A disturbing footage of a homeless man being shot dead by Los Angeles police officers has circulated around social media on Sunday, March 1, sparking outrage and protests.
The Facebook video, posted by user Anthony Blackburn, shows an altercation between police officers and the homeless person, whom one witness identified as "Africa". In the scuffle, the officers can be seen attempting to subdue the man, who appears to be resisting. Upon bringing the man to the ground, two officers then break off to arrest a woman who is brandishing an officer's baton.
The man on the ground, an African American, is seen attempting to resist arrest, with the officers resorting to the use of a taser. One of the officers can then be heard shouting "Drop the gun!" repeatedly to the man still on the ground, after which a series of shots ring out.
According to a report by LA Times, some witnesses claim to have seen the man reaching for an officer's gun -something which could be crucial to the investigation of the incident. Social media netizens began organizing protests 9pm local time on the day of the shooting. The protesters gathered at Pershing Square in downtown LA.
It may be noted that last year, Police killings of black men fueled protests across the United States. Incidents like the shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed African American 18-year-old in Ferguson, Missouri, have led to protests on how police officers use lethal force.
Last January, Police officers in New Jersey have been caught on camera shooting a black man dead as he was exiting his vehicle with arms raised.