Shreveport police chief mourns an unarmed Black man shot lifeless by considered one of his officers as state police examine | CNN

CNN
 — 

Louisiana authorities are investigating the lethal taking pictures of an unarmed Black man by a Shreveport officer and hope finally to launch police footage of the encounter, stated state police main a probe of the encounter.

Alonzo Bagley, 43, was shot and killed Friday evening after police responded to a home disturbance at an house advanced, Louisiana State Police stated in an announcement. When two officers arrived round 10:50 p.m. Friday, police stated, Bagley jumped down from an house balcony and fled.

After a brief foot pursuit, an officer “positioned Mr. Bagley as he rounded a constructing nook and fired one shot from his service weapon, which struck Mr. Bagley within the chest,” state police stated. Bagley later was pronounced lifeless at a hospital, they stated.

Detectives didn’t discover any weapons on or close to Bagley after they processed the scene, Louisiana State Police Superintendent Col. Lamar Davis stated Monday.

Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith stated he grieves “the lack of one other life right here in Shreveport.”

“After I acquired the decision, my coronary heart bled – because it (does) every time a tragedy happens right here in our space. I responded instantly to the scene to search out out as a lot as I may about what occurred,” Smith advised reporters Monday.

“And as this household mourns, my coronary heart bleeds, and I mourn additionally with them,” he stated, including, “We’ll do our perfect to ensure that it doesn’t happen once more.”

Investigators are reviewing body-worn and dashboard digicam movies and hope to launch them to the general public however haven’t determined when, Davis stated.

“I’m asking for the neighborhood to stay affected person as we proceed to conduct a really thorough investigation,” Davis stated. “Transparency within the investigation is a precedence for our company.”

Bagley’s taking pictures loss of life – and Davis’ plea for the general public’s calm – come as police use of pressure in opposition to folks of colour, notably Black Individuals, is beneath intense scrutiny nationwide. It additionally follows by a few month the brutal beating loss of life caught on tape of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, by Memphis officers conducting what police stated was a visitors cease.

Final 12 months, 4 Louisiana troopers and one other regulation enforcement officer have been indicted on expenses stemming from the in-custody killing of 49-year-old Ronald Greene, a Black man violently overwhelmed by officers throughout an arrest.

Bagley’s household has employed an lawyer following his killing by an officer, based on an announcement from Haley and Associates.

“Our workplace will stroll by means of this course of with the Bagley household to make sure transparency and accountability,” the assertion stated. “Lawyer Ron Haley believes accountability will lead to penalties in each civil and felony courts.”

“This course of does take time; witness statements are nonetheless being obtained and proof is presently being analyzed,” state police stated in its assertion. “On the applicable time, additional data shall be launched in coordination with the Caddo Parish District Lawyer’s Workplace.”

Whereas the investigation continues, “I’m fairly positive that inside the coming days, inside the coming weeks, there shall be extra particulars that we’ll know in regards to the incident and have the ability to additional elaborate on it,” Smith stated.

“However you possibly can relaxation guarantee(d) {that a} thorough investigation will happen. The info indubitably shall be uncovered and revealed, and no matter actions that should be taken.”