By the time officers arrived, the argument between Frazier and his niece was over and he was eating in the backyard while holding the pocket knife, according to the family of the deceased.
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“I never knew my father would become part of this pattern of a terrible trend across this country – to shoot first, ask questions later”, said Xavier Frazier, Gregory Frazier’s son. The Broward Sheriff’s Offices would not comment on that possibility. Our investigators have been called out for the last eight officer-involved fatalities or near-fatalities prior to the death of Gregory Frazier.
NBC 6 obtained 911 calls of the moments leading up to the deadly night from a panicked sister. They would eventually open fire and Frazier would be pronounced dead at the scene. “They just came in and started shooting right away”, claims the victim’s sister.
In that incident, Israel said, a “routine traffic stop” turned violent when a driver reversed his vehicle into a deputy and another officer fired his weapon at the motorist, striking him in the shoulder. Israel said he planned to attend Monday night’s community gathering to speak about both incidents.
Benjamin Crump, the attorney hired by the family, released a photo of a lawn chair where he said Gregory was sitting when he was shot as he ate dinner.
Family, friends and supporters packed the Bethel A.M.E Church off 3rd Avenue to demand justice for Gregory Frazier. “He was not seated, he was in close proximity to our deputies”.
“The family hopes that there is police body camera video or eyewitness evidence that can demonstrate whether this type of force, which they believe was excessive, was actually required”, he said. Speaking at the gathering, the victim’s son, Xavier, said, “I never knew my father would become a part of this pattern of a terrible trend across this country to shoot first and ask questions later”.
“We’re not enemies”, Israel said. The FDLE is investigating the shooting.
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Again, standing or facing or even telling a cop to leave you alone does not translate to lunging or threatening or making a cop fear for his life, so the Broward Sheriff’s Office has still not answered the most important question.
