Here we go again. Another black man has been shot and killed by police in circumstances that may not match the police's account. Last week 22-year-old Darrien Hunt was shot and killed by police. Although investigators say Hunt was lunging toward police with a sword when he was shot numerous times, an independent autopsy found no wounds on the front of his body. Witnesses say Hunt was running away when he was shot, which would align with the findings of the autopsy.
Police were called to the scene in Saratoga Springs after reports of Hunt walking around with a "samurai-type sword." However, Hunt's family says it was just a souvenir with a rounded edge. The photo below shows Hunt was dressed similar to a character from Samurai Champloo, so it's possible he was just cosplaying.
This is what Hunt was wearing when he was killed. Compare to the character from Samurai Champloo. Was he cosplaying? pic.twitter.com/TlFS49OTYJ
— Jamelle Bouie (@jbouie) September 15, 2014
The Saratoga police department is adamantly denying any wrongdoing, releasing the following (reaching) statement on Facebook: "Everyone should remember that the news outlets have ratings they need to gain. They don't report facts. They use innuendo, opinion and rumor and then report it as fact. The same thing happens here on FB and other social media. The real facts are being determined by an independent investiagtion, and not in a rushed or hapharzard manner. ...There is no coverup and there is no corruption."
We'll see if that's true. Right now the facts don't seem to match with what the police are saying. We'll keep you updated as this story develops.
1.
2.
[via Los Angeles Times]
