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‘It’s not right:’ Florida officer used Taser on, paralyzed fleeing man, attorney claims
Read full article: ‘It’s not right:’ Florida officer used Taser on, paralyzed fleeing man, attorney claimsThe fleeing man was shocked as he climbed a fence, which caused him to fall and become paralyzed from the neck down, the release claims.
Georgia's Gullah-Geechee community seeks path forward after deadly dock collapse
Read full article: Georgia's Gullah-Geechee community seeks path forward after deadly dock collapseThe partial collapse of a ferry dock that left seven people dead during an annual cultural festival has left a historic Black community in Georgia struggling with how to move forward.
3 officers convicted in Tyre Nichols fatal beating but 2 are acquitted of civil rights charges
Read full article: 3 officers convicted in Tyre Nichols fatal beating but 2 are acquitted of civil rights chargesThree former Memphis police officers have been convicted in the 2023 fatal beating of Tyre Nichols, but were acquitted of the harshest charges they faced.
Civil rights lawyer Ben Crump advertises his firm on patches worn by US Open tennis players
Read full article: Civil rights lawyer Ben Crump advertises his firm on patches worn by US Open tennis playersProminent civil rights lawyer Ben Crump is advertising on players’ outfits at the U.S. Open Grand Slam tennis tournament this week by placing his firm’s name on sponsor patches worn during matches.
Authorities arrest ex-sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot a Black airman at his home
Read full article: Authorities arrest ex-sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot a Black airman at his homeAuthorities have arrested a former Florida sheriff’s deputy charged with killing a Black U.S. Air Force senior airman who answered his apartment door while holding a gun pointed toward the ground.
Former Florida deputy charged with manslaughter in shooting of airman
Read full article: Former Florida deputy charged with manslaughter in shooting of airmanA Florida Panhandle sheriff’s deputy is facing a charge of manslaughter with a firearm in the fatal shooting of an airman who opened his apartment door while holding a gun pointed toward the ground.
Teen brother of Air Force airman who was killed by Florida deputy is fatally shot near Atlanta
Read full article: Teen brother of Air Force airman who was killed by Florida deputy is fatally shot near AtlantaAuthorities say the teenage brother of a U.S. Air Force airman who was fatally shot in his home by a Florida sheriff’s deputy in May was shot to death this week near Atlanta.
Autopsy confirms Sonya Massey died from gunshot wound to head, as attorney calls shooting senseless
Read full article: Autopsy confirms Sonya Massey died from gunshot wound to head, as attorney calls shooting senselessAutopsy findings on Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman fatally shot in her Illinois home by a now-fired sheriff’s deputy charged in her death, confirm that she died from a gunshot wound to the head.
Calls for justice grow in death of Black man outside Milwaukee hotel as GOP convention approaches
Read full article: Calls for justice grow in death of Black man outside Milwaukee hotel as GOP convention approachesCalls for justice in the death of a Black man who was pinned to the ground during a struggle with security guards at a Milwaukee hotel are growing.
Al Sharpton to deliver eulogy for Black man who died after being held down by Milwaukee hotel guards
Read full article: Al Sharpton to deliver eulogy for Black man who died after being held down by Milwaukee hotel guardsThe Rev. Al Sharpton is set to travel to Milwaukee to deliver a eulogy for a Black man who died after being pinned to the ground by hotel security guards.
Victims cited in DOJ report on Phoenix police brutality call on city to implement mandated reforms
Read full article: Victims cited in DOJ report on Phoenix police brutality call on city to implement mandated reformsSupporters of over two dozen alleged victims of civil rights violations at the hands of Phoenix police say a scathing Justice Department report is vindication.
Mother of airman killed by Florida deputy says his firing, alone, won't cut it
Read full article: Mother of airman killed by Florida deputy says his firing, alone, won't cut itThe mother of an airman who was shot and killed by a Florida sheriff’s deputy says the deputy’s firing was not justice for her son’s killing.
Florida sheriff's office fires deputy who fatally shot airman at home
Read full article: Florida sheriff's office fires deputy who fatally shot airman at homeA Florida sheriff on Friday fired a deputy who fatally shot an airman at his home while holding a handgun pointed to the ground, saying the deputy’s life was never in danger and he should not have fired his weapon.
