by Matt Agorist, The Free Thought Project:
In a harrowing incident, 17-year-old Dalaneo Martin was fatally shot by a U.S. Park Police officer in Northeast D.C. last month, sparking outrage among the victim’s family and the community. The police have released video footage of the tragic event, which unfolded on March 18 after officers found the teenager asleep in what they suspected to be a stolen vehicle. Rather than using standard de-escalation techniques, officers attempted to apprehend Martin, leading to a chaotic situation that ended with his death.
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Nee Nee Taylor, co-founder of the local abolitionist group Harriet’s Wildest Dreams, highlighted the injustice of the incident, saying, “Several people made mistakes that day and only one person suffers the consequences is [Martin], because he lost his life.” She criticized the officers’ decision to ambush Martin, who was asleep at the time, instead of using non-violent tactics such as shining a light on him or using a loudspeaker to instruct him not to move.
The body camera videos depict the moments leading up to the tragic shooting. After discovering the vehicle was stolen, an MPD officer called for backup and flagged down U.S. Park Police for assistance. Upon arriving at the scene, the officers discussed their approach, with one officer suggesting they grab Martin before he could put the car in gear. However, he instructed the others not to chase the teenager if he tried to escape and explicitly told them not to enter the car.
But the officer did the exact opposite.
The situation quickly spiraled out of control as officers opened the car door, startling Martin. The footage does not clearly show the struggle that ensued, but Martin’s cries for help are audible as he attempts to drive away. A U.S. Park Police officer, who had entered the car’s back seat, fired at least five shots at Martin’s back within a second of warning him he would shoot.
Highlighting the reckless nature of the officers, the car subsequently crashed into a nearby home. Luckily, no one was injured, but when police finally located him, Martin was pronounced dead on the scene.
Despite an ongoing investigation by the MPD and the U.S. Attorney for D.C., the U.S. Park Police have not released the names of the officers involved, citing privacy protections for federal employees. Martin, affectionately known as “Debo,” left behind an infant son and a grieving family.
About a week after the shooting, Terra Martin led a demonstration down Benning Road, joined by family members and friends, expressing their lingering questions and demanding justice for her son. Terra asked, “Why wasn’t a taser deployed? Why was the officer in the back of his car? Why was Dalaneo shot in a non-threatening position? Why haven’t involved officers’ names been released?”
The family’s attorney, Andrew O. Clarke, revealed that the coroner informed the family that Dalaneo had been shot multiple times. Clarke questioned the circumstances, saying, “Six shots to the back. How can you explain that?”
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