Over the weekend, tragedy struck outside a local Taco Bell restaurant after six California police officers fired fatal shots into the car of a sleeping man.
According to The Hill, the incident occurred late Saturday night after officials received a call about a man slumped over in his car outside of the restaurant. Upon arrival, the man, who has since been identified as 21-year-old rapper Willie Bo, was found unresponsive with a gun in his lap.
In a statement to the San Francisco Chronicle, police said things took a turn for the worse when the sleeping victim made a sudden movement.
Officials said they instructed Willie to keep his hands where they could see them, but when he allegedly reached for his gun, they fired several fatal shots, “in fear for their own safety.” The officers then continued shouting commands, before they finally removed Willie from the vehicle and rendered “medical assistance.”
Willie died at the scene.
In another statement, according to The Guardian, police said the officers each fired “multiple” rounds within four seconds, but refused to disclose how many were let off and how many hit Willie.
“There was no attempt to try to work out a peaceful solution,” Willie’s older brother, Marc McCoy said of the incident. “The police’s job is to arrest people who are breaking the law – not take the law into your own hands. You’re not judge, jury, and executioner…We’re never going to get over this.”
As he continued, Marc said he believed the officers scared Willie awake, and instead of firing fatal shots, should have ordered him out the car.
“Police are trained to shoot first and hurt you first,” he added. “They do not respect black people. Even when they have a person subdued and their life is not in danger, they continue to be blatantly physically disrespectful. That is just accepted in America.”