Who gets to claim self-defense in shootings? Airman’s death sparks debate over race and gun rights
Read full article: Who gets to claim self-defense in shootings? Airman’s death sparks debate over race and gun rightsThe death of Senior Airman Roger Fortson in Florida this month reignited a complicated debate about race, gun laws and self-defense – namely, who is typically afforded deference when it comes to using guns in self-defense and who is not.
Experts say gun alone doesn't justify deadly force in fatal shooting of Florida airman
Read full article: Experts say gun alone doesn't justify deadly force in fatal shooting of Florida airmanThe killing of a Black U.S. Air Force senior airman by a Florida sheriff's deputy responding to a phoned-in complaint about an argument has the airman's family calling for charges, saying the shooting was completely unjustified.
Florida deputies who fatally shot US airman burst into wrong apartment, attorney says
Read full article: Florida deputies who fatally shot US airman burst into wrong apartment, attorney saysThe family of a Black U.S. Air Force airman fatally shot by Florida sheriff's deputies at his off-base apartment will join civil rights attorney Ben Crump for a news conference calling for transparency in the investigation.
Body camera video shows fatal shooting of airman by Florida deputy in apartment doorway
Read full article: Body camera video shows fatal shooting of airman by Florida deputy in apartment doorwayBody camera video shows a Florida sheriff’s deputy announced himself as law enforcement just before fatally shooting a Black U.S. Air Force airman inside his apartment in the state’s Panhandle.
Reggie Bush plans to continue his fight against the NCAA after the return of his Heisman Trophy
Read full article: Reggie Bush plans to continue his fight against the NCAA after the return of his Heisman TrophyReggie Bush says the return of his Heisman Trophy is the biggest step yet in his fight against the NCAA to restore his reputation and his records from his incredible career at Southern California.
Sister of Mississippi man who died after police pulled him from car rejects lawsuit settlement
Read full article: Sister of Mississippi man who died after police pulled him from car rejects lawsuit settlementA woman who sued Mississippi’s capital city over the death of her brother is rejecting a settlement after officials publicly disclosed how much the city would pay his survivors.
Third Mississippi man is buried in a pauper's grave without family's knowledge
Read full article: Third Mississippi man is buried in a pauper's grave without family's knowledgeA third family says they recently discovered a relative was buried in a Mississippi pauper’s cemetery without their knowledge.
Mississippi man had ID in his pocket when he was buried without his family's knowledge
Read full article: Mississippi man had ID in his pocket when he was buried without his family's knowledgeA prominent civil rights lawyer says Mississippi authorities buried a Black man in a paupers cemetery without notifying his family after he was killed by a police SUV, even though he had ID in his pocket.
Lawyer wants federal probe of why Mississippi police waited months to tell a mom her son was killed
Read full article: Lawyer wants federal probe of why Mississippi police waited months to tell a mom her son was killedA civil rights attorney says he will ask the U.S. Justice Department to investigate why authorities in Jackson, Mississippi, waited months to tell a woman that her son had been struck and killed by a police SUV driven by an off-duty officer.
HBCU president lauds students, officer for stopping Jacksonville killer before racist store attack
Read full article: HBCU president lauds students, officer for stopping Jacksonville killer before racist store attackThe president of the historically Black institution in Jacksonville, Florida, says a campus security officer tipped off by observant students likely stopped the killer who fatally shot three people at a nearby Dollar General Store from carrying out his racist attack at Edward Waters University.
Family of Henrietta Lacks files new lawsuit over cells harvested without her consent
Read full article: Family of Henrietta Lacks files new lawsuit over cells harvested without her consentThe family of Henrietta Lacks has filed another lawsuit accusing a second company of unjustly profiting off her cells for generations.
Fund sued over grant program for Black women enlists prominent civil rights attorneys to fight back
Read full article: Fund sued over grant program for Black women enlists prominent civil rights attorneys to fight backAttorneys for an Atlanta-based venture capital firm being sued over a grant program investing in Black women have vowed to fight back against the lawsuit calling it misguided and frivolous.
Henrietta Lacks’ family reach a settlement with biotech company that used her cells without consent
Read full article: Henrietta Lacks’ family reach a settlement with biotech company that used her cells without consentThe family of Henrietta Lacks is settling a lawsuit against a biotechnology company it accuses of improperly profiting from her cells.
