used his agency-issued stun gun. Cellphone video after Robinson fell off the wall documents the fact that he lay there for many minutes before anyone rendered aid, including the many police officers on the scene.

Keshawn D. Hargrove, Richmond, VA -- August 5, 2015. According to police, Keshawn D. Hargrove, 20, was first to pull the trigger in what started as an attempt to outrun Richmond police officers and ended with one officer shot in the arm and Hargrove dead from a single gunshot wound. Police say they received a report of an armed man, and officers quickly identified Hargrove as the suspect. But when officers approached Hargrove, he started running, with police in pursuit, before gunshots erupted. Hargrove died at the scene.

Darius Graves, Raoul, IL -- August 4, 2015. Champaign police said Mr. Graves was shot as he came out of a second-floor room at the Days Inn on Champaign Avenue holding what "appeared to be a gun" and running toward police and the stairwell. Rantoul police had gone to the motel about 3 a.m. Tuesday, August 4, 2015, acting on two anonymous tips that Mr. Graves was there and had robbeda Hardee's on Sunday night, August 2. Upon being contacted by Rantoul officers, Mr. Graves barricaded himself in the motel room and threatened the officers. After negotiating six hours with Graves to no avail, police tossed tear gas into the room to get Mr. Graves out. That's when he was shot by Sgt. Colby Oleson.

Armando Serrano Jr., Tucson, AZ -- August 2, 2015. Armando Serrano Jr., 29, was shot and killed by Tucson police Saturday after he exchanged gunfire with officers was the shooter in a homicide that occurred Friday on the city's northwest side, police said. On Friday, officers were sent to the mobile home park about 11:30 p.m. to check on a man who was lying in the parking lot. When they arrived they found Fries was fatally shot. Forensic evidence and witness statements led detectives to determine that Serrano shot Richard Fries who responders found in a mobile home park in Tucson. Serrano later died at Banner-University Medical Center Tucson.

Antonio Clements, Oakland, CA -- August 2, 2015. Antonio Clements, 49, was killed after he opened fire on them with an AK-47 rifle, injuring the sergeant, police said. Clements’ weapon had a 30-round magazine that he nearly emptied during the shooting outside his Oakland home, police said. The deadly gunbattle stemmed from the investigation of a sexual assault that happened about 9 p.m. Sunday August 2, 2015, authorities said. The investigation brought police to Clements’ home on the 3800 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Way near Apgar Street, not far from the MacArthur BART Station. As police arrived at the home, Clements emerged and, without warning, began firing at the officers, police said.

Oscar Lotari Romero, Whittier, CA -- July 29, 2015. Oscar Lotari Romero of Whittier was killed in the July 29 confrontation with deputies. Police said they responded to a family disturbance call at about 11:40 p.m., and found that the suspect was drunk and had been arguing and damaging property. According to police, the subject threatened deputies and said he was going to bash their heads in. Police said Romero went back into the residence where the call originated, then returned with a metal bar which he swung at a deputy, striking him in an arm. That deputy then fired at the suspect, hitting him in the upper torso, while another deputy deployed the taser.

Earl Jackson, Micanopy, FL -- July 25, 2015. Earl Jackson, a 26 year corrections officer with Miami-Dade Corrections was killed by police in a shootout on July 25, 2015. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Jackson died during a shootout after a harrowing five-hour search through the woods near little Micanopy in Alachua County. According to FHP Sgt. Tracy Hisler-Pace, a trooper traveling north on Interstate 75 saw a disabled vehicle on the side of the road just north of Micanopy on Saturday morning and went to investigate. The car was empty and its passenger door was open. The trooper then noticed a man alleged to be Jackson lying on the grass near a fence line near the woods. When he approached, Hisler-Pace said, Jackson rolled over and was pointing his gun.

Paul Castaway, Denver, CO -- July 13, 2015. Paul Castaway was shot four times by police and died of his gunshot wounds after his mother called police to help during a schizophrenic episode. Police contend that Castaway, 35, got “dangerously close” to officers with a knife, causing them to open fire. But according to eyewitnesses, Castaway was holding the blade to his own throat moments before he was gunned down. Footage from nearby surveillance cameras is now in the hands of the Denver Police Department.

