California police killed an unarmed, mentally ill black man after his sister asked them to help him
Police in El Cajon, CA, shot and killed an unarmed black man, 30-year-old Alfred Olango, on Tuesday afternoon, causing protests to break out in the San Diego suburb.
Police claimed to be responding to reports that Olango was walking in and out of traffic by a strip mall, as well as to a phone call by a woman who identified herself as Olango’s sister. The woman informed police that her brother was mentally ill and that he needed their help.
But two officers responding to the call opened fire on Olango simultaneously with a pistol and a Taser, killing him.
Witness and police accounts of how the shooting happened differ. Lt. Rob Ransweiler said at a Tuesday press conference that officers opened fire because Olango did not “comply with directives” and that he “rapidly drew an object” with both hands on it “like you would be holding a firearm.” But multiple people told the San Diego Union Tribune that they saw Olango being confronted by officers with his hands in the air.
Regardless of the differing accounts, no one disputes that Olango was completely unarmed.
El Cajon Police Chief Jeff Davis said at a Tuesday press conference that video shot by a bystander verifies the police’s version of what happened and released a still frame appearing to show officers and Olango pointing weapons at each other. But Davis said the department would not release video collected from witnesses until the district attorney has had a chance to review the evidence.