Lawsuits filed by ex-volleyball player and former football player against Northwestern University
Read full article: Lawsuits filed by ex-volleyball player and former football player against Northwestern UniversityThe hazing scandal at Northwestern University has widened to include a volleyball player who has become the first female athlete to sue the university over allegations she was retaliated against for reporting mistreatment and a new lawsuit by former Northwestern quarterback Lloyd Yates.
‘Release the video:’ Ben Crump, family of man fatally shot by Orlando police demand bodycam
Read full article: ‘Release the video:’ Ben Crump, family of man fatally shot by Orlando police demand bodycamThe family of Derek Diaz, along with attorneys Ben Crump and Natalie Jackson, held a news conference Saturday in Orlando to demand the release of body-worn camera video recorded in Diaz’s fatal shooting by police.
Black Florida mother killed by white neighbor remembered for faith, devotion to 4 kids
Read full article: Black Florida mother killed by white neighbor remembered for faith, devotion to 4 kidsCivil rights leaders and ministers are demanding justice for a Black mother who was fatally shot in front of her son by a white neighbor firing through the door of her central Florida home.
Florida woman who fatally shot neighbor appears in court, sheriff releases details of racist threats
Read full article: Florida woman who fatally shot neighbor appears in court, sheriff releases details of racist threatsA white Florida woman charged with shooting and killing her Black neighbor told detectives that she called the victim’s children by racist slurs in the months leading up to the slaying, according to an arrest report.
‘Justice for AJ:’ Family, activists question delays in arrest after Ocala mom’s death
Read full article: ‘Justice for AJ:’ Family, activists question delays in arrest after Ocala mom’s deathActivists and family members thanked the Marion County sheriff for the arrest of the suspect in the shooting death of an Ocala mother on Wednesday, but said the work to get justice for Ajike Owens was not done.
After years of threats, a feud ends with a Black mom dead and her white neighbor arrested
Read full article: After years of threats, a feud ends with a Black mom dead and her white neighbor arrestedThe Marion County Sheriff’s Office says a white Florida woman accused of fatally shooting her Black neighbor last week has been arrested.
Family of Georgia woman who died after falling from moving patrol car files wrongful death lawsuit
Read full article: Family of Georgia woman who died after falling from moving patrol car files wrongful death lawsuitThe family of a Georgia woman who died last year after she fell from a moving patrol car has filed a civil rights lawsuit.
Tyre Nichols’ family sues Memphis police over beating, death
Read full article: Tyre Nichols’ family sues Memphis police over beating, deathThe family of Tyre Nichols, who died after a brutal beating by five Memphis police officers, sued the officers and the city of Memphis, blaming them for his death and accusing officials of allowing a special unit’s aggressive tactics to go unchecked despite warning signs.
Man charged in front-door shooting of Black teen Ralph Yarl
Read full article: Man charged in front-door shooting of Black teen Ralph YarlAn 84-year-old white man in Kansas City, Missouri was charged Monday with first-degree assault for shooting a Black teen who mistakenly went to the man’s home to pick up his younger brothers.
Tyre Sampson remembered 1 year after fatal plunge from Orlando FreeFall
Read full article: Tyre Sampson remembered 1 year after fatal plunge from Orlando FreeFallAn event Friday morning was held to remember Tyre Sampson, the teenager who died last year when he fell off an attraction at Orlando’s ICON Park.
7 deputies charged with murder in the death of Irvo Otieno
Read full article: 7 deputies charged with murder in the death of Irvo OtienoAttorneys for the family of a Black Virginia man who died in law enforcement custody say video of the incident shows seven sheriff’s deputies pushing down “every part of his body” with “absolute brutality.”.
North Carolina family seeks charges in police stun gun death
Read full article: North Carolina family seeks charges in police stun gun deathThe family of a Black man who died after police officers in North Carolina repeatedly used stun guns on him is calling for officials to fire and charge the officers involved.
70-year-old Florida woman sues MidFlorida Credit Union for racial discrimination
Read full article: 70-year-old Florida woman sues MidFlorida Credit Union for racial discriminationA retired teacher says she was discriminated against at a MidFlorida Credit Union branch because she’s Black, and she’s suing because of it.
Students, attorneys outline fight against Florida over rejected AP African American Studies course
Read full article: Students, attorneys outline fight against Florida over rejected AP African American Studies courseStudents planning to fight against Florida’s rejection of an AP African American Studies course met in Tallahassee with their attorneys, including Ben Crump, to lay out their intent for a lawsuit.
