The death of Keenan Anderson, a Black Lives Matter co-cousin, founder’s has prompted outrage in the United States and revived criticism of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), who Tasered the English teacher multiple times before he had a cardiac arrest.
They’re attempting to make me George Floyd. In police body camera footage, 31-year-old Anderson is heard stating, “They’re trying to George Floyd me,” a reference to Floyd’s police killing in 2020 that ignited widespread racial justice demonstrations around the globe.
The video, dated January 3 and made public this week, shows police telling Anderson to “stop resisting” as he lies on the ground being restrained by policemen. Then one of the officers declares that he will taze Anderson.
They’re attempting to murder me. As the Taser is activated, Anderson shouts out, “They’re trying to kill me,” begging the officers to “save me.” He later passed away at a hospital.
The killing is one of three that have been connected to the LAPD so far in 2023.
Takar Smith, 45, was fatally shot by police on January 2 when they said he was brandishing a knife. His wife first dialed 911 because Smith had broken his restraining order, and she later informed the dispatchers that Smith had schizophrenia and wasn’t taking his medication.
Additionally, on January 3 – the same day Anderson was killed – police opened fire on Oscar Sanchez, 35, when the LAPD claimed he approached them while brandishing a “makeshift spear.”
Following the Wednesday release of body camera footage from all three altercations by the LAPD, Chief Michel Moore expressed his “great concern.”
Smith’s death was determined to be a homicide from gunshot wounds, but Anderson and Sanchez’s deaths are still under investigation.
Police captain Kelly Muniz stated in a video statement that was included with the body camera footage that “we are still at the very early phases of this investigation, which may typically take up to a year to complete.”
“As new evidence is gathered, examined, and reviewed, our perspective of the incident could alter. We also reserve judgment regarding whether the officers’ actions were in accordance with the law and our rules until all the facts are known and the inquiry is finished.
However, the three fatalities have already raised new concerns about US police violence and its disproportionate impact on Black neighborhoods.
In contrast to statistics provided by the US National Vital Statistics System, a study published in the medical journal The Lancet in 2021 found that between 1980 and 2018, there were 30,800 deaths nationwide caused by police brutality. It claimed that the government-run system did not receive reports for more than half of all fatalities.
The non-Hispanic Black population and the Hispanic community were found to have the highest rates of lethal police violence, according to the report.
Patrisse Cullors, Anderson’s cousin, wrote on Instagram, “Keenan deserves to be living right now, and his child deserves to be nurtured by his father.” The hashtag “#BlackLivesMatter” was developed by writer and activist Cullors, who also led the movement.
We will fight for you and all of our loved ones who have been affected by state violence, Keenan,” she concluded. I cherish you.
The Washington, DC school where Anderson worked, Digital Pioneers Academy, also demanded justice for the “very committed educator.”
Mashea Ashton, the school’s founder and CEO, stated in a statement that “Keenan is the third member of our school community to fall prey to violence in the previous 65 days.” “This fall, two of our high school classmates, Jakhi Snider, 15, and Antione Manning, 14, both died as a result of gun violence.
“Our neighborhood is in mourning. But we also feel irritated. angry that yet another well-known, adored, and respected member of our community has passed away. Angry by the premature passing of another talented, gorgeous black person.
Karen Bass, a doctor and former member of the US Congress, was elected as Los Angeles’ first Black woman mayor in November. Los Angeles is the most populous city in California.
She urged the LAPD to speed up the adoption of “proven changes” to address the use of excessive force and enhance mental health care after expressing “grave concerns” about the police film that was made public in the wake of the three most recent fatalities.
“However these investigations turn out, it is obvious that change is needed immediately. Overall, we must use less force, and I will not put up with using excessive force, Bass stated in a statement.
Finally, we must lead our city in addressing the mental health problem that has been allowed to spread, wreak havoc on individual Angelenos, their families, and our neighborhoods.
On January 3, at about 3:35 p.m. local time (23:35 p.m. GMT), a traffic officer was flagged down after a collision on Venice Boulevard, according to police. According to the other drivers, Anderson was to blame for the collision.
The police captain, Muniz, stated in a video statement that the individual was acting erratically and ran in the center of the street.
In the body camera clip, Anderson is heard jogging through an intersection and yelling, “Someone’s trying to murder me, sir.”
In the footage, Anderson is told to “get up against the wall” by an officer riding a motorbike. In agreement, Anderson crosses the street and kneels down with his hands behind his head.
He tells the officer he misplaced the key to his car and reiterates that he fears for his life, saying, “Please, sir, I didn’t mean to, sir.”
The motorcycle police again commands Anderson to the ground as Anderson stands back up and enters the road in a subsequent piece of video. He agrees, settling into a chair with his hands raised in the air.
Then, several officers advance to take down Anderson. He begs you not to do this. “They’re attempting to murder me.”
At that point, the officers make a Taser threat.
A police officer can be heard threatening to tase the person if they don’t stop.
Anderson had “increasingly gotten irate, uncooperative, and resisted the officers,” according to Muniz’s statement that was included with the body camera footage.
The video shows Anderson being repeatedly Tasered by an officer as he is placed in handcuffs and is lying on his back.
At the incident, the Los Angeles Fire Department provided medical assistance. Anderson was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Santa Monica, where he was pronounced dead at around 8:15 that night (4:15 GMT).
According to Anderson’s place of employment, he spent his winter break traveling to Los Angeles to see family. He was the father of a son who was six years old.
