Folks march at a rally for Amir Locke on Saturday, Feb.5, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP Picture/Christian Monterrosa)
MINNEAPOLIS --
Minnesota prosecutors declined to file costs Wednesday in opposition to a Minneapolis police SWAT staff officer who fatally shot Amir Locke whereas executing an early morning no-knock search warrant in a downtown condo in February.
Locke, 22, who was Black, was staying on a sofa in his cousin's condo when authorities entered it on Feb. 2 with out knocking as a part of an investigation right into a murder in neighboring St. Paul.
Prosecutors mentioned physique digicam video confirmed Locke pointed a gun at Officer Mark Hanneman, justifying his use of lethal power. Locke's household has disputed that, arguing that the footage suggests Locke was startled awake and that he grabbed for a gun he was licensed to hold.
Locke's mom, Karen Wells, mentioned she was disgusted by the choice. Showing at a information convention in New York with legal professional Ben Crump and civil rights chief the Rev. Al Sharpton, she vowed to maintain up stress on Minneapolis metropolis leaders, and spoke on to Hanneman.
“This isn't over. You will have been discovered not responsible, however within the eyes of me, being the mom who I'm, you might be responsible,” Wells mentioned. “And I am not going to surrender. Proceed to have your stressed nights, as a result of I do know you do. ... As a result of the spirit of my child goes to hang-out you for the remainder of your life.”
Locke was shot simply seconds after officers entered the condo. The physique digicam footage reveals that Locke was holding a gun earlier than he was shot. His household mentioned he didn't dwell within the condo and the warrant - linked to a murder in St. Paul - didn't identify him as a suspect.
Legal professional Common Keith Ellison and Hennepin County Legal professional Michael Freeman, whose workplaces reviewed the case, mentioned Locke may by no means have been shot if not for the no-knock warrant. However they mentioned there was inadequate proof to show past an affordable doubt that Hanneman violated the state statute governing when police can use lethal power.
“It could be unethical for us to file costs in a case by which we all know that we will be unable to prevail as a result of the legislation doesn't help the costs,” Ellison mentioned.
Locke's loss of life got here as three former Minneapolis cops have been on trial in federal court docket in St. Paul in George Floyd's killing. It sparked protests and a reexamination of no-knock search warrants. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey introduced an instantaneous moratorium on such warrants, and on Tuesday, he formalized a brand new coverage requiring officers to knock and wait earlier than getting into a residence, with restricted exceptions. Some lawmakers have been pushing for a statewide ban on no-knock warrants, besides in uncommon circumstances.
Locke's household was indignant that police initially described him as a suspect, which police later mentioned was a mistake.
“Amir was not a suspect. Our investigation discovered no proof that he had any function within the murder investigation that introduced the police to his door at 6:48 on Feb. 2,” Ellison mentioned. “Amir was a sufferer. He by no means ought to have been referred to as a suspect.”
Of their functions for search warrants of the Minneapolis condo and different areas, authorities mentioned a no-knock warrant was needed to guard the general public and officers as they seemed for weapons, medication and clothes worn by folks suspected in a violent killing. Authorities requested that officers be allowed to conduct the search with out knocking, and out of doors the hours of seven a.m. and eight p.m., as a result of the suspects being sought within the Jan. 10 killing of Otis Elder had a historical past of violence.
Locke was killed seconds after the SWAT staff entered the condo at 6:48 a.m. Physique digicam video reveals an officer utilizing a key to unlock the door and enter, adopted by at the least 4 officers in uniform and protecting vests. As they enter, they repeatedly shout, “Police, search warrant!” In addition they shout “Arms!” and “Get on the bottom!”
The video reveals an officer kicking a sectional couch, and Locke is seen wrapped in a comforter, holding a pistol. Three pictures are heard and the video ends.
Ellison and Freeman mentioned they spoke with Locke's mother and father on Wednesday earlier than saying they would not file costs.
“They, like us, are very pissed off with no-knock warrants. They, like us, consider that if a no-knock warrant hadn't been used Amir Locke may effectively be right here as we speak,” Freeman mentioned, declining to present additional particulars about their dialog.
Sharpton mentioned the household will demand that the U.S. Justice Division overview the case. Crump faulted police for making a life-or-death scenario, and mentioned gun rights teams ought to be a part of with the household in demanding an finish to no-knock warrants.
He linked Locke's loss of life with that of Breonna Taylor, who was killed in a botched police raid in Kentucky in 2020 by which her boyfriend shot at officers first as they broke into her condo.
“As a result of if it may well occur to Amir, it may well occur to Breonna Taylor, it might occur to your youngsters, too,” Crump mentioned.
Though Locke was not named within the warrant, his 17-year-old cousin, Mekhi Camden Velocity, was named and has been charged with two counts of second-degree homicide in Elder's killing.
The search warrants have been carried out as a part of an investigation into Elder's loss of life. Elder, a 38-year-old father, was discovered shot and laying on the street in what police consider was an obvious theft. Medication and cash have been present in Elder's SUV, in line with court docket paperwork.
The police division employed Hanneman in 2015. Metropolis data present there have been three complaints made about him and that every one have been closed with out him being disciplined, however they provide no particulars. Knowledge on the web site of the citizen group Communities United Towards Police Brutality reveals a fourth criticism, in 2018, that continues to be open. No particulars got.
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Related Press author Amy Forliti contributed.
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