While the police shooting of an unarmed black 18-year-old in Ferguson, Mo., continues to get considerable attention, another shooting of a black man by white police officers, near Dayton, Ohio, has been met with a more measured response.
Beavercreek, Ohio, is a mostly white, moderately affluent city of about 40,000. On Aug. 5, 22-year-old John Crawford III of nearby Fairfield was shopping at a Wal-Mart there.
While inside the store, and on the phone with the mother of his two young children, Crawford stopped in a toy aisle and picked up a Crosman MK-177 air rifle BB gun — an item Wal-Mart sells.
Crawford held the BB gun while walking and talking on the phone. He was unaware that another customer inside the store had called 911.
The first two officers on the scene say they gave Crawford two chances to drop the gun and then fired their weapons when he did not comply. Crawford was hit in the torso and died of his injuries a short time later.
Crawford wasn't the only casualty. Shots fired by police created panic, and 37-year-old Angela Williams collapsed in the store and later died.
Beavercreek Police Chief Dennis Evers said his officers reacted appropriately. "The quick response from officers was instrumental in containing this situation and minimizing the risk to customers," Evers said.
But Evers quickly turned over the investigation to Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine's office.
The Crawford family demanded to see Wal-Mart's in-store surveillance videos, but DeWine's office refused, saying that would compromise the investigation.
DeWine's office says it has collected significant evidence and spoken with at least 50 witnesses. Last month, the attorney general showed a portion of the video to John Crawford's family.
"Like all of us, Mr. Crawford's parents have questions about how this tragic event unfolded, and I felt it was only right that they be included as early as possible in this investigation," DeWine said.
Crawford family attorney Michael Wright also watched that video.
"This was the unjust killing of John Crawford," Wright said. "There's absolutely no indication that the police gave Mr. Crawford any kind of signal. And let me make the caveat, in the event they did give a signal to Mr. Crawford, he was not aware, because the video does not show him turning towards the officers or even acknowledging their presence."
Since Crawford's death, peaceful protests have taken place, including one rally in support of Beavercreek police. But just last week, new questions were raised about the way DeWine's office is handling the case.
At issue is the testimony of Ronald Ritchie, who called 911.
In an interview with the U.K. newspaper The Guardian, Ritchie says DeWine's office showed him the video of Crawford's killing, and he recants his claim during the 911 call and to reporters after the incident that Crawford was threatening other customers.
DeWine's office would not confirm whether Ritchie was shown the video.
Attorney Michael Wright says if that's the case, then the investigation has been compromised and the Crawfords want federal prosecutors to intervene. Evidence will be presented to the grand jury next week.
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Transcript
DAVID GREENE, HOST:
A community is still coming to grips with why a black man was shot and killed by white police officers. We're talking this time about a town near Dayton, Ohio. From member station WYSO, Jerry Kenney reports.
JERRY KENNEY, BYLINE: Beavercreek, Ohio, is a mostly white, moderately affluent city of about 40,000. On August 5, 22-year-old John Crawford III of nearby Fairfield was shopping at a Wal-Mart there. While inside the store and on the phone with the mother of his two young children, Crawford stopped in a toy aisle and picked up a Crosman MK 177 air rifle BB gun, an item Wal-Mart sells. Crawford held the BB gun while walking and talking on the phone; he was unaware that another customer inside the store had called 911.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #1: Beavercreek 911, where is your emergency?
RONALD RITCHIE: I'm at the Beavercreek Wal-Mart. There is a gentleman walking around with a gun in the store.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #1: Has he got it pulled out?
RITCHIE: Yeah, he's, like, pointing it at people.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #1: What does he look like?
RITCHIE: He's a black male, probably about 6-foot tall.
KENNEY: The first two officers on the scene say they gave Crawford two chances to drop the gun, then fired their weapons when he didn't comply. Crawford was hit in the torso and died of his injuries a short time later. John Crawford wasn't the only casualty - shots fired by police created panic, and 37-year-old Angela Williams collapsed in a store and died that evening. Beavercreek Police Chief Dennis Evers says his officers reacted appropriately.
DENNIS EVERS: The correct response of officers was instrumental in containing this situation, minimizing the risk to customers.
KENNEY: But Chief Evers ever quickly turned over the investigation to Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine's office. The Crawford family demanded to see Wal-Mart's in-store surveillance videos, but DeWine's office refused, saying that would compromise the investigation. DeWine's office says they've collected significant evidence and spoken with at least 50 witnesses. And last month the attorney general showed a portion of the Wal-Mart video to John Crawford's family.
MIKE DEWINE: Like all of us, Mr. Crawford's parents have questions about how this tragic event unfolded, and I felt it was only right that they be included as early as possible in this investigation.
MICHAEL WRIGHT: This was the unjust killing of John Crawford.
KENNEY: Crawford family attorney, Michael Wright, also watch that video.
WRIGHT: There's absolutely no indication that the police gave Mr. Crawford any type of signal, and let me make the caveat - in the event they did give a signal to Mr. Crawford, he was not aware because the video does not show him turning towards the officers or even acknowledging their presence.
KENNEY: Since Crawford's death, peaceful protests have taken place, including one rally in support of Beavercreek Police. But just last week, new questions were ways about the DeWine's office is handling the case. That issue is the testimony of Ronald Ritchie who called 911. In an interview with the U.K. newspaper The Guardian, Ritchie claims he was shown the video of Crawford's killing by Attorney General DeWine's office and recanted his claim that Crawford was threatening other customers. DeWine's office would not confirm whether or not Ritchie was shown the video. Attorney Michael Wright says if that's the case, then the investigation has been compromised and the Crawfords want federal prosecutors to intervene. Evidence will be presented to the grand jury next week. For NPR News, I'm Jerry Kenney. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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