Malcolm Johnson was fatally Shot by Kansas City Missouri Police. Did the Police need to kill Malcom Johnson?

A large group of religion leaders in Kansas Metropolis on Tuesday launched video footage they are saying captures occasions contained in the fuel station the place Malcolm Johnson was fatally shot by police on March 25.

The religion leaders, led by Darron Edwards of United Believers Neighborhood Church, the Rev. Emanuel Cleaver III, senior pastor of St. James United Methodist Church, and Ron Lindsay of Harmony Fortress of Hope Church, mentioned the video contradicts the model of occasions given by the Missouri State Freeway Patrol.

The freeway patrol has been answerable for the investigation since Johnson, 31, was shot and killed by a police officer within the fuel station at 63rd Road and Prospect Avenue. On the time of the capturing, the patrol mentioned officers had been arresting Johnson in reference to a earlier capturing, there was a wrestle, and he shot an officer within the leg earlier than the wounded officer shot and killed him.

The group mentioned they tried to convey the video to legislation enforcement however had been dismissed. In order that they determined to carry a information convention and launch the video.

Glenn E. Rice, Anna SpoerreTue, June 1, 2021, 2:06 PM

A gaggle of religion leaders in Kansas Metropolis on Tuesday launched video footage they are saying captures occasions contained in the fuel station the place Malcolm Johnson was fatally shot by police on March 25.

The religion leaders, led by Darron Edwards of United Believers Neighborhood Church, the Rev. Emanuel Cleaver III, senior pastor of St. James United Methodist Church, and Ron Lindsay of Harmony Fortress of Hope Church, mentioned the video contradicts the model of occasions given by the Missouri State Freeway Patrol.

The freeway patrol has been answerable for the investigation since Johnson, 31, was shot and killed by a police officer within the fuel station at 63rd Road and Prospect Avenue. On the time of the capturing, the patrol mentioned officers had been arresting Johnson in reference to a earlier capturing, there was a wrestle, and he shot an officer within the leg earlier than the wounded officer shot and killed him.

The group mentioned they tried to convey the video to legislation enforcement however had been dismissed. In order that they determined to carry a information convention and launch the video.

“What I noticed was an execution, Edwards mentioned. “We stand on an ethical obligation. We need to demand change and we demand it now.”

Cleaver mentioned all 4 law enforcement officials concerned within the capturing must be instantly fired and criminally charged.

The video doesn’t present the capturing itself. However the religion leaders mentioned it, and different info surrounding the capturing, confirmed the preliminary account given by the freeway patrol was not correct.

The video

The 2 minutes and 28 seconds of surveillance video exhibits two uniformed Kansas Metropolis law enforcement officials with their handguns drawn approaching a person wearing a hooded jacket standing in entrance of the try window contained in the fuel station.

The person, who religion leaders mentioned is Johnson, 31, is seen standing on the counter. He scratches off a lottery ticket, then passes it to the shop clerk.

He then turns round as the 2 officers in uniforms instantly seem to seize his arms, their weapons drawn. The person seems like he breaks free briefly, takes a number of steps ahead, as if he’s attempting to run, earlier than the video exhibits what seems to be the officers pulling him away from the fuel station door.

The wrestle between the officers and the person continues as meals gadgets stocked on cabinets are kicked on the ground.

Two extra officers enter the shop and attempt to assist restrain the person, in line with the video. The digital camera angle solely exhibits the person’s ft as he continues to wrestle with the officers.

A feminine sergeant enters the shop and talks on her radio. No audio accompanies the video.

The person and officers keep principally out of the digital camera’s view, their ft nonetheless seen, for about 80 seconds earlier than the video exhibits what seems to be an officer who’s wounded within the leg being rushed out of the shop by the sergeant and two different officers.

Patrol account

On the time of the capturing, the freeway patrol mentioned two Kansas Metropolis law enforcement officials had gone contained in the fuel station and tried to arrest Johnson when “a struggle, a wrestle ensued.”

The patrol mentioned Johnson drew a handgun and shot one of many officers within the leg as two different officers arrived on the scene to help with the arrest.

The wounded officer returned gunfire, fatally wounding Johnson, the spokesman mentioned.

Johnson was pronounced lifeless at a hospital. The officer was handled for his accidents and launched from the hospital a number of days later.

The Rev. Emanuel Cleaver III, senior pastor of St. James United Methodist Church, mentioned the video exhibits one thing completely different than what was initially reported by Missouri State Freeway Patrol.

“The officers entered the shop with weapons drawn, which put everybody within the retailer at risk,” he mentioned. “They reported {that a} struggle ensued, however the video exhibits Malcolm attempting to run.”

The pastors mentioned the video and the circumstances point out Johnson was restrained when he was shot. They mentioned photographs obtained by the household present Johnson was shot within the head.

‘Demanding justice’

The Rev. Darron Edwards, a frontrunner with Attending to the Coronary heart of the Matter, a bunch of native religion leaders who’ve been cooperating with the Kansas Metropolis Police Division, described the capturing as an execution.

“We do consider in police, however we don’t consider in this type of policing,” Edwards mentioned. “The tradition, the circumstances and the local weather of Kansas Metropolis should change.”

“Why would you shoot somebody within the head whereas they’re on the ground? Whatever the sound high quality and the video not displaying the precise pictures, it’s clear that the report doesn’t match the video,” Cleaver mentioned. “We’re demanding justice.”

If the officers are usually not fired and charged, he mentioned, the pastors mentioned, they’re ready to go to the U.S. Division of Justice.

“We’re making these calls for and won’t cease and we’ll collect the group collectively peacefully, to do no matter we will to make it possible for simply occurs on behalf of Malcolm Johnson,” Cleaver mentioned.

Capt. Leslie Foreman, a spokeswoman with the Kansas Metropolis Police Division, mentioned in response to questions in regards to the information convention that each one inquiries into the capturing must be directed to freeway patrol.

Sgt. Andrew Bell, a spokesman with freeway patrol, mentioned Tuesday that he had not seen the feedback from the religion leaders, and couldn’t touch upon what they mentioned. Bell added that the patrol welcomes any proof from the general public.