Richmond police department Archives | Page 4 of 6

Can Restorative Justice Help Fix a Damaged System?

Maggie Campbell | July 6, 2018

Topics: Chief Durham, Marcus-David Peters, Mayor Levar Stoney, Police Accountability, restorative justice, Richmond Chief Of Police, Richmond police department, RPD

In the wake of the shooting of Marcus-David Peters, who was shot and killed by a Richmond Police Officer on I-95 after appearing unstable, demands from community organizers and local citizens have introduced the notion of using restorative justice within law enforcement reformation.

These demands have forced RPD (Richmond Police Department) and Richmonders alike to ask what type of reformation do we need, and how would restorative justice help ease complicated situations between law enforcement, victims, and even criminals. Princess Blanding, Peters’ sister, said she is calling for reformation within the Richmond Police Department after the death of her brother.

“The Richmond Police Department needs to take accountability and ownership in regards to what happens and acknowledge that things went wrong, so we can move forward in preventing this from happening again,” Blanding said.

Protest for Justice for Marcus-David Peters

Blanding and other activists hosted a community meeting at Second Baptist Church on June 30 to discuss these reformations. They had publicly and personally invited Chief Alfred Durham and Mayor Levar Stoney to the meeting, but neither appeared.

Blanding said Stoney contacted the family on the day of the meeting to say he would not be able to attend, but is keeping the Peters family in his thoughts and prayers. Stoney’s press office said in an email that the mayor would consider engaging with the family at the appropriate time, but he is not able to talk about the investigation until it is completed.

Blanding said she received no response from Durham; however, Durham said he would hold a community meeting about the investigation, once the case is handed over to the Commonwealth Attorney. Blanding said the invitation requested both Durham and Stoney to attend the meeting in order to listen to community concerns, but were never asked to speak.

Daniel Foxvog, executive director of The Virginia Center for Restorative Justice (VCRJ), said it is critical that the victims’ needs are recognized in any instance of harm.

Restorative justice is a term that has appeared more often in Richmond, but is a relatively unknown practice within the criminal justice system. Since its creation in the 1970’s, the field has been an alternative approach to the court system, but has only recently been pushed into the widespread narrative of criminal reform. VCRJ has worked to provide this alternative approach for juveniles, especially.

Judy Clarke, founder and immediate past executive director of the Virginia Center for Restorative Justice, said the center focuses on training volunteers to become restorative justice facilitators. The volunteers work to receive statewide security clearance through the Virginia Department of Corrections and Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice.

The center also organizes ‘circle processes’ and restorative justice conferences. The ‘circles’ and conferences are where the major rehabilitation happens–they are conversations between offenders, victims and their communities about the impact the offender’s crime had on all parties involved.

Foxvog said there are two key principles to understanding the most effective form of restorative justice: addressing harm and the need and obligations following that harm. Foxvog said that crime, and other types of violence, creates harm that victims and offenders should be discussing to address the harm’s impact.

“When someone is burglarized or hurt there are needs that result in that, needs of the victim, the direct victim, the person who has lost property or suffered physical damage,” Foxvog said. “There’s also the needs for the community, for safety, for well-being, for trust, for being able to have senses of wholeness.”

The offender has needs as well, Foxvog said, that could have contributed to the crime committed. Restorative justice works with each party to reconcile conflict and built a new sense of healing, trust, and penitence. The ideal outcome of restorative justice is that the offender never commits crime again.

Clarke said the center is in four Virginia State Prisons: three female adult prisons and one male prison. The center also has a diversion program for juvenile offenders, which helps juvenile offenders create solutions for their actions rather than go to jail by offering counseling resources.

VCRJ connects with cases on a referral basis. Referrals usually come from an intake or probation officer, either before or after a decision has been made in court. The center first sends a letter to the victim and the offender, then meets with victims who respond to the letter and listen to their needs and priorities. Next, they meet with the offender to gather their version of events, what led them to commit the crime, and the impact the crime had on them. Oftentimes, the offender has already admitted guilt. One of the last steps is to join both parties.

While the center has been recognized in juvenile courts, they are not recognized in civil or district courts, meaning alternatives to jail provided for juveniles through the center are not currently available to adults. Clarke has requested that Foxvog, who became executive director on July 1, pursue getting recognized in those courts with Mike Herring, Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney. They hope that in future, methods like restorative justice can be used to remedy some of the pain and confusion both for offenders and victims, like those in the Marcus-David Peters case.

