DC police release body camera video of officer who shot and killed Justin Robinson
A little more than a week after the deadly shooting Justin RobinsonWashington DC police have released body camera footage of a 26-year-old man known in the area as a violence interventionist for the city’s Cure The Streets program. His family initially objected to the release of the footage. However, according to Fox5They changed their mind over the weekend, leading to a release on Monday (September 9).
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Body camera footage shows Justin Robinson’s interaction with DC police
According to The Washington PostThe fatal shooting occurred on September 1. Local police responded to a car accident outside a McDonald’s in the southeast area, specifically the 2500 block of Marion Barry Avenue. When they arrived on the scene, Robinson was reportedly passed out in the restaurant’s drive-thru with what appeared to be a gun in his lap. Two officers said they opened fire on Robinson after he allegedly tried to grab an officer’s gun and refused to drop his weapon. Robinson was pronounced dead at the scene.
The footage that has now been released consists of two videos, each 18 to 19 minutes long. At first, the officers can be heard discussing how to unlock and get Justin out of the car. The footage shows at least six officers at the scene. They eventually decide to block the car by parking in front and behind it. While this conversation is taking place, Justin regains consciousness. In the footage, one officer yells, “We’ve got movement,” and then they approach the car, yelling at Justin to take his hand off the gun and put it up.
After Robinson partially rolled down the window, Officer Bryan Gilchrist pointed his weapon through it at Justin. According to video and police, the 26-year-old reached for the officer’s gun and grabbed it with his left hand. At that point, Officer Gilchrist allegedly yelled, “I’ll shoot you in the fucking face,” before shooting the 26-year-old man 10 times, according to The Washington Post. Another officer, Vasco Mateus, shoot again
The video then shows a weapon falling into Justin’s thigh, which the sheriff said was held in his left hand. The officers continued to yell at Justin to put his hands up before opening the door, pulling his body out and administering medical aid.
WARNING: Watch body camera footage below.
Here’s what happens next
The two officers who opened fire, Gilchrist and Mateus, have been placed on paid administrative leave, according to the Washington Post. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is also investigating the incident. Once the investigation is complete, the MPD will conduct an internal investigation.
An attorney for Justin Robinson’s family has challenged the story that Justin grabbed the police officer’s gun. Instead, attorney Brandon Burrell said Robinson had a “natural reaction” to waking up with a gun pointed at his face.
“He woke up and saw a gun inches from his face. His natural inclination was to move the gun away. The MPD officers began firing and continued to fire at Justin even after they moved out of his reach. What happened to Justin was not de-escalation, it was disproportionate and it was unreasonable. It was brutal,” Burrell said, according to TWP.
This is a developing story.
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