Photo: GoFundMe
Activists are calling for justice in the death of Justin Robinson, a 26-year-old violence interrupter who was killed by D.C police, CNN reports.
Robinson, 26, was fatally shot on September 1 after police responded to reports of a car crash at a McDonald's drive-thru. Authorities released body camera footage showing the moments surrounding the Robinson's fatal police shooting.
Officers found an unresponsive Robinson with a firearm in his vehicle, which was stopped mid drive-thru after the crash. In the video, Bryan Gilchrist, one of two officers who have been put on administrative leave pending an investigation, could be heard discussing how to approach the suspect with his colleagues.
“So, what we need is deadly coverage and extraction,” Gilchrist said.
When Robinson woke up, officers commanded him to keep his hands off the weapon. Robinson then appeared to roll down his window.
"Hands up, hands up," Gilchrist yelled.
At one point, Robinson appeared to reach out of the car window and grab one of the officer's weapons.
“I’ll shoot you in the F**king face,” one officer said. Gilchrist and another officer then opened fire against Robinson, killing him.
“It wasn’t proportionate to shoot him 10 times, and the actions of MPD escalated the encounter,” Robinson's family attorney said in a statement. “This was police brutality.”
Gilchrist and Vasco Mateus, another officer involved, have both been put on leave amid the investigation.
Robinson's family attorney said the victim was a violence interrupter with Cure the Streets, a public safety program that aims to reduce gun violence.
“He always had a smile,” Robinson's sister said. “If anyone ever see him and it’s time to depart they’ll say, ‘I love you,’ and he’ll say, ‘I love you more.”
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