“I would also say that for police departments and law enforcement agencies being able to have a relationship of trust with the communities is very critical,” Foxvog said. “It’s critical for them to be able to function and it’s critical for the communities themselves to be able to trust the police departments, and officers, and for everyone to be able to be treated with respect.”

Foxvog and Clarke rely on volunteers to make the center work. The center offers training and opportunities for volunteers to participate in conferences and jail programs in individual areas.

Family of Marcus Peters Demands Police Reforms at City Council Tonight

Maggie Campbell | June 11, 2018

Topics: Lethal Force, Marcus Peters, Police Killing, richmond, Richmond city council, Richmond police department, virginia

The demand for justice in the killing of Marcus-David Peters moved from the streets to the council meeting room Monday night.

After a march for justice and reformation for Peters on June 2, family and community members addressed city council to call for transparency and an examination into Richmond Police Department’s crisis intervention training during the citizen comment period of the meeting.

As the demonstrators sat in the back of the gallery wearing burgundy and demanding justice for the actions by the department, Richmond City Council recognized Deputy Police Chief Steven R. Drew for his service to the community. Drew has no direct connection to the investigation, but offered a stark juxtaposition to Peters’ sister, Princess Blanding, who took to the podium a short time later.

Blanding, in her address, focused on the need for better crisis intervention training and response, asking the RPD to release the curriculum for the training so it could be assessed for its effectiveness. Throughout her address, she also insisted that the current communication by the department did not demonstrate transparency.

“If what you have done so far is what you call being transparent, the community and I will pass on what you have to offer because there are still so many unanswered questions,” Blanding said. After the community comment, Blanding spoke with RVA Mag and said she was hopeful that city council was receptive to her and others comments.

“I’m going to be very optimistic and hope they are being very receptive and they plan on joining with us in this movement to continue to fight for justice and reformation,” Blanding said.

Lynetta Thompson, a former president of the Richmond NAACP, also spoke, asking the police department for more transparency.

Chief Durham Listening to the Family and Supporters of Marcus Peters

“In order for the people to be heard, in order for the people to have full accountability, it is important that we not only talk about transparency, but that we actually exemplify it by not protecting those that got it wrong,” Thompson said. “When something is wrong it is important that management and administrations admit that sometimes they get it wrong.”

Rebecca Keel, a conflict resolution specialist, has been outspoken in calling for an end to the murdering and dehumanization of black and brown people. At council she claimed the family is due an official apology.

“One must admit harm when harm is done and that is truly how we as a society, and we as a city, begin our healing,” Keel said.

Family, friends, and community members had previously gathered on June 2 at the Siegel Center to remember the untimely death of Peters. The hundreds of marchers ended up at police headquarters where they continued their primary chant of, “help not death.” Signs bearing the phrase were held up by many demonstrators in burgundy during the comments at council.

Princess Blanding, Sister of Marcus Peters

“My disappointment continues at the higher levels, instead of taking responsibility and stating that you all messed up and extending you sincerest condolences to my family, the Richmond Police Department was insincere, insensitive, judgemental, and prepared to defend your officer without releasing information to the public,” Blanding said.

Activists and Family Take to the Streets to March for Justice in the Police Killing of Marcus Peters

Sarah Honosky | June 2, 2018

Topics: Marcus Peters, Police, Police Accountability, richmond, Richmond police department, social justice, virginia

“Help, not death.” That was the chant that permeated today’s march that ended at the Richmond Police Department (RPD) headquarters, where hundreds of people demanded justice and reformation for Marcus Peters – an unarmed black man in mental distress who was shot and killed by a Richmond police officer on May 14.

“We are here in honor of Marcus-David Peters and other folks who have fallen victim and died at the hands of state-sanctioned violence,” said Jasmine Leeward, a New Virginia Majority representative who was one of the march organizers. “We are trying to band together as a community to show that Marcus’ life mattered, and other victims of state-sanctioned violence, their lives mattered, and to call for justice, accountability, and reformation.” She also acknowledged that there needs to be more clarity and compassion and “less violence” when it comes to people who are in a mental health crisis.

