Bodycam video released Monday seems to show a man slowly complying with p*olice before he is sh*o*t d*e*a*d
A frame grab from a Charlotte-Mecklenburg P*olice D*epartment o*fficer b*ody camera shows two o*fficers a*pproaching D*anquirs Napoleon Franklin outside a Burger King on March 29, in Charlotte, NC. Franklin was sh*o*t and k* i* ll* e*d. (Charlotte-Mecklenburg P*olice D*epartment via AP)
P*olice in Charlotte, N.C., have released b*odycam video that shows a p*olicewoman f*a*t*a*ll*y sh*o*t an a*r*m*e*d man who did not p*oint his g*u*n at o*fficers, USA Today is reporting.
The footage, released Monday, shows two c*ops approaching Danquirs Napoleon Franklin in a Burger King parking lot on March 25 after receiving two calls about a man with a g*u*n, the newspaper reports. About four minutes before, a 9*11 c*aller a*lerted them that the man had e*ntered the Burger King and was t*rying to f*ight e*mployees.
Franklin, 27, is seen s*quatting at the open door of a car as p*olice are heard repeatedly sh*outing to Franklin to p*ut d*own his g*u*n. As the o*fficers approach, Franklin does not move, according to USA Today.
“Sir, p*ut the g*u*n d*o*wn,”. O*fficer Wende Kerl of Charlotte-Mecklenberg P*olice, who is wearing a b*odycam, is heard saying. “D*rop the g *u*n!” she orders.
A woman walks up to Franklin and p*olice sh*out at her to get out of the way. Franklin r*aises his right hand, with an o*bject in it that he apparently g*ot from the door’s pocket, as he continues to f*ace the open door of the car, USA Today reports.
As Franklin lowers his right hand, a sh*o*t from Kerl’s g*u*n is heard.
Franklin rolls onto his side and an unidentified person in the passenger seat of the car is seen p*lacing their hands on the dashboard at the o*fficer’s command.
Kerl then reaches under Franklin’s b*ody, saying, “I gotta pick up the g*u*n.” The video then ends.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg NAACP has b*lasted the i*ncident.
The o*fficer “didn’t view Danquirs Franklin as a man, but saw him as a d*anger,” NAACP chapter president Corine Mack told USA Today. “This female o*fficer sh*o*t this man while he was adhering to her commands.”
Kerl is a 24-year veteran of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg P*olice Department, the news organization reported. She is on administrative leave.
P*olice released the video after pressure from community residents. Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles urged residents to p*rotest peacefully.
“What I always think about is how we respond as a community will reflect how we honor the memory of Danquirs Franklin,” Lyles said.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE, because we can't share it on fb.