Attorneys for family of teen slain by police say shooting was not justified

Attorneys for the family of a teen who died after an encounter with Greensboro police last year are speaking out against a decision not to charge the officer involved.

Seventeen-year-old Nasanto Crenshaw was shot while trying to flee during a traffic stop on West Market Street in August. 

Late last month, Guilford County District Attorney Avery Crump cleared the officer —Corporal M.L. Sletten — in connection with the shooting following a probe by the State Bureau of Investigation.  

Harry Daniels is an attorney representing the Crenshaw family, who have filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit in the case. He says the evidence he’s seen shows the killing was unjustified. 

“I think at minimum the district attorney — at minimum — should have presented the evidence to the grand jury and let the citizens of Guilford County decide as to whether to hold this officer accountable,” Daniels says.

Greensboro police say they’ll release video recordings of the incident no later than April 25 under conditions set by a Guilford County court. Those conditions include redacting any images of minors. 

That would likely mean images of Crenshaw would not be included.