Case Updates:

Michael Brown, Ferguson, MO. Demonstrators conducted a series of protest events in Ferguson over the weekend to commemorate the one year anniversary of the shooting of Michael Brown. 18 year-old Tyrone Harris was critically injured in an exchange of gunfire with police near the protests and a state of emergency was declared. Non-government white militia group was also present, brandishing assault rifles during the protests, with apparent assent from Ferguson police.

Ezell Ford, Los Angeles, CA. Demonstrators briefly halted the Los Angeles Police Commission’s weekly meeting Tuesday, August 11, 2015 as they chanted and called for criminal charges against two officers who fatally shot Ezell Ford a year ago.

Marcus Golden, St. Paul, MN. On August 10, 2015, as part of the national Black Lives Matter movement condemning police use of lethal force against black people in the Marcus Golden case and others, Protesters in St. Paul halted University Avenue traffic for about 45 minutes.

Ralkina Jones, Cleveland Heights, OH. On August 3, 2015, Cleveland Heights police released video of the arrest. Police also released 30 minutes of video of Jones during her time in custody. The video shows Jones discussing various medical issues and medications with officers.

Kevin Allen, Lyndhurst, NJ. In early August 2015, Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli informed the family of the decision to seek an indictment in the death of Kevin Allen. He also announced that the case of Elvin Diaz would be presented.

Walter Scott, Charleston, SC. On August 6, 2015 Ninth Circuit Solicitor Scarlett Wilson announced via Twitter that Michael Slager, the former North Charleston Police Officer arrested and charged with murder for shooting Walter Scott after a traffic stop will face a bond court judge in August.

Darrin Langford, Rock Island, IL. In a release on August 6, 2015, the NAACP of Rock Island County expressed "grave concern" about the prosecutor's ruling tht the officer's actions were justified and announced plans to ask the U.S. Department of Justice to launch an investigation. The Langford family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Rock Island, DeRudder and an unidentified officer.

Kawanza Beaty, Newport News, VA. On August 5, 2015, Newport News police announced that a small amount of DNA was found on the gun recovered near Beaty's body, but it may have come from more than one person because at least two police officers handled the weapon at the scene

Darrell Lawrence Brown, Hagerstown, MD. State's Attorney Charles P. Strong Jr. announced Thursday, August 6, 2015 that a review by his office and an independent review conducted by the Frederick County State's Attorneys Office determined that the officers committed no wrongdoing in Brown's death. He said the reviews studied information from witness statements, 911 recordings, and the police and autopsy reports, which showed Brown likely died from the use of PCP, and bath salts, a synthetic drug with mood-altering and stimulant properties.

Monroe Bird III, Tulsa, OK On August 5, 2015, attorneys representing the family of Monroe Bird III, who died last month after being shot and paralyzed by a security guard outside an area apartment complex, said a toxicology report showed the guard was under the influence of drugs at he time of the shooting. On August 7, 2015, The Bird family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the security guard.

Brandon Tate-Brown, Philadelphia, PA.On Wednesday, August 5, 2015, the NAACP, the Philadelphia Black Clergy and other groups gathered at the 6700 block of Frankford Avenue - where Tate-Brown was shot.\r\n\r\nThey called for the removal of police officers - and an independent investigation by the department of justice and the attorney general. On August 10, Brown supporters protested outside the prosecutor's office near city hall.

The Defender Vol. 3

New Cases We Began Tracking This Week:

Rafael Molina, Albuquerque, NM -- July 31, 2015. Rafael Molina, was killed late Friday night, July 31, 2015 while attempting to flee on foot. According to police, the incident started when someone called 911 and said a man and woman were arguing at Robinson Park and that the male forced her into a black SUV. Officers spotted the car a short time later but were unable to stop the driver. The woman was able to jump out of the SUV and wasn’t seriously injured. According to a witness, the SUV drove onto the curb and stopped, and Molina jumped out and started trying to run from officers when officers fired. Molina was pronounced dead at the scene.