Throughout the march, there was a constant, but impassioned reprise from those who attended: That Peters needed “help, not death”. On the day that Peters was killed, he was having an unidentified episode of mental distress – something which is far too common in the US – especially as police come into contact with people who are having these episodes. According to Chief Alfred Durham in a press conference last week, officers only receive 40 hours of training on how to handle issues surrounding mental health.

Nonetheless, Peters was the 425th person to be fatally shot by a law enforcement officer this year, according to The Washington Post’s Fatal Force database.

Peters’ aunt, Taisha Peters, a mental health worker said that it is crucial for things to be handled differently, especially when it comes to the treatment of those who are mentally ill. “That’s primarily why I’m here, to support reformation for not just my nephew who lost his life, but others who may happen to also. [The RPD is] ill-equipped. They don’t have proper training, they’ve admitted that themselves on the record…That’s no excuse for what they did.”

The march began at VCU’s Siegel Center at 1 pm, before departing on the mile-long trek to the RPD headquarters on Grace Street. For the family and friends of Peters, the march retraced the steps which ultimately culminated in a life cut short; beginning at the place where Peters graduated with honors, past the Jefferson where he worked part-time, eventually ending at RPD headquarters.

“We out here to ensure that justice is served for Marcus David-Peters. Marcus, as has been echoed by his sister Princess many times, deserved to have the opportunity to be helped and should not have been killed in the process,” said marcher Antonio Redd, wearing a burgundy shirt with Peters’ face emblazoned on the front. The march organizers asked attendees to wear burgundy, Peters’ favorite color. “For other people experiencing a mental health crisis, we want to ensure that they receive the proper help that they need in order to survive, opposed to being killed in the process.”

And the crowd that gathered in front of the Siegel Center was flooded with burgundy, along with a sea of signs clamoring for justice and reformation. A giant yellow banner was carried throughout the afternoon asking, “What if Marcus Peters was your son, would his death still be justifiable?”

A cabal of different organizations and individuals joined today’s march, including Democratic Socialists of America, Industrial Workers of the World, Iraq veterans, along with members of various black churches, people committed to social justice, and those who simply thought the death of Peters was an abuse of police power all rallied to support Peters’ family.

Ozzie, an Iraq veteran who chose to only give his first name, said the Richmond Police Department’s actions are out of control. “In the military, we show a lot more restraint. In that situation, we could have detained that person. The police didn’t show the same level of restraint. I think it’s the mindset of a lot of police to escalate the situation instead of de-escalating them.”

Before the march to RPD officially began, speakers including march organizer Rebecca Keel and Pastor of Second Baptist Church, Dr. James Henry Harris took to the podium.

“We are not here by coincidence,” said Keel. “We are here to affirm the dignity of Marcus’ life, the value of his life, the force of his life. We are here to say to this country, to this state, to this city, the police department that we must end the murder and dehumanization of black and brown people.”

VCU community organizers Khudai Tanveer and Taylor Davis also confronted the silence from the university on the death of Peters with an open letter detailing demands to the university and holding the school accountable for their lack of response on one of their alum. “We are allowing for 18 days from the initial receipt of this letter for the release of the stance critical on the use of force. We are generously selecting 18 days when it only took 18 seconds to make a decision that ultimately ended the life of Marcus-David Peters,” said Tanveer.

Next up was Harris, a pastor, who delivered an impassioned speech referring to the police as the new slave master. “None of us are free until all of us are free,” he told the contemplative crowd. “The former capital of the Confederacy has a new day coming.”

As the march snaked through the city on the way to the RPD, it included an unannounced stop at the Jefferson Hotel where march goers drowned the hotel in chants, shouting, “Shame on you, Jefferson,” in reference to the hotel not reaching out to Peters’ family during the incident. Despite this and the muggy 80-degree heat, the crowd rarely slowed, ignited with an energy and mission that pushed well beyond the simple march, making it clear that this is more than just a political statement.

Eventually arriving at RPD headquarters just as it began to rain, more speakers took to the podium right at the front entrance to the main building. No one from the police made an appearance or spoke to the marchers and Durham’s absence was noted by some of the marchers – some saying that it felt like an admittance of guilt.

Princess Blanding, the sister of Peters, read six demands, among them a call for RPD to publicly release what their crisis intervention training looks like so it can be thoroughly assessed for effectiveness. She also called for the creation of a “Marcus Alert,” a way for the community to “call on mental health professionals to respond when community members are clearly in crisis,” as opposed to immediately deferring to the police, which can escalate the encounter.

