UNITED STATES NEWS

Crowd protests Little Rock police shooting

Jul 16, 2013, 4:12 AM

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – Dozens of people took to streets in Little Rock on Monday to protest the fatal police shooting of a black man who allegedly fled from officers _ an outpouring of anger that comes amid outrage felt by many about George Zimmerman’s acquittal.

The department declined to identify the officer who shot and killed 26-year-old Deon Williams, but hours after the confrontation, it said the officer is also black.

According to police, officers saw an SUV that appeared to match the description of a stolen vehicle, and it pulled to a stop before officers could pull it over. Williams got out and fled on foot, and a handgun slipped from his waistband during the chase. The officer had his Taser out at the time, but he dropped it when he saw the gun, police said.

“He drew his service weapon and saw the subject pick up the handgun, look towards him, and start to get to his feet,” police said in a statement. “At that point the officer feared for his life and fired his service weapon approximately three times.”

Williams was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after noon. The officer who shot him and another officer involved in the pursuit have been placed on paid administrative leave, as is department policy in police shootings.

Authorities said Williams’ weapon and some drugs had been recovered nearby. They did not say if the SUV he was in had been stolen.

“People have a right to express their opinions and ideas and we’re going to protect that right,” Police Chief Stuart Thomas said. “By the same token, we have an obligation to follow through with what we have to do at the scene.”

An impromptu protest formed near the investigation scene, and many participants called the shooting unjust and cited their frustration about Zimmerman’s acquittal Saturday in Florida in the shooting death of an unarmed black teenager, Trayvon Martin.

“It was an outrage what they just did in Florida with Trayvon Martin,” said Dominique Neal, 25. “I’m still mad about that. Then … this right here in our city, it’s an outrage.”

One protester carried a sign that called for justice for a teen killed by Little Rock police last year.

At a vigil hours later on the state Capitol steps that was organized in response to the Zimmerman verdict, several hundred attendees chanted “No justice, no peace,” and called for an end to police profiling of black males and an end to black-on-black violence.

Will McClinton, of Little Rock, said he also took part in the street protest following Williams’ shooting and that it felt empowering.

“We gave (police) a very good message,” he said. “We organized a peaceful little protest. We stood strong and didn’t’ move.”

Brody Johnson held a sign that read, “LRPD, We demand answers,” but he said he doubted the department would respond.

“They never do,” Johnson said.

State Rep. Fred Love, D-Little Rock, president of the Legislative Black Caucus, said he wanted the vigil to be a starting point for a conversation about ending profiling of black males.

“How do we turn this tragedy into something that will honor Trayvon’s life?” Love asked, and then provided his own answer. “We must stop the senseless killing of one another in our community.”

But Love said more is needed than addressing crime in the black community.

“In no way is black-on-black crime an excuse or a justification for what happened to Trayvon Martin,” Love said. “We must draw a line in the sand tonight.”

___

Associated Press writer Chuck Bartels contributed to this report.

___

Follow Jeannie Nuss at
https://twitter.com/jeannienuss

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

United States News

Associated Press

Columbia University cites progress with Gaza war protesters after encampment arrests

NEW YORK (AP) — Columbia University said early Wednesday that it was making “important progress” with pro-Palestinian student protesters who set up a tent encampment and was extending a deadline to clear out, yet standoffs remained tense on campus. Student protesters “have committed to dismantling and removing a significant number of tents,” the Ivy League […]

8 hours ago

Associated Press

What to listen for during Supreme Court arguments on Donald Trump and presidential immunity

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court hears arguments Thursday over whether Donald Trump is immune from prosecution in a case charging him with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. It’s a historic day for the court, with the justices having an opportunity to decide once and for all whether former presidents […]

10 hours ago

Associated Press

USPS commits to rerouting Reno-area mail despite bipartisan pushback and mail ballot concerns

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The USPS announced on Tuesday it will follow through with its plan to reroute Reno-area mail processing to Sacramento, a move that drew bipartisan ire from Nevada lawmakers while raising questions about the rate at which mail ballots can be processed in a populous part of a crucial swing state. Postmaster […]

12 hours ago

The American and Ukrainian flags wave in the wind outside of the Capitol on Tuesday, April 23, 2024...

Associated Press

Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote

The Senate has passed $95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to Biden after months of delays.

12 hours ago

The logo for the Tesla Supercharger station is seen in Buford, Ga, April 22, 2021. Faced with falli...

Associated Press

Tesla 1Q profit falls 55%, but stock jumps as company moves to speed production of cheaper vehicles

Tesla’s stock price surged in after-hours trading Tuesday as the company said it would prioritize production of more affordable vehicles.

13 hours ago

Pages from the United Healthcare website are displayed on a computer screen, Feb. 29, 2024, in New ...

Associated Press

UnitedHealth says wide swath of patient files may have been taken in Change cyberattack

The company said after markets closed that it sees no signs that doctor charts or full medical histories were released after the attack.

14 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Condor Airlines

Condor Airlines can get you smoothly from Phoenix to Frankfurt on new A330-900neo airplane

Adventure Awaits! And there's no better way to experience the vacation of your dreams than traveling with Condor Airlines.

...

COLLINS COMFORT MASTERS

Here are 5 things Arizona residents need to know about their HVAC system

It's warming back up in the Valley, which means it's time to think about your air conditioning system's preparedness for summer.

...

DISC Desert Institute for Spine Care

Sciatica pain is treatable but surgery may be required

Sciatica pain is one of the most common ailments a person can face, and if not taken seriously, it could become one of the most harmful.

Crowd protests Little Rock police shooting