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Deadly Force : Police Use of Lethal Force in the United States
4. USE OF LETHAL FORCE IN THE UNITED STATES 4.1 LIVES LOST This report is not intended to provide an overview of all those who have lost their lives at the hands of police, but the following are individuals who have been killed in the last few years who have not received as much attention as other recent cases, and have not sparked national media attention or protests.
Antonio Zambrano-Montes February 10, 2015 Antonio Zambrano-Montes, 35, a Mexican father of two, was shot and killed by police officers in Pasco, Washington, on February 10, 2015. A video capturing the fatal incident shows Antonio Zambrano-Montes running from three police officers across a busy intersection, with police officers opening fire as Antonio Zambrano-Montes started to cross the road and was raising his hands. The police officers chased after Antonio Zambrano-Montes onto the sidewalk and, facing him, discharged several further shots. Of the 17 bullets aimed at Antonio Zambrano-Montes, five to six struck him, causing his death. Investigators have confirmed that Antonio Zambrano-Montes was unarmed at the time of the shooting, although the officers contend that he had thrown rocks at them and traffic, and was holding another in his hand. The officers, who were responding to a 911 call, also allege that they had attempted to subdue Antonio Zambrano-Montes with a Taser prior to opening fire at him. Zambrano-Montes’ family has filed a lawsuit against the city following his death.17 Antonio Zambrano-Montes had a history of erratic and sometimes violent behavior, with at least two confrontations with the police since 2014. Prosecutors declined to file assault charges against Antonio Zambrano-Montes on grounds of his mental health issues.18 Antonio Zambrano-Montes who grew up in Mexico, had come to the United States about a decade ago to pursue fruit orchards work.19
Akai Gurley November 20, 2014 Akai Gurley, an unarmed 28 year-old black man, was shot dead on the night of November 20, 2014 in a darkened stairwell of a public housing complex in Brooklyn, New York. New York Police Department’s (NYPD) newly trained officer Peter Liang and his partner Shaun Landau were conducting a floor-byfloor sweep of the building. The officers were on their way to the roof of the building when they noticed there were no lights in the stairwell leading up to it. According to the NYPD, Liang drew his weapon and a flashlight for safety reasons. Soon after Liang entered the eighth floor of the building, with his partner behind, Liang fired his gun as Akai Gurley entered the landing one floor below following his girlfriend. Akai Gurley, who was hit in the chest by the bullet, was pronounced dead at the hospital. On February 10, 2015, Liang was indicted by a grand jury on several charges, including second-degree manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, reckless endangerment, second-degree assault and two counts of official misconduct. The prosecutors alleged that Liang had ignored his training to hold his gun with his finger outside the trigger guard. Liang’s indictment was the first in more than two years for an NYPD officer’s killing of a member of the public.20 The case is still pending at the time of this report. According to a recent study, in 179 fatalities involving NYPD officers in 15 years (1999-2014), only three cases led to indictment with just one conviction.21
Amnesty International - June 2015