Princess Blanding Reading Demands in front of RPD

She ended the list of demands on the now familiar phrase, “Again, Marcus needed help, not death.”

On the heels of RPD’s reported excessive force against autistic Chesterfield teen McKhyl Dickerson the week before, reformation is needed now more than ever. The 2017 Police Violence Report shows that while black people are more likely to be unarmed, and less likely to be threatening, they are more likely to be killed by the police. This was a theme in today’s march as the names of black people killed by the police were never far away; names like Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Sandra Bland, and now Marcus Peters.

Today’s march for justice and reformation for Marcus Peters was also a response to the systematic and institutionalized mistreatment, violence, and over-incarceration against minorities in the US by police. In 2018, questions over accountability and transparency remain more critical than ever, more so when connected to ongoing challenges in how police deal with those who appear to be having a mental health crisis. Instead of vilifying those that are experiencing such an episode, the city needs to look for better mechanisms to help those in need. This is the only way this city will be able to move forward from this incident.

Some of the other photos from today’s march can be found below:

Photos by Landon Shroder

Body-Cam Footage of Marcus Peters’ Shooting Released by Richmond Police Department

Landon Shroder | May 25, 2018

Topics: Chief Durham, Marcus Peters, mental health, Police Killing, Richmond police department, vcu

Richmond Police Department (RPD) held a press conference this morning to release footage showing the officer-involved shooting of Marcus Peters on May 14 at 5:33 p.m.

Peters, a VCU graduate and biology teacher at Essex High School in Tappahannock, was shot and killed by RPD Officer Michael Nytantaki – who is currently on paid administrative leave – after crashing his car on the 95/64 highway interchange. Peters, who was naked at the time, was rolling on the ground and dancing in the street before being tased and eventually shot in the abdomen. He died shortly after midnight. The medical examiner has listed the death of Peters as a homicide.

The press conference, chaired by Chief Alfred Durham, was an emotional presentation of the circumstances surrounding the death of Peters and included video from the Jefferson Hotel, traffic cameras, along with footage from the officer’s body-worn camera. Before the footage was shown, Durham addressed the room by saying there has been a lot of misinformation circulating about the incident, but noting that the press conference was an attempt to maintain transparency – something he said remained one of the highest priorities for the department.

“The RPD understands the concerns and impact this has had on our community,” Durham said. “As many of you know, I have been a champion of transparency since assuming command of the Richmond Police Department.”

As footage played, Durham talked through the scenes depicted, which included video from the Jefferson Hotel, where Peters was a part-time employee. The video showed Peters walking through the hotel without his shirt on before he stops to speak with other employees in a service hallway. He eventually leaves the hotel and gets into his car without any of his clothes, which were later found on Franklin Avenue.

The next clips consisted of traffic camera footage of Peters speeding down Main Street before turning on to Belvidere, where he was eventually spotted by Nytantaki, who followed him on to the interstate where the encounter took place.

The entire encounter between Peters and Nytantaki, according to the footage, clocked in at one minute and 16 seconds. During this time Peters can be seen getting out of his car, running in the direction of traffic, dancing, and exhibiting odd behavior, before being struck by a vehicle on the highway. Nytantaki can he heard speaking to police dispatch over the radio as Peters left his vehicle, saying, “seems to be mentally unstable, as we speak.”

As the encounter unfolds, Peters can be seen getting up and shouting, “I’ve figured it out. I’m living the dream.” He then proceeds to charge the officer who had his taser drawn, saying, “Back the fuck up. Put the taser down or I’ll kill you.”

Shortly after, Nytantaki deployed his taser. Yet according to Durham, only one prong made contact with Peters, rendering it ineffective. From here Nytantaki re-draws his service weapon, discharging two shots into Peters’ abdomen before he eventually tumbles to the ground. A state trooper can be seen shortly afterward asking Nytantaki to “holster your weapon for me”, while police officers arriving at the scene attempted to administer first aid to Peters.

“You see officers there putting on gloves. Whenever we use our force, we are to render aid,” said Durham, responding to a question about additional officers who appeared to be standing around idly.

During the question and answer session, an emotional Durham addressed the mental health aspect of the incident. “I looked at what it would take to become a psychologist, psychiatrist, mental health counselor, five to eight years of training. Our police department gives our officers 40 hours,” he said.

