An unarmed black man was shot and killed by a police officer in Phoenix earlier this week.
According to NBC News, 34-year-old Rumain Brisbon, a father of four, was killed on Tuesday evening after police received a call about suspected drug-dealing activity:
When the officer told the driver, later identified as Brisbon, to show his hands, the driver instead put his hands into the waistband of his pants, at which point the officer drew his gun, Crump said. Brisbon began to run away, but the officer chased him down, and they began struggling, Crump said.
The officer believed he felt the handle of a gun while holding the suspect's hand in his pocket, Crump said. Unable to keep his grip on Brisbon's hand, the officer fired two shots, Crump said. The object in Brisbon's pocket was later discovered to be a bottle of pain pills, but an unspecified weapon and what appeared to be marijuana were found in the SUV, Crump said.
Speaking with Arizona Republic, witness Brandon Dickerson said the officer never tried to talk to Brisbon. "Who's gonna argue with police?" he asked. Attorney Marci Kratter told the Republic that there are "numerous witnesses that will challenge the police officer's account of what transpired."
[via NBC News and Arizona Republic]