Attorneys liken Tyre Nichols' arrest to Rodney King beating
Read full article: Attorneys liken Tyre Nichols' arrest to Rodney King beatingAttorneys for the family of a Black motorist who died after a violent encounter with Memphis police say officers beat Tyre Nichols for three minutes in a “savage” encounter reminiscent of the infamous 1991 police beating of Los Angeles motorist Rodney King.
5 police officers fired after Memphis man's arrest, death
Read full article: 5 police officers fired after Memphis man's arrest, deathOfficials say five Memphis Police Department officers have been fired for excessive use of force, failure to intervene and failure to render aid stemming from an arrest during a traffic stop of a man who later died in a hospital.
Illinois paramedics, ambulance company sued for man's death
Read full article: Illinois paramedics, ambulance company sued for man's deathAttorneys say the family of an Illinois man whose death prompted murder charges against two paramedics who strapped him facedown on a stretcher has filed a lawsuit against them and their employer.
Louisiana woman denied abortion wants 'vague' ban clarified
Read full article: Louisiana woman denied abortion wants 'vague' ban clarifiedA pregnant Louisiana woman who was denied an abortion even though her fetus has a rare and fatal condition is asking Gov. John Bel Edwards to call a special session of the legislature to clarify the state’s abortion law.
‘He was a star:’ Attorneys, family of 14-year-old boy who fatally fell from Orlando FreeFall mark his birthday
Read full article: ‘He was a star:’ Attorneys, family of 14-year-old boy who fatally fell from Orlando FreeFall mark his birthdayAttorney Ben Crump and the family of a 14-year-old boy who died after falling from an Orlando thrill ride in March held a news conference to mark what would have been the teen’s 15th birthday.
Crump to represent Randy Cox, Black man hurt in police van
Read full article: Crump to represent Randy Cox, Black man hurt in police vanProminent civil rights attorney Ben Crump says he will lead the legal fight on behalf of a Black man in Connecticut who was seriously injured in the back of a police van when the driver braked suddenly.
Attorney Ben Crump, family of man fatally shot by Titusville police officer demand to see evidence
Read full article: Attorney Ben Crump, family of man fatally shot by Titusville police officer demand to see evidenceCivil rights lawyer Ben Crump and the family of a man who was shot and killed by a Titusville police officer will be holding a news conference.
No charges filed in no-knock warrant killing of Amir Locke
Read full article: No charges filed in no-knock warrant killing of Amir LockeMinnesota prosecutors have declined to file charges against a Minneapolis police SWAT team officer who fatally shot Amir Locke while executing an early morning no-knock search warrant in February.
Seats of Orlando thrill ride where teen fatally fell were adjusted to fit larger patrons, attorney says
Read full article: Seats of Orlando thrill ride where teen fatally fell were adjusted to fit larger patrons, attorney saysAttorneys representing the family of a 14-year-old boy who fell to his death from the Orlando FreeFall attraction are holding a news conference.
VIDEO: Man sought by Winter Haven police, accused of punching senior at Publix parking lot
Read full article: VIDEO: Man sought by Winter Haven police, accused of punching senior at Publix parking lotPolice said as the elderly man was walking out of the Publix at Southeast Plaza along Cypress Gardens Boulevard, a pewter-colored Ford F250 came close to the man.
Attorneys Ben Crump, Bob Hilliard hired by family of teen who fell to his death from Orlando thrill ride
Read full article: Attorneys Ben Crump, Bob Hilliard hired by family of teen who fell to his death from Orlando thrill rideAttorneys Ben Crump and Bob Hilliard have been hired on retainer to represent the family of Tyre Sampson, 14, who fell to his death Thursday night from the Orlando Free Fall at ICON Park, according to a news release from Ben Crump Law and Hilliard Martinez Gonzales.
Attorneys Ben Crump, Bob Hilliard hired by family of teen who fell to his death from Orlando thrill ride
Read full article: Attorneys Ben Crump, Bob Hilliard hired by family of teen who fell to his death from Orlando thrill rideAttorneys Ben Crump and Bob Hilliard have been hired on retainer to represent the family of Tyre Sampson, 14, who fell to his death Thursday night from the Orlando Free Fall at ICON Park, according to a news release.
