Richmond police chief tries to justify officers in killing of black man
A US police chief has tried to justify two officers who fatally shot a black man in Richmond, describing the incident as not racially charged.
Officers Ryan Bailey and Jacob DeBoard opened fire on 20-year-old Keshawn Hargrove during a foot chase down an alley in Richmond, Virginia late on Wednesday.
Police chief Alfred Durham said at a news conference that it was not a racially charged shootout.
“This is not Ferguson, this is not South Charleston,” he said. “And I refuse to allow the community to make and paint a picture of our officers that we have a bunch of rogue officers here who are out of control. That is not the case.”
He referred to the fatal shooting of unarmed black teenager Michel Brown in Ferguson, Missouri on August 9, 2014, which led to massive Black Lives Matter protests across the country.
Protests gained momentum in Ferguson after a grand jury’s decision not to charge officer Darren Wilson for killing Brown.
“Give us an opportunity to investigate this incident,” Durham said. “I love this community and we will be open and transparent.”
Police spokesman Gene Lepley, said the victim fired on officers and refused to drop his gun. He said Hargrove was firing his gun at the two officers, hitting Bailey in the arm.
He said the officers fired at Hargrove and he was killed by a single gunshot. It's not clear which officer fired the fatal shot.
Durham said both officers have been placed on paid administrative leave and the investigation is ongoing.
According to the police chief, results of an internal investigation will be turned over in about a month to the Richmond prosecutor.
The killing of several unarmed black men by white police officers in recent months and decisions by grand juries not to indict the officers triggered large-scale protests across the United States.
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