“Folks just want to beat us up without having the facts – that hurts, ladies and gentlemen. It hurts the morale of the men and women in our department, and it hurts me, because I have to stand up here and explain what people don’t understand.”

RPD’s Force Investigative Team is currently leading the investigation with support from the FBI, which is standard procedure for incidents that involve the deadly use of force. Durham would not comment on any aspects of the investigation, only taking questions about the content shown in the video footage at the press conference.

Princess Blanding, the sister of Peters, spoke to the press a short time later, saying, “I am extremely appalled that Chief Durham tried to defend the killing of my brother Marcu Peters. Marcus needed help, not death.” She did not comment on his mental health, only saying that the family had never seen any behavior like that in the video. An event called Demanding Justice for Marcus Peters: A Speak-Out & Mobilization has already been planned and will be taking place at Second Baptist Church, West End tomorrow.

Peters was the 412th person to be shot and killed by law enforcement in the US this year, according to the Washington Post’s Fatal Force tracker. This incident also follows reporting of excessive force against an autistic teen by the RPD earlier this month.

Madelyne Ashworth and Sarah Kerndt contributed to this report. Photo of Chief Durham by Landon Shroder

RPD to Release Body-Cam Footage of Marcus-David Peters Shooting

RVA Staff | May 18, 2018

Topics: Marcus-David Peters, Officer Involved Shooting, Richmond police department, RPD

*This is a developing story.

The Richmond Police Department (RPD) announced yesterday that it will release the “body-worn” footage of the officer-involved shooting last Monday, which ended in the death of school teacher, Marcus-David Peters. A press release issued by the RPD said, “Continuing its commitment to transparency, the Richmond Police Department plans to release the body-worn camera video of the police-involved shooting last Monday. Chief Alfred Durham has offered the first opportunity to show the video to the family of Marcus-David Peters.”

According to the statement, the footage will be released once the family of Peters has had a chance to view it. “My primary concern during this difficult time has been for the family and for my officer,” said Chief Durham in the release, going on to say the family remains “greatly affected” by the “tragic loss of life.”

The RPD has said that the footage will be made available to the public during a press conference once the family has had a chance to view it. Subsequently, they have also announced that the department will review their training “covering the use of deadly force.” The press release also alluded to the fact that the video will help clear up any misinformation surrounding the case and that “the facts are what should matter”.

Durham finished by saying, “The Richmond Police Department has worked hard to develop trust with the community…I hope that by releasing this video we can maintain that positive relationship.”

Photo by City of Richmond

Community Responds After RPD Fatally Shoots Unarmed Black Man

Lana Ferguson | May 17, 2018

Topics: Richmond police department, RPD shooting

Marcus-David L. Peters’ will never see his 25th birthday. He’ll never get to hug his mom again or teach biology at Tappahannock’s Essex High School to young, eager students.

Earlier this week, Peters was shot and killed by a Richmond police officer after crashing his car off Interstate 95/64.

According to The Root, Peters, who was naked at the time, was dancing and rolling around on the interstate. He then charged the officer, who deployed his taser to disable Peters. When the taser did not work, the officer pulled his gun and shot Peters in the abdomen. Peters, who died hours later, was unarmed at the time of the incident.

Police have yet to say whether drugs, alcohol or any sort of mental disorder played a part in the incident.

“It’s always tragic when we lose a life in the city,” Mayor Levar Stoney said in an exclusive statement to RVA Magazine. “I expect the Richmond Police Department to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation and to share its findings with the public. In the meantime, our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Mr. Peters.”

Peters was the 399th person to be fatally shot in the United States this year by a law enforcement officer, according to The Washington Post’s Fatal Force database. The database organizes information from every fatal shooting in the nation by a law enforcement officer in the line of duty since 2015.

So far in 2018, 21 percent of the shooting victims were black men and at least 15 of them had a mental illness. Daryl Fraser, a licensed social worker, and professor at VCU School of Social Work believes that some sort of mental disorder or episode could have played a role in this situation.

“Marcus Peters was a man,” he said. “I would hate for people to walk away from this situation just remembering him as a victim of police violence. I don’t want him to just be recognized as a naked man on the highway. I want people to know that mental illness can impact anybody regardless of whether you have a college degree or not. It affects you whether you are a black man or not.”