Trial begins for Arkansas deputy in teen's fatal shooting
Read full article: Trial begins for Arkansas deputy in teen's fatal shootingBody camera footage of the moments after an Arkansas deputy fatally shot a white teenager during a traffic stop have been shown publicly for the first time as the deputy’s manslaughter trial began.
Attorneys discuss ‘stand your ground,’ racial justice 10 years after Trayvon Martin’s death
Read full article: Attorneys discuss ‘stand your ground,’ racial justice 10 years after Trayvon Martin’s deathFlorida civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump recalls being in court in early 2012 when he received a phone call from a fellow lawyer whose relative had been fatally shot in Sanford days earlier.
Florida judge tosses George Zimmerman lawsuit against Trayvon Martin parents
Read full article: Florida judge tosses George Zimmerman lawsuit against Trayvon Martin parentsA judge in Florida has dismissed a defamation and conspiracy lawsuit former neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman had filed against the parents of Trayvon Martin, the teen he fatally shot almost a decade ago.
Cop safety cited in no-knock warrant ahead of Locke's death
Read full article: Cop safety cited in no-knock warrant ahead of Locke's deathDocuments show authorities searching the Minneapolis apartment where Amir Locke was killed by a SWAT team member said they believed a no-knock search warrant was necessary to protect the public and officers investigating a violent homicide.
Civil rights attorneys to sue for public records in fatal Titusville police-involved shooting
Read full article: Civil rights attorneys to sue for public records in fatal Titusville police-involved shootingCivil rights lawyer Ben Crump held a news conference Thursday morning about a Titusville police shooting that left a 40-year-old man dead in December.
Lawyers announce wrongful death lawsuit against Orange County company that runs group home
Read full article: Lawyers announce wrongful death lawsuit against Orange County company that runs group homeA wrongful death lawsuit will be announced by prominent civil rights lawyers Wednesday morning against a Central Florida group home where a 27-year-old man died.
Ahead of Rittenhouse trial, race seen as underlying issue
Read full article: Ahead of Rittenhouse trial, race seen as underlying issueKyle Rittenhouse, the aspiring police officer who gunned down three people in Kenosha, Wisconsin, during a protest last summer against racism and police brutality, is white.
Ex-deputy charged with manslaughter in white teen's death
Read full article: Ex-deputy charged with manslaughter in white teen's deathA former Arkansas sheriff’s deputy has been charged with manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a white teenager whose death has drawn the attention of civil rights activists nationally.
Families of Black men slain by police are hopeful for reform
Read full article: Families of Black men slain by police are hopeful for reformThe family and representatives of Black men killed by the police have met at the White House with senators and Biden administration officials and say they left feeling optimistic.
The Latest: Elation and wariness after verdict in Floyd case
Read full article: The Latest: Elation and wariness after verdict in Floyd caseCrowds nationwide are reacting with jubilation but also with deep awareness of the progress left to be made after a jury convicted former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin of murder in the killing of George Floyd.
President Biden praying for ‘right verdict’ in Derek Chauvin trial
Read full article: President Biden praying for ‘right verdict’ in Derek Chauvin trialPresident Joe Biden says the conviction of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin in the killing of George Floyd “can be a giant step forward” for the nation in the fight against systemic racism.
Floyd family, leaders hold prayer service on eve of trial
Read full article: Floyd family, leaders hold prayer service on eve of trialBystander video of the confrontation is expected to be a key exhibit at trial, with opening statements set for Monday, March 29, 2021. (Hennepin County Sheriff's Office via AP, File)MINNEAPOLIS – National civil rights leaders appeared alongside several family members of George Floyd at a prayer service Sunday night, hours before opening statements were set to begin in the murder trial of the former Minneapolis police officer charged in his death. Several dozen attendees congregated in the benches at Greater Friendship Missionary Church, where preachers led worship, a choir sang and members of George Floyd's family were joined by the Rev. The speakers called for justice in George Floyd's death, mirroring the words spoken by leaders during a protest earlier Sunday in downtown Minneapolis. George Floyd, who was Black, was declared dead on May 25 after Chauvin, who is white, pressed his knee on George Floyd’s neck for about nine minutes while George Floyd was handcuffed and pleading that he couldn’t breathe.
