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Demonstrators Protest Fatal Police Shooting of a Black Man in El Cajon, Calif. Demonstrators Protest Fatal Police Shooting of a Black Man in El Cajon, Calif.
(about 3 hours later)
Demonstrators gathered outside the police department in El Cajon, Calif., on Wednesday morning calling for a federal investigation into the fatal police shooting of a black man a day earlier, the latest in a string of such killings that have provoked protests nationwide. Demonstrators gathered outside the Police Department in El Cajon, Calif., on Wednesday morning calling for a federal investigation into the fatal police shooting of a black man a day earlier, the latest in a string of such killings that have provoked protests nationwide.
The man, whom protesters identified as Alfred Olango, was walking in traffic and acting “erratically,” according to one individual who called the police. A responding officer fatally shot him after he rapidly pulled an object from his pocket, the police said. The man, whom protesters identified as Alfred Olango, was walking in traffic and acting “erratically,” one individual told the police. A responding officer fatally shot Mr. Olango after he quickly pulled an object from his pocket, the police said.
Agnes Hasan, one of many who spoke outside the police station on Wednesday morning, said Mr. Olango was from Uganda and that his family and hers had spent time together in a refugee camp. Agnes Hasan, a close friend of Mr. Olango’s family and one of many who spoke outside the police station on Wednesday, said that Mr. Olango was from Uganda and that his family and hers had spent time together in a refugee camp.
“We came to this country to bring our kids, to give them better education and a better future. This guy went to school, he finished school. He’s an educated man,” she said. “We suffered too much with the war in Africa. We come here also to suffer again?” “We came to this country to bring our kids, to give them better education and a better future,” she said. “This guy went to school, he finished school. He’s an educated man. We suffered too much with the war in Africa. We come here also to suffer again?”
The demonstrators called for a federal investigation, citing distrust of San Diego County’s district attorney, Bonnie Dumanis. They also demanded the release of video footage of the incident. The demonstrators called for a federal investigation, citing distrust of San Diego County’s district attorney, Bonnie Dumanis, and demanding the release of video footage of the shooting.
At a news conference Tuesday night, Chief Jeff Davis of the El Cajon police said that two officers had responded to reports of an African-American man in his 30s “walking in traffic, not only endangering himself but also motorists.” “Community input is important to us, which is why we solicited feedback about our officer-involved shooting review and video release policy in town hall meetings,” said a San Diego County district attorney’s office spokeswoman, Tanya Sierra. “Our goal is to foster a peaceful and respectful dialogue, in the interest of the community.”
At least one of those reports was made by a woman who identified herself as Mr. Olango’s sister, Chief Davis said, though he added that the police could not confirm her identity as she was not cooperating with them. She said that the man was mentally ill and that he was not armed, the chief said. The leaders of several county law enforcement departments and agencies, including Chief Jeff Davis of the El Cajon police, signed an agreement in August generally supporting the release of video in officer-involved shootings, citing its ability to help the public “in understanding how and why these incidents occur.”
A first officer arrived near the Broadway Village Shopping Center in the north-central section of the city shortly after 2 p.m., the police said. After spending several hours protesting in front of the Police Department on Wednesday morning, demonstrators marched toward the scene of the shooting, chanting “black lives matter” along the way.
As that officer confronted Mr. Olango behind a local restaurant, he “concealed his hand in his pants pocket,” Chief Davis said. Mr. Olango, who was wearing bluejeans and a black tank top, refused to comply with police orders, leading the officer to draw a gun. A second officer arrived on the scene and prepared to use a Taser against the man, who continued to be uncooperative, Chief Davis said. The Tuesday episode began after the police received several reports of an African-American man in his 30s “walking in traffic, not only endangering himself but also motorists,” Chief Davis said at a Tuesday night news conference.
Soon after, he said, the man quickly pulled an object from his pocket and took “what appeared to be a shooting stance,” leading the two officers to act simultaneously. One discharged his Taser, the other his gun, the chief said. At least one of the reports came from a woman who identified herself as Mr. Olango’s sister, Chief Davis said, though he added that the police could not immediately confirm her identity because she was not cooperating. The man was mentally ill and unarmed, she told the police.