For Fraser, Peters’ story is personal.

When I look at that situation that young man could have been me,” he said. “That young man could have been my brother. He’s somebody’s son. He’s a teacher. He also graduated from the institution I graduated from. The institution that I currently teach at.

Frasier said these situations happen so much that there’s a vicarious trauma that comes along with it for him as a black man, it is hard to look at those things because he knows it’ll impact him later.

He also stressed it’s important for people to learn from Peters’ story, though, especially in regards to mental health. He said education on mental health is important because certain behaviors can be misinterpreted as aggressive or violent or bizarre.

“With Marcus Peters, the misinterpretation of those behaviors can lead to someone being killed that didn’t need to be killed,” Fraser said. “Someone that might need help can end up a victim, they can be arrested, they can be physically hurt.”

Fraser said it’s particularly important for police officers to be able to recognize these behaviors.

“I do understand they have a duty to protect and serve, but if you have an interpretation of what a behavior is, you can have more empathy as opposed to feeling like you have to hurt or punish someone,” he said.

He said the community and the police need to reflect on the situation we’re now in and figure out how to work so what happened to Peters doesn’t have to happen to someone else’s son or daughter.

“I don’t want to just make it us versus them and us versus the police,” Fraser said. “There are ways that we can actually deal with and address this so somebody doesn’t have to lose their life. You have to have the right professionals to be able to handle that. People will quickly say a police officer has to be safe, and I get that, but this man was naked. There are ways to de-escalate a person where you don’t have to take their life.”

The Richmond Police Department has been investigated for using excessive force two times within the last two weeks. In both incidents, the victim was an unarmed black male.

On May 6, McKhyl Dickerson was admitted to the hospital with contusions, abrasions, and other injuries that put him on crutches after an officer “slammed him against the wall and on to the ground,” according to his grandmother.

He is a 14-year-old student diagnosed with autism and an auditory processing disorder – a condition that affects listening and comprehension – who was just trying to run home to his grandmother’s house like he was always taught to do.

Richmond activist and clinician Chelsea Higgs Wise has more than 10 years of experience as a mental health program provider.

She said it doesn’t appear like RPD is taking the steps to train everyone in the Crisis Intervention Training that is supposed to be taking place in police departments and that’s important to look at. She said there’s other factors, too, though.

“I’m a big believer that police brutality is rooted deeper than just the police system, it goes back to Jim Crow and the way that we look at black people and have been policed forever,” Wise said. “As far as Richmond, we’re the former capital of the Confederacy and so that is still very true in our own city.”

She said mental health is also a factor and it’s important to know police interact with black people with mental health illnesses all of the time, especially in Richmond with such a high rate of mental illness in the local black community.

African Americans are 20 percent more likely to experience serious mental health problems than the general population, according to the Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health.

“The whole idea of somebody being naked and being a threat speaks volumes to what Black Lives Matters means,” Wise said. “His black body was the biggest threat to him when he wasn’t armed with anything else. Just his black body.”

Atari Maddox and Taneasha White began the Black Minds Matter Project while they were students at VCU in 2016. The project does work online and in the community to focus on education about mental health in the black community and empowerment to exist freely within the society during the era of the Black Lives Matter Movement. They also have a radio show on WRIR.

Maddox and White agree that education on mental health is an important part of combating police brutality. When it comes to mental health and stigma, Maddox added people of color are already at a disadvantage.

“Black people are already seen as one, criminals, and two, always being hyper-aggressive whether they are in a mode to be like combative,” she said. “Then, when you add having a mental disorder that’s like a triple negative. That in itself is very loaded. Mental health disorders are very common so there has to be a conversation about victimhood and mental disorder.”

White said people need to be more aware of their inherent biases and fix those.

“The fact that the people mistreated recently had mental health disorders magnifies how black bodies are automatically vilified when people can’t even recognize someone is mentally unstable and help, you’re automatically afraid or you’re automatically in danger,” White said. “You’re not even looking at this person as a person.”

Peters’ death has been ruled a homicide by the Medical Examiner’s Office and the internal investigation is still ongoing. According to a press release from the Richmond Police Department, the officer involved in the shooting was Michael Nyantakyi, a black male who is a 10-year veteran of the force. He is currently on administrative leave.

Photo By: Peters Family Photo, Courtesy of Richmond Times-Dispatch