Lawsuit alleges racial profiling in cellphone confrontation
Read full article: Lawsuit alleges racial profiling in cellphone confrontationKeyon Harrold and his son were allegedly racially profiled in an Arlo hotel in Manhattan by Miya Ponsetto in December 2020. Ponsetto wrongly accused Keyon Harrold Jr. of stealing her phone and physically attacking him. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)NEW YORK – The family of a Black teenager who was falsely accused of stealing a woman's cellphone in a New York City hotel last December filed a lawsuit Wednesday alleging that the woman and the hotel engaged in racial profiling. A video of Ponsetto’s confrontation with the then-14-year-old was recorded and posted online by his father, jazz trumpeter Keyon Harrold. Ad“Defendants treated Plaintiffs differently from other guests and invitees in a place of public accommodation because of their race,” the lawsuit states.
In Louisville, Breonna Taylor’s family honors her legacy
Read full article: In Louisville, Breonna Taylor’s family honors her legacy(AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)LOUISVILLE, Ky. – On the one-year anniversary of Breonna Taylor's death, the slain Black woman's family continued their call for justice as hundreds of demonstrators gathered in downtown Louisville on Saturday. In a tweet Saturday, President Joe Biden called Taylor's death “a tragedy, a blow to her family, her community, and America." Police had a no-knock warrant but said they knocked and announced their presence before entering Taylor’s apartment, a claim some witnesses have disputed. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, tweeted a statement in support of Taylor's family, including her mother, Tamika Palmer. “Today we remember Breonna Taylor, her tragic and unnecessary loss and the immense work we have ahead of us,” he said.
Minneapolis to pay $27M to settle George Floyd family lawsuit
Read full article: Minneapolis to pay $27M to settle George Floyd family lawsuitFILE - In this Feb. 8, 2021 file photo, A mural of George Floyd is seen in George Floyd Square in Minneapolis. “This makes a statement that George Floyd deserved better than what we witnessed on May 25, 2020, that George Floyd’s life mattered, and that by extension, Black lives matter.”Ad“Even though my brother is not here, he's here with me in my heart,” Philonise Floyd said. Floyd’s death sparked sometimes violent protests in Minneapolis and beyond and led to a national reckoning on racial justice. “I just want you to know how deeply we are with you,” she said to Floyd's family members. ___Find AP’s full coverage of the death of George Floyd: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd
Activists seek laws after officer cleared in Blake shooting
Read full article: Activists seek laws after officer cleared in Blake shootingA police officer shot Blake in the back multiple times after responding to a domestic dispute on Aug. 23, 2020. On Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, a Wisconsin prosecutor declined to file criminal charges against the officer who shot Blake. After the Aug. 23 shooting that left Blake paralyzed, the decision on whether to charge Rusten Sheskey came down to a familiar question: Was the Kenosha officer justified in using force to protect himself? Those included requiring body cameras and dashcams, a standard protocol for independent investigations and an easy-to-access database of disciplinary actions. The city had planned to acquire body cameras in 2022, but after Blake's shooting, that timetable was sped up to put the cameras in use this year.
Gregory Edwards’ family sues West Melbourne officers who arrested combat veteran before his death
Read full article: Gregory Edwards’ family sues West Melbourne officers who arrested combat veteran before his deathBREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – The family of Gregory Edwards filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking punitive damages against the West Melbourne police officers who arrested the combat veteran leading up to his death in the Brevard County Jail. The City of West Melbourne is also listed as a defendant in the civil suit. Edwards was arrested a day earlier by West Melbourne police outside a retail store for allegedly assaulting a charity worker. The lawsuit lists Edwards’ episode as a serious medical emergency requiring immediate treatment that he did not receive under the care of authorities. Edwards later got into a confrontation with deputies while at the Brevard County Jail.
’Why was the first thing to shoot?’ Community mourns Cocoa teens killed in deputy-involved shooting
Read full article: ’Why was the first thing to shoot?’ Community mourns Cocoa teens killed in deputy-involved shootingCOCOA, Fla. – The families of two Cocoa teenagers are grieving and demanding answers after both died last week in a deputy-involved shooting in Cocoa. Despite the release of the deputy’s names and some video, the community held a rally and vigil for the teens in Cocoa on Wednesday, demanding more transparency from the sheriff. Family and community members came out Nov. 18, 2020 in Cocoa to hold a vigil for two teens killed in a deputy-involved shooting. (Image: Jerry Askin/WKMG) (WKMG 2020)Family of both teens have hired notable civil rights attorney Ben Crump to represent them. The Sheriff’s Office is still investigating whether the vehicle the teens were in was the suspected stolen vehicle.
