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A family is seeking justice after a 20-year-old Black man was fatally shot by police after they said he fell asleep in his car in Richmond, Virginia.
“My son impacted peoples’ lives and never wanted to do anybody any harm or anything,” Latoya Hardney, the victim's mother, told 8News. “He was just a lovable person, he would make you smile. He would sit down to talk to you and talk to you for hours, and that’s just the type of person he was.”
According to the family, the police shooting of Kenneth Sharp, 20, unfolded on March 31 after he fell asleep in his car, per the Shade Room. The Richmond Police Department said officers were responding to a disturbance call at roughly 5 a.m. in the parking lot of an apartment complex.
Sharp's family said police failed to announce themselves as they approached the sleeping 20-year-old. At one point during the encounter, Sharp exited his vehicle and was shot multiple times after police noticed he had a large gun. The family said the gun was legally registered in the state of Virginia.
Police said Sharp pulled out the firearm when they initially approached him.
One of the two officers at the scene, identified as Todd Hall, opened fire against Sharp. Both officers were initially put on leave but the cop who didn't shoot has returned to work.
“What’s happening with that case right now is, once the Richmond Police Department completes a criminal review of that case, we will provide the entire file to the Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office,” Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards said. “Richmond Commonwealth’s attorney’s office will review that and determine the best course of action.”
Hardney said she wants justice and accountability for her son.
“That was my only son — like, that’s my heart and human form,” Hardney said. “I just want justice for him and justice for everybody else that is suffering and going through the same thing that I’m going through.”
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