Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Victim’s family: Shooting video raises questions
RICHMOND, Va. — The family of a black Virginia man fatally shot by police while naked and unarmed said the release of body-camera footage answered some of their questions about what happened but raised even more.
The video made public Friday shows Marcus-David Peters, 24, emerge naked from a car and dash onto Interstate 95 in Richmond, where he flails erratically before running toward the officer while shouting threats. The officer uses a stun gun before shooting Peters twice.
Police said they are trying to determine if the stun gun was working properly.
Peters’ sister, Princess Blanding, said her brother was clearly distressed and in need of help.
“Furthermore, this entire situation really has me wondering: Who are police trained to help? Who are they serving and protecting? Themselves?” said Blanding.
Peters’ shooting along a busy stretch of Interstate 95 remains under investigation. Police Chief Alfred Durham, who released the video, asked for patience. “Let the investigation take its course, please,” Durham said.
The confrontation began May 14 after police say Peters made a stop at a landmark downtown hotel where he worked part time as a security guard. Surveillance video shows him arriving clothed and leaving naked.
A short distance from the hotel, an officer saw Peters strike another vehicle with his sedan and flee, according to police. The body-camera video picks up with Peters’ car in a brush-filled area next to an interstate ramp.
The officer, identified by police as Michael Nyantakyi, a 10-year member of the force who is also black, is seen with his handgun trained on the vehicle as he first approaches and orders Peters to stay in the car.
No other officers used a stun gun or lethal force. Peters died later at a hospital.