Sheriff: Brevard deputy ‘forced to fire,’ fatally shooting 2 teens in car
Read full article: Sheriff: Brevard deputy ‘forced to fire,’ fatally shooting 2 teens in carBREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey says one of his deputies was “forced to fire” on a car in a Cocoa neighborhood, fatally shooting a 16-year-old and 18-year-old last week. The sheriff’s office didn’t confirm the deaths of 18-year-old Sincere Pierce and 16-year-old Angelo “AJ” Crooms until Monday. The sheriff’s office declined to identify the deputies involved and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement also declined, saying that would need to come from the sheriff’s office. [RELATED: Civil rights attorney Ben Crump representing families of teens killed in Brevard deputy shooting]Investigators said the vehicle was first observed at Clearlake Road and Dixon Boulevard and moments later in the area of Ivy Street. According to the Ivey, Santiago-Miranda has been employed with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office since February 2017, Hendren has been employed with the sheriff’s office since June 2018.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump representing families of teens killed in Brevard deputy shooting
Read full article: Civil rights attorney Ben Crump representing families of teens killed in Brevard deputy shootingBREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – The families of two teens killed in a deputy-involved shooting in Brevard County have secured a notable civil rights attorney to represent them. The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Monday that 18-year-old Pierce and 16-year-old Crooms died Nov. 13 during a deputy-involved shooting in a Cocoa neighborhood. Cocoa police and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement were at the scene, but despite the heavy law enforcement presence, little information about the incident and what led up to it has been released. [WATCH: Brevard deputy fatally shoots 2 teens, officials offer few details about what led to gunfire]“These parents are heartbroken, as any parents would be. The shooting is under FDLE investigation, which is standard protocol when a law enforcement officer uses deadly force.
Family demands release of evidence in Breonna Taylor's case
Read full article: Family demands release of evidence in Breonna Taylor's caseEarlier, Taylor's lawyers and family expressed dismay that no one has been held accountable for her death. The grand jury indicted one officer on endangerment charges, saying he fired gunshots into a neighboring home that didn't strike anyone. “Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but prosecutors and Grand Jury members are bound by the facts and by the law,” spokeswoman Elizabeth Kuhn said in a statement. As Taylor’s family decried how the case was handled, a man accused of shooting and wounding two officers during protests Wednesday appeared in court. ___This story has been updated to correct that the officer charged by the grand jury is accused of firing into a neighboring apartment, not more than one.
1 officer indicted in Breonna Taylor case, but not for her death
Read full article: 1 officer indicted in Breonna Taylor case, but not for her deathThe only charges were three counts of wanton endangerment against fired Officer Brett Hankison for shooting into a home next to Taylor's with people inside. Taylor, an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by white officers who entered her home during a narcotics investigation. State Attorney General Daniel Cameron said that while the officers had a no-knock warrant, the investigation showed they announced themselves before entering. "This justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges in Miss Breonna Taylor’s death.”Cameron said an FBI crime lab determined that Cosgrove fired the bullet that killed Taylor. ___This story has been updated to clarify that, according to the investigation, officers did not execute the warrant as a no-knock warrant, not that they didn’t use a no-knock warrant.
Police reforms in Breonna Taylor case praised, scrutinized
Read full article: Police reforms in Breonna Taylor case praised, scrutinizedTamika Palmer, Breonna Taylor's mother, in white beside Attorney Ben Crump, left, speak in Louisville, Ky., after settlement was announced. (AP Photo/Dylan Lovan)LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A settlement between the family of Breonna Taylor and the city of Louisville could bring wide-ranging reforms to how police officers live and work, changes that would represent a rare outcome in a police misconduct lawsuit. And a legal expert noted that even the most wide-ranging of reforms won't succeed if the people entrusted with implementing them aren't onboard. The city of Louisville passed a new law earlier this year, named after Taylor, that bans the use of no-knock warrants. Tamika Mallory is among numerous activists in Louisville who say police reforms will be meaningless if the officers involved in Taylor's death aren't charged.
