In a news conference Wednesday, Fresno Police released body camera video of an officer involved shooting that killed 19-year-old Dylan Noble on June 25.
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Demanding that the teen keep his hands up at all times, Noble does otherwise, while keeping his left arm up, and at another time turning his back towards officers as he walks away from police officers with his hands reaching towards his waist, it becomes apparent that Noble for reasons not necessarily understood refuses to abide as requested.
“You’re going to get shot, man”, one officer says.
After several seconds the same officer fires one more shot, then seconds later a third officer approaches with a shotgun and fires the fourth and final shot.
Harrowing body cam footage has been released by police showing the moment an “unarmed” suspect was fatally shot.
“We don’t know what that is”, Dyer said, according to CNN.
Police Chief Jerry Dyer said the investigation into the shooting is still under way, and he has not made a decision whether it was justified.
The cops stopped Noble’s black pick up truck near a Chevron gas station while reportedly responding to a report of a man armed with rifle.
The family has now launched legal action against the city, arguing the shooting was “an inexcusable use of excessive force”. Each officer then fires an additional shot.
Dyer argues the video should be able to answer questions that people might have in mind. After he dropped to the ground, they shot him two more times.
Noble’s parents and their attorney reacted skeptically – and angrily – after the video was released. “I am calling for calm in our community”, he said.
“You don’t point (a weapon) at an individual for a traffic stop”, he said. Dyer said the investigation will look into each shot individually to determine if they were based on reasonable fear, if they were necessary or if other non-lethal options could have been used. Noble starts to get out of the truck, then is told not to.
The footage shows a police officer driving up to the scene of a traffic stop, stepping out of his squad vehicle with his weapon drawn and pointing toward the truck where Noble is sitting behind the wheel.
Noble is seen holding something, later determined to be “a 4-inch-by-4-inch piece of clear plastic with what appears to be a grayish clay inside”, according to Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer, the Fresno Bee reports.
The family of Dylan Noble are filing a suit against the against the city of Fresno, California, after released bodycam footage shed light on the unfortunate death of the 19-year-old. He had previously said he believes his son was murdered and wants the officers who shot him to go to jail.
California law requires citizens to file a tort claim before filing the actual lawsuit to give the government entity a chance to settle.
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This post contains reporting from The Associated Press.