Philip Vallejo, Fort Worth, TX -- July 31, 2015. A veteran downtown bike patrol unit officer fatally shot Philip Vallejo with a handgun early Friday, July 31, 2015. According to police, the encounter occurred about 1:30 a.m. after police on routine patrol saw several people involved in an altercation. As officers approached, they noticed one of the men was armed with a handgun. They identified themselves as police and ordered the man to drop the weapon. Believing the man was about to shoot, the officer fired his duty weapon, striking the man at least one time. Vallejo was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Vallejo's wife, who was also present disputes the officers' account. The family’s attorney said witnesses who reached out to him directly told him Vallejo was shot in the back.

Filimoni Raiyawa, San Francisco, CA -- July 30, 2015. Filimoni Raiyawa, 57, died in San Francisco as he fought with police officers who tried to take him into custody, authorities said. Raiyawa was caregiver to 96-year-old Solomon Cohen who had been beaten earlier that morning. In leaving the home, Raiyawa rear-ended aanother car. The victim in the crash got out to talk to Raiyawa but called 911 as Raiyawa got out of his car and approached him in a threatening manner. Responding police officers were able to subdue him after a struggle. They put him in handcuffs, but within minutes, he went into distress and stopped breathing. Efforts to resuscitate him were not successful and he died at the scene.

Wilmer Delgado-Soba, Worcester, MA -- July 29, 2015. Wilmer Delgado-Soba, 38 died Thursday after police shocked him with a Taser-type device on Wednesday, July 29, 2015. Delgado-Soba allegedly caused a disturbance inside a Worcester market, smashing items and charging at officers, died the following day. The autopsy was scheduled for Friday, July 31, 2015 police said. Delgado-Soba’s family said Thursday that he went into cardiac arrest about 20 minutes after being hit by the electroshock device.

Brian Keith Day, Las Vegas, NV -- July 29, 2015. Officers shot and killed 36-year-old Brian Keith Day after they say he shot one of their officers in the face with a pellet gun. The officer was treated for a minor cut just under his eye. The assistant sheriff says Day was not even involved in the original call to his neighbor’s apartment. Someone there had called officers to report a home invasion and battery. Fasulo says while officers were investigating that crime, Day walked out of his apartment and was told to go back inside. Day went back in to his apartment and emerged a short time later with what officers thought was a handgun in his waistband, according to Fasulo.

Lawrence Lynel Blackburn, Baton Rouge, LA -- July 29, 2015. Lawrence Lynel Blackburn, 37, was wanted in a shooting death in Lafayette,and died of gunshot wounds July 29, 2015 night at a Baton Rouge apartment shortly before 10:15 p.m. Baton Rouge Police spokesman Lt. L’Jean McKneely said. U.S. Marshals had received a tip that Blackburn was in the apartment. At least 25 police cars responded, including those of Baton Rouge Police, the U.S. Marshals Task Force, the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney Hillar Moore III. Helmeted officers armed with high-powered weapons were on the scene.

Raynette Turner, Baton Rouge, LA -- July 29, 2015. On July 27, 2015, Raynette Turner was found dead in a Mount Vernon, New York, holding cell. The 42-year-old black woman had been arrested for allegedly stealing crab legs at a wholesale food store and had been in the cell for two days waiting for her arraignment. Turner was taken into custody at around 3:00 pm on Saturday. After saying that she didn’t feel well on Sunday, she was treated for high blood pressure and the ambulance returned her to the cell just after 10:00 pm. She was last seen awake between noon and 1:00 pm on Monday, and found dead at 2:00 pm when officers arrived to take her for her arraignment. The New York AG has launched a formal investigation.

Joyce Curnell, North Charlestons, SC -- July 22, 2015. Joyce Curnell, 50, of Edisto Island was found dead in her cell about 5 p.m. Wednesday, a day after she had been arrested on a shoplifting charge according to the sheriff's office. Before she was brought to the jail, she was seen at an area hospital for an apparent medical issue, officers said.

Billy Ray Davis, Houston, TX -- July 18, 2015. Billy Ray Davis, 61, died in police custody after he was loaded into an ambulance Saturday, July 18, 2015. Houston police said a man appeared to be injured when he began acting erratically and became destructive at a Phillips 66 gas station. The officer had entered the gas station to buy a bottle and approached the man and offered to get him some help. But officials said the man became aggressive. Police eventually detained Davis. While paramedics took him to the hospital, Davis became unconscious. He was pronounced dead at St. Joseph's Hospital. The police department said it is reviewing surveillance video of the man inside the store, but said it will not be released because it is part of an internal affairs investigation.