Grandmother suing Disney World after CBD oil arrest files to move case to federal court
Read full article: Grandmother suing Disney World after CBD oil arrest files to move case to federal courtORLANDO, Fla. – A grandmother who was arrested outside Walt Disney World after having CBD oil on property is suing the theme park company -- and she’s taking her case to federal court. Hester Burkhalter, 69, was arrested in April 2019 after Disney security found a bottle of CBD oil while searching her purse at a security checkpoint. She has since filed a lawsuit against Walt Disney World, with her team of attorneys requesting to move the case out of the Ninth Judicial Circuit in Orange County and move it to a higher court. In the suit, Burkhalter is alleging assault and battery, false arrest and imprisonment and defamation and emotional distress, according to Crump’s law firm. CBD oil is extracted from the flowers of marijuana plants, but it doesn’t produce a high.
Absent details, police shooting narratives seek to distract
Read full article: Absent details, police shooting narratives seek to distractAuthorities have been reluctant to release even the most basic information about the incident or details about the white officer who shot Blake seven times in the back. They shot my son seven times seven times, like he didnt matter, Blakes father, Jacob Blake Sr., said. In 2014, for example, a union spokesman rushed to the scene where a white Chicago officer fatally shot 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. As for the shooting itself, authorities, citing the need to protect the integrity of the investigation, have raised far more questions than they've answered. Instead, he said a knife was found after the shooting on the drivers side floorboard of the SUV.
Grandmother sues Disney World for millions after CBD oil arrest
Read full article: Grandmother sues Disney World for millions after CBD oil arrestORLANDO, Fla. – A grandmother who was arrested outside Walt Disney World is suing the happiest place on earth with the help of a well-known attorney. Hester Burkhalter, 69, was arrested in April after Disney security found a bottle of CBD oil while searching her purse at a security checkpoint. CBD oil is extracted from the flowers of marijuana plants, but it doesn’t produce a high. The grandmother added that she was humiliated because the officers allegedly made her strip down at the jail to be searched. [RELATED: Charges dropped against great-grandma with CBD oil at Disney World]In May, all charges against the grandmother were dropped after prosecutors said that the case against Burkhalter wasn’t suitable for prosecution.
Floyd family sues Minneapolis officers charged in his death
Read full article: Floyd family sues Minneapolis officers charged in his deathCivil rights attorney Ben Crump wears a face mask with the words "Where's the love?" after announcing Wednesday, July 15, 2020 in Minneapolis the filing of a civil lawsuit against the city of Minneapolis and the officers involved in the death of George Floyd. Floyd died at the hands of police during an arrest on Memorial Day. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Floyd family to announce lawsuit against Minneapolis
Read full article: Floyd family to announce lawsuit against MinneapolisMINNEAPOLIS Attorneys for George Floyd's family plan to announce a lawsuit Wednesday against the city of Minneapolis and the police officers who are charged in his death. Attorney Ben Crump planned a late-morning news conference in Minneapolis to detail the lawsuit. Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter. Floyd's death also sparked calls to abolish the Minneapolis Police Department and replace it with a new public safety department. According to documents in state probate court, Floyd is survived by 11 known heirs, including five children and six siblings.
‘Timothy couldn’t breathe:‘ Attorney Ben Crump compares 2018 South Daytona death to George Floyd
Read full article: ‘Timothy couldn’t breathe:‘ Attorney Ben Crump compares 2018 South Daytona death to George FloydCrump, a civil rights attorney, has represented the families of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and George Floyd. “We want her to get justice for her son, there’s no excuse for what happened to Timothy Coffman no excuse. “Like George Floyd, Timothy Coffman screamed out for him. Like George Floyd, Timothy Coffman had the police officer put his knee in his neck for four minutes until he lost consciousness. “And like George Floyd, the police in South Daytona did not obey him any dignity, nor did they offer him any respect, nor did they offer him any humanity.
Protests turn subdued after new charges in Floyd case
Read full article: Protests turn subdued after new charges in Floyd caseThe most serious new charge Wednesday was an accusation of second-degree murder against Derek Chauvin, who was caught on video pressing his knee to Floyds neck. The three other officers at the scene were charged for the first time with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Protests were still big, but largely peaceful in California, where NBA stars Steph Curry and Klay Thompson marched with protesters in Oakland. The new second-degree murder charge alleges that Chauvin caused Floyds death without intent while committing another felony, namely third-degree assault. The protests have also taken root overseas, including in Athens, London, Helsinki, Rotterdam and Bogota, among other cities.