On April 21, 2012, Archie was a victim of police brutality. The officer shot and killed an unarmed young black man running.
Three officers testified that Archie didn’t have a weapon in his hands; in fact, he had climbed on top of a six-foot fence. Archie wasn’t a threat to anyone at the point when the officers opened fire on him.
The 14th amendment states that “nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty or property, without due process of the law.” Archie had the right to live.
Archie ran to save his life. The officers should have maintained an active line of communication; this act would have saved my son’s life. The communication with the officers was nonexistent; No officer said, “don’t shoot,” “ceasefire,” or “he does not have a weapon.”
Nothing—no warning to the other officers that were on the scene. An officer at a distance testified that he shot Archie off the top of the fence. The officers failed to serve and protect my son’s life. This was police brutality and a wrongful death.There were no convictions or accountability for the officer or officers involved. Archie was denied the right to live.
We were served injustice.