The police shooting of a black man holding a sword as part of a Japanese anime costume has been deemed justified, Utah County Attorney Jeff Buhman said Monday in a news conference.
Darrien Hunt, 22, was shot on Sept. 10 by two Saratoga Springs officers after they claim they feared for their lives and the safety of others in the shopping center where Hunt was carrying the fake sword. The officers fired seven times, killing Hunt and setting off a storm of criticism from the young man’s family, who claim he was treated differently because of his race.
An autopsy determined Hunt didn’t have any drugs in his system. He died from multiple gunshot wounds, including several to the back of his body.
The two officers involved are white. They claim the 22-year-old swung the sword in their direction. The officers also say Hunt fled and disobeyed orders to drop the sword after he was hit by gunfire, disregarding the fact the young man was hurt.
Police Cpl. Matthew Schauerhamer and Officer Nicholas Judson spotted Hunt and began having a normal conversation with him, Buhman said. Hunt said he wanted a ride to a nearby city but when they asked him to give up his sword, he refused and his demeanor changed. That’s when he swung the 3-foot metal sword at them, Buhman said.
“This happened so quickly, violently and without provocation the officers had to use what was most immediately available to them, which was their firearms,” Buhman said. He said the investigation uncovered no trace that race or ethnicity played a role in the incident.
But Hunt’s family maintains his actions did not warrant the use of deadly force.
The Hunt family hopes a lawsuit would bring changes in police training, attorney Bob Sykes said.
“So many young men and young women are being shot down and killed by police officers improperly using deadly force,” he said.
He said the sword Hunt used was decorative, but Buhman argued could have hurt someone.
At the news conference in Provo, officials showed the narrow, metal, 3-foot long sword.
“The tip is sharp and the blade, maybe it’s not sharpened to Ginsu or chef standards, but it’s sharp enough to cut,” Buhman said. “It is not dulled.”
Hunt’s family plans to file a civil rights and wrongful death lawsuit. Sykes believes a jury would disagree with the finding that the shooting was justified — a decision that was based on interviews with the officers involved and three witnesses.
Saratoga Springs Police Chief Andrew Burton said in a statement he’s pleased with the findings, while recognizing that the ruling may not bring closure to the Hunt family.
“It is our hope that the community can now move forward in the healing process,” Burton said.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Hunt’s family as they fight to obtain justice for their son.
SOURCE: Huffington Post | PHOTO CREDIT: Handout