Rexdale W. Henry, Philadelphia, MS -- July 9, 2015. Rexdale W. Henry, a 53-year-old Choctaw medicine man and activist was arrested on July 9, 2015 for failing to pay a minor traffic citation. He was found dead in his jail cell in Philadelphia, Miss., on the morning of July 14. According to the Jackson Free Press, he was last seen alive around 9:30 a.m. Correction officers at the facility found his body at 10 a.m.

Sarah Lee Circle Bear, Aberdeen, SD -- July 6, 2015. Circle Bear was a 24 year old Native American woman jailed on a bond violation at the Brown County Jail in Aberdeen. On Sunday, July 6, she was found unresponsive in a holding cell. Witnesses said that when Circle Bear was transferred to the holding cell, she told guards that she was in excruciating pain. Jail personnel reportedly told her to “quit faking” and “knock it off” before lifting her partway off the floor and dragging her to the cell where she was later found unconscious.

Case Updates:

Charly Keunang, Los Angeles, CA. An autopsy report released July 29 indicated that Keunang had meta-amphetamines in his system at the time of death community_action.

Jonathan Ferrell, Charlotte, NC. The criminal trial of Randall Kerrick in the shooting death of Jonathan Ferrell began with opening statements on Monday August 3, 2015.

Sandra Bland, Homestead, TX. On August 4, 2015, the family of Sandra Bland filed suit in federal court against Waller County and others.

Ralkina Jones, Cleveland Heights, OH. Cleveland Heights police released video of Jone's arrest on August 3, 2015."

Raynette Turner, Mount Vernon, NY. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced Monday, August 3, 2015 that his office will launch a formal investigation into the death of Raynette Turner

Dexter Bethea, Valdosta, GAOn Friday evening July 31, 2015 it was reported that the Grand Jury has found that the deputy's use of deadly force was justified when he fired one round, killing Bethea last spring.

Samuel Dubose, Cincinnati, OH. A Hamilton County prosecutor announced on Friday, July 31, 2015, that the two University of Cincinnati police officers who watched the fatal shooting of the unarmed 43-year-old Samuel DuBose will not face criminal charges for corroborating a false claim that police officer Ray Tensing was dragged by Dubose's vehicle before killing him. Separately, it was determined that the bottle Dubose was holding contained air freshener, not alcohol.

Terrance Kellom, Detroit, MI. An independent investigation into the April shooting by a federal agent in Detroit is expected to be completed before the end of August 2015, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office.

Kawanza Beaty, Newport News, VA. The Beaty Family announced on July 29 that they intend to file a wrongful death suit against Newport News Police.

Charly Keunang, Los Angeles, CA. An autopsy report released July 29 indicated that Keunang had meta-amphetamines in his system at the time of death community_action.

Freddie Gray, Baltimore, MD. On July 29, it was reported that Rihanna was prevented from holding a free concert for Freddie Gray.

Ricardo Diaz Zeferino, Gardena, CA . On July 15, 2015, "a California Appeals court ordered the release of the arrest videos as part of a $4.7 million settlement over the shooting by the city of Gardena, a Los Angeles suburb, which had tried to prevent the release. The Los Angeles Times, The Associated Press and Bloomberg challenged a protective order preventing the release of the videos.

Defender Newsletter Vol. 2

New Cases This Week:

Khari Westly, Shreveport, LA - July 26, 2015. Khari Westly, 33 was shot and killed on July 26, 2015 when police responded to a call from a woman that she and at least one other woman were being held at gunpoint by a male relative. According to police, the man fired at least two gunshots at his estranged wife when she arrived and then another gunshot as he fled from the officers. Four officers returned fire, killiing the man.

Ralkina Jones, Cleveland Heights, OH - July 26, 2015. The body of 37-year-old Ralkina Jones was recovered Sunday, July 26, 2015 at the Cleveland Heights city jail. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office reported that they responded to the jail over the weekend. Ralkina Jones' family is asking for answers about her death, saying she was “perfectly fine” when they visited her at the jail the day before.

