NAACP leaders called for a “speedy” and “transparent” investigation after a Raleigh Police Officer shot and killed a man on Monday.
According to Raleigh Police Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown, 29 year-old Officer D.C. Twiddy was pursuing a man when the officer shot and killed him near the intersection of Bragg and East Streets in Raleigh.
Deck-Brown said that the State Bureau of Investigation was leading the investigation. Dr. William Barber, leader of the NC NAACP said that any conclusion of the investigation should be accepted.
“That has to be the attitude of anyone who is leading a police force. We are going to do a through, impartial investigative with transparency and wherever the truth leads,” said Barber.
The mother of the deceased cried as she stood next to Barber. She said she has not yet been able to formally identify the body.
“She is entitled to know why her son, somebody’s brother, somebody’s nephew was killed and this investigation should be resolved in a speed manner,” said Barber.
Police have not released the name of the man who was killed but several media reports and the NAACP press conference identified him as 24-year-old Akiel Denkins.
In her statement on Monday, Police Chief Deck-Brown said that a firearm was found near the scene. “Initially, it is known that a firearm was located in close proximity to the deceased suspect,” Deck-Brown said, “that weapon, along with all other elements available at the scene, will be processed.”
Deck-Brown also told reporters that the man was a suspect wanted on a felony drug charge but Barber cautioned against letting that control the narrative surround the shooting.
“A warrant for arrest is not a license to kill,” said Barber.
Authorities say Officer Twiddy has been with the Raleigh Police Department since 2009. Twiddy has been placed on administrative leave until the completion of the investigation.
On Monday evening hundreds gathered near the site of the shooting. Barber said that historical tensions between African-American and police are present in Raleigh.
“This tension is present in most cities and Raleigh is no exception to that history, all of us in America dealt with it,” said Barber. “The NAACP’s very existence grew out of some of this kind of tension.”
A preliminary report of the shooting is expected to be released within five days.
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