A federal civil rights investigation is underway after U.S. Park Police fatally shot a Black teenager final month in Washington, D.C., and his household known as on authorities Wednesday to cost the officers concerned within the incident.
The probe, which was introduced after police launched movies exhibiting the March 18 taking pictures that led to Dalaneo Martin’s loss of life, comes amid different high-profile circumstances throughout the nation which have pressured departments to re-evaluate their interactions with Black folks.
“The lack of a life is at all times tragic however is particularly heartbreaking when it includes a baby,” the U.S. legal professional’s workplace mentioned in an announcement. “On Saturday, March 18th, 17-year-old Dalaneo Martin tragically died after a taking pictures involving the U.S. Park Police, and we acknowledge that the body-worn digital camera footage simply launched of his loss of life is extraordinarily upsetting. We lengthen our condolences to Mr. Martin’s household and buddies.”
The assertion continued: “In coordination with the FBI Washington Subject Workplace, the USA Lawyer’s Workplace has opened a civil rights investigation into the circumstances resulting in Mr. Martin’s loss of life. That investigation—which we’re dedicated to conducting diligently and totally—is ongoing. As that is an open matter, we aren’t capable of present extra remark or launch additional info at the moment.”
Throughout a information convention Wednesday, legal professional Andrew O. Clarke, who’s representing Martin’s household, invoked the names of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others earlier than asking how lengthy will the Black group need to endure disparate therapy from police.
“Dalaneo didn’t need to die,” he mentioned. “How lengthy will they be capable of disguise behind their badge to justify taking a life? How lengthy will we as a group need to proceed to have the speak with our younger Black kids as a result of they’re handled in a different way by police? … We’ll proceed to pursue justice for Dalaneo with or with out the assistance of the federal authorities or the District of Columbia.”
The police account
Police mentioned in an preliminary assertion {that a} Park Police sergeant and officer responded to a report of a stolen automobile shortly earlier than 9 a.m. March 18.
“Whereas officers had been trying to detain the motive force, the automobile fled from the scene with one USPP officer contained in the automobile. A second officer, the USPP sergeant, was dragged by the fleeing automobile from outdoors the automobile,” police mentioned. “The USPP officer contained in the automobile gave verbal instructions for the motive force to cease. After the motive force didn’t comply, the USPP officer discharged their firearm. A male was pronounced lifeless on scene. A firearm was recovered contained in the automobile.”
Each officers had been taken to a hospital for therapy. Their names and situations haven’t been launched.
The officers are on paid administrative go away through the investigation, which is customary process.
The police union that represents the officers was not instantly out there for remark.
The movies
Police launched two physique digital camera movies on Tuesday from the vantage level of the officers concerned and a 12-minute explainer video that included footage of officers giving medical help to the motive force earlier than emergency medical personnel arrive. One of many two physique digital camera movies is about 37 minutes and the opposite is about 29 minutes. Officers’ faces are hid and a few of the audio is muted.
Within the explainer video, Park Police mentioned the Metropolitan Police Division responded to a suspicious automobile. The SUV was working and a driver was sleeping in it. Metropolitan Police discovered the SUV was stolen, Park Police mentioned.
That is when Park Police assisted.
One video reveals officers from each departments strategizing methods to get into the automobile with out waking up the individual within the driver’s seat and placing themselves in peril of the automobile doubtlessly fleeing.
A Metropolitan Police officer may be heard within the video speaking to Park Police. “Please do not get caught inside,” the officer says within the clip, including “do not get inside that automobile.”
One of many physique digital camera movies reveals an officer opening a rear driver’s aspect door. Instructions of “Police! Don’t transfer!” are heard, based on the video.
Extra footage reveals an officer showing to battle with the motive force, who then begins accelerating whereas the officer is within the again seat.
“Cease, man. Simply let me out,” the officer says, based on the video. “Cease, cease or I’ll shoot.”
The officer then shoots the motive force a number of occasions from the again seat earlier than a loud crashing noise is heard, based on the video. The SUV plowed into a house after the taking pictures, Park Police mentioned.
Investigators recovered a gun contained in the automobile, based on the company.
Park Police mentioned in an announcement the movies are “meant to assist members of the group achieve a greater understanding of what occurred.”
“This incident continues to be underneath investigation, and all statements on this briefing are based mostly on the main points we all know at this level. We’re dedicated to being clear with our group, and it’s our precedence to launch this info and inform our group as quickly as potential,” police mentioned.
‘I need him arrested’
Martin’s mom, Terra Martin, appeared at Wednesday’s information convention and demanded the title of the officer who fatally shot her son be instantly launched. She mentioned she needed all officers concerned in his loss of life to be punished criminally.
“I need him arrested. I need him to cease getting paid whereas he murdered my son and continues to be house together with his household,” she mentioned. “Time and time once more, I sit and I attempt to get my head wrapped round this and I can’t. I don’t sleep. I don’t eat. And justice must be served.”
Terra Martin mentioned she spoke to the medical expert who mentioned her son immediately died from six pictures.
She mentioned Martin was a father, too. The kid’s age was unclear Wednesday.
“When he had his son, it modified his life,” she mentioned. “He needed to start out doing issues totally different.”
Terra Martin added that no quantity of justice will make her really feel entire from shedding Martin, the fifth of her 10 kids, who was “at all times dancing.”
“No kind of cash will make me really feel higher. I want my son again,” she mentioned.