Officers provided first aid at the scene, but the man died of his injuries, according to a police statement. The authorities did not officially release Mr. Olango’s name. The officers involved were placed on administrative leave, which is standard policy after such encounters. An officer arrived near the Broadway Village Shopping Center in the north-central section of the city shortly after 2 p.m., confronting Mr. Olango, who was wearing jeans and a black tank top, behind a restaurant. Mr. Olango put his hand in his pants pocket and refused to comply with police orders, leading the officer to draw a gun, Chief Davis said. A second officer arrived and prepared to use a Taser against Mr. Olango, who continued to be uncooperative.
A live video posted to Facebook on Tuesday by user Rumbie Mubaiwa purported to show the scene’s aftermath. Soon after, Chief Davis said, the man quickly pulled an object from his pocket and took “what appeared to be a shooting stance,” leading the two officers to act simultaneously: One discharged his Taser, the other his gun, the chief said.
In it, a tearful woman repeatedly screams “you killed my brother.” At one point, a female officer approaches the grieving woman and asks for the victim’s name. Distraught, the woman identifies Mr. Olango before walking away. Officers provided first aid at the scene, but Mr. Olango died of his injuries, according to a police statement. The officers involved were placed on administrative leave, which is standard policy after such encounters. The authorities did not officially release Mr. Olango’s name.
“I can’t think, you killed my brother in front me! I can’t think,” she says through tears. He was 30 years old, she said. A live video posted to Facebook on Tuesday by the user Rumbie Mubaiwa purported to show the scene’s aftermath.
The shooting in El Cajon, a city of more than 100,000 about 15 miles from San Diego, came after recent fatal police shootings of black men in Tulsa, Okla., and Charlotte, N.C., that heightened tensions across the nation. In El Cajon on Tuesday, a few dozen protesters began demonstrating shortly after the man was shot. In it, a tearful woman repeatedly screams “you killed my brother.” A female officer approaches the grieving woman and asks for the victim’s name. Distraught, the woman identifies Mr. Olango before walking away.
“I can’t think. You killed my brother in front me! I can’t think,” she says through tears. He was 30, she said.
The shooting in El Cajon, a city of more than 100,000 about 15 miles from San Diego, came after recent fatal police shootings of black men in Tulsa, Okla., and Charlotte, N.C., that heightened tensions across the nation.
Witnesses interviewed by local reporters were irate, insisting that the man had been unarmed when officers shot him.Witnesses interviewed by local reporters were irate, insisting that the man had been unarmed when officers shot him.
Michael Rodriguez, who said he had witnessed the shooting, told reporters that he had left a nearby apartment when he saw police officers with their guns out surrounding a black man.Michael Rodriguez, who said he had witnessed the shooting, told reporters that he had left a nearby apartment when he saw police officers with their guns out surrounding a black man.
He said that the man had his hands up and was “scared to death.”He said that the man had his hands up and was “scared to death.”
“He’s jerking, he’s confused, he runs this way, and as soon as he runs this way, they discharge,” Mr. Rodriguez said.“He’s jerking, he’s confused, he runs this way, and as soon as he runs this way, they discharge,” Mr. Rodriguez said.
The police disputed such accounts, saying on Twitter that “based on the video voluntarily provided by a witness, the subject did not have his hands up in the air.”The police disputed such accounts, saying on Twitter that “based on the video voluntarily provided by a witness, the subject did not have his hands up in the air.”
Local reports quoted some witnesses as saying that police officers had taken cellphones away from witnesses after the shooting, prompting the San Diego branch of the American Civil Liberties Union to issue a statement saying that “by seizing phones, police would likely be preventing the dissemination of video captured by bystanders.” Local reports quoted some at the scene saying that police officers had taken away cellphones from witnesses after the shooting, prompting the San Diego branch of the American Civil Liberties Union to issue a statement saying that “by seizing phones, police would likely be preventing the dissemination of video captured by bystanders.”
But Chief Davis and Lt. Rob Ransweiler, a spokesman for the El Cajon Police Department, strongly denied those reports, saying that a phone that contained a video had been volunteered by a witness, and that no phones had been confiscated. But Chief Davis and Lt. Rob Ransweiler, a spokesman for the El Cajon Police Department, denied those reports, saying that a phone that contained a video had been volunteered by a witness, and that no phones had been confiscated.
“I’m sure at some point in time that video will become public,” Lieutenant Ransweiler said. “I’m sure at some point in time, that video will become public,” Lieutenant Ransweiler said.