– Family of black man shot holding cellphone
– Murder trial SWAT officer.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
The family of a Black man, Kilyn Lewis, who was holding a cellphone when he was fatally shot by a SWAT officer in Aurora, Denver, has called for a murder trial for the officer following the public release of portions of body camera footage of the shooting.
The incident took place on May 23 in the parking lot of a condo building in Aurora. In the body camera footage, officers are seen shouting at Lewis to get on the ground as they moved in to arrest him. Lewis, appearing to surrender, raised his arms in the air with his right hand behind his back holding a cellphone.
Interim Police Chief Heather Morris stated in a video released by the police that Lewis had put his hand in his left pocket before raising his hands, indicating compliance. However, as Lewis was bending his legs to get on the ground, an officer fired a single shot at him, despite Lewis’s plea of having nothing.
According to Morris and court documents, an arrest warrant had been issued for Lewis in connection with a shooting in Denver on May 5 that left a man injured. Lewis’s mother, LaRonda Jones, has called for the officer to be prosecuted and highlighted the broader issue of police violence in Aurora, referencing the death of Elijah McClain in 2019.
Jones stated that her son’s “outright murder” is part of a larger problem with policing in Aurora and urged the local prosecutor and state attorney general to uphold and enforce the law. She emphasised that this incident is not isolated and reflects a systemic devaluation of Black lives.
Lawyer Edward Hopkins, Jr., representing the family, criticised the police for releasing the video in a manner that favoured the officers and aimed to gain public support. He highlighted how Lewis was caught off guard by the aggressive approach of the officers, likening it to how a gang might confront someone.
Despite ongoing investigations into whether the officer should be prosecuted and if department policies were followed, Aurora police declined to comment further on the matter. The raw footage of the shooting has not been released in response to a records request.
Conclusion
The shooting of Kilyn Lewis by a SWAT officer in Aurora has sparked calls for justice from his family, who are demanding a murder trial for the officer involved. The release of body camera footage has shed light on the events leading to Lewis’s death, prompting scrutiny of police actions and policies in Aurora. As the investigation continues, the community awaits further developments in this tragic case.
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Family of Black man shot holding cellphone want murder trial for SWAT officer
Black man shot holding cellphone want murder trial SWAT officer.