Donatae Martin, Dayton, OH - July 23, 2015. 34-year-old Donatae Martin was shot by Montgomery County Sheriff”s Office deputies after they said he appeared to have a handgun while still inside his vehicle. Deputies responded to a 911 call at 12:43 a.m. in which the caller described an accident scene with a possible injured victim in the car. According to police, upon arriving, they saw that the driver was displaying a handgun and discharged their weapons, killing him.

Andre Dontrell Williams, Oklahoma City, OK - July 22, 2015. Andre Dontrell Williams, 26, was shot and killed on July 22, 2015 by Oklahoma City police. Police said the shooting came during an investigation when they entered the home and found Williams hiding under a bed. According to police, Williams emerged with a knife, would not drop it after orders and made an aggressive move at one of the officers. They tasered Williams twice and then shot him.

Devon Guisherd Philadelphia, PA - July 22, 2015. 26-year-old Devon Guisherd was killed by members of a Philadelphia police SWAT unit who arrived at 6:10 a.m. at an apartment complex to arrest Guisherd. According to police, they broke through the door of his second floor apartment, and Guishard tried to run, before they exchanged fire and he as killed.

Case Updates:

Eric Garner, New York, NY. On July 29, a NY appeals court affirmed the decision not to release the grand jury minutes underlying the decision not to indict Officer Pantaleo. http://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2015/07/29/appeals-court-affirms-decision-not-to-release-grand-jury-minutes-in-case-of-eric-garner-s-death.html. On July 23, 2015, the New York Times reported that State Supreme Court judge, Justice Alice Schlesinger, ordered the release of a summary of misconduct findings against Daniel Pantaleo. The information had been sought by the Legal Aid Society under the Freedom of Information Act. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/24/nyregion/judge-orders-release-of-misconduct-findings-against-officer-in-eric-garner-case.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

Freddie Gray, Baltimore, MD. While officer claim that their earlier statements were coerced, prosecutors deny that statements made by officers charged in his death were obtained illegally.http://www.wbaltv.com/news/prosecutors-deny-officers-spoke-under-duress-in-freddie-gray-case/34415536. On July 29, it was reported that Rihanna was blocked by Baltimore authorities from holdng a free concert for Freddie Gray. http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jul/29/rihanna-freddie-gray-concert-reportedly-blocked-baltimore-police

Samuel Dubose, Cincinnati, OH. The Cincinnati Police Chief told reporters on July 27 that he had seen the video of the shooting and, "it was not good." http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/hamilton-county/cincinnati/city-university-of-cincinnati-official-meet-with-faith-leaders-to-discuss-deadly-police-shooting. On July 29, the video was released in conjunction with a press conference featuring the chief prosecutor, members of the Dubose family and their attorney. Officer Ray Tensing was indicted for the murder of Samuel Dubose. http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/29/us/ohio-sam-dubose-tensing-indictment/

Sandra Bland, Hempstead, TX. A county prosecutor in Texas said on July 23, 2015 that an autopsy of Sandra Bland concluded that her injuries were consistent with suicide, not homicide. http://www.cleveland.com/court-justice/index.ssf/2015/07/judge_to_rule_on_motion_to_dis.html\

Darrius Stewart, Memphis, TN. On July 26, 2015, Memphis police announced that they were investigating threats against the officer who fatally shot Stewart. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/local-news/crime/mpd-investigating-threats-against-officer-who-shot-darrius-stewart_39616562

Kindra Darnell Chapman, Homewood, AL. On Thursday July 23, 2015, Jefferson County District Attorney Brandon Falls released a statement that read, “At this time, I see no evidence of criminal wrongdoing in the arrest and detention, and I believe that her death is the result of a suicide.” According to the press release, his office had received video from the night of Chapman’s death. He said the video showed Chapman taking her own life but he has not yet released the video.

Tamir Rice, Cleveland, OH. On July 23, a group of family members and supporters of Tamir Rice marched to a city courthouse and delivered a petition with 60,000 signatures to the Cuyahoga County Justice Center requesting the prosecutor take action. http://www.ibtimes.com/tamir-rice-shooting-update-family-delivers-60000-signature-petition-asking-prosecutor-2022307

Trending Blogs

Recently Viewed Blogs

The Defender