11-Year-Old Boy Injured in Lung, Liver, and Rib Fractures
"Dismiss the Officer Involved" Demands Surge
407 Deaths from Police Shootings This Year Alone
In the United States, a shocking incident occurred where police shot an 11-year-old Black boy who had reported domestic violence.
According to a report by The Washington Post (WP) on the 25th (local time), Adrian Murray (11), a Black boy living in Indianola, Mississippi, was shot in the chest by responding officers after calling 911 to protect his mother from domestic conflict.
Carlos Moore, the attorney for the Murray family, stated that Adrian suffered lung damage, fractured ribs, and liver lacerations from the gunshot wound, and was discharged the day before after being treated with an oxygen respirator and chest tube insertion.
According to Attorney Moore, in the early morning of the 20th, Adrian’s mother gave him a phone and told him to call the police when the father of Adrian’s half-brother came to the house in an enraged state.
Following her instructions, Adrian called 911, and a Black officer named Greg Kapers responded to the Murray family’s home at 4 a.m. Although Adrian’s mother told Kapers that everyone in the house was unarmed, he shouted for everyone inside to come out with their hands up.
Last April, Minneapolis, the largest city in Minnesota, USA, approved a police reform bill commonly known as the 'George Floyd Law.' [Photo by AP and Yonhap News]
Adrian raised his hands as instructed by the officer, but Kapers shot him in the chest. Adrian’s mother revealed that after being shot, Adrian tearfully asked, "Why did you shoot me? What did I do?"
The Murray family and the local community in Mississippi are demanding the dismissal of the officer who shot Adrian. In response, the Indianola City Council decided to place Kapers on paid administrative leave while the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation investigates the case. It remains unclear whether he will face further disciplinary action or be dismissed.
Meanwhile, Kapers and the Indianola Police Department have not issued any statements. However, Indianola Police Chief Ron Sampson told local media, "It is a tragic incident for both sides."
In the U.S., Over 1,000 People Have Died from Police Gunfire in the Past Year
On the 25th (local time), people are holding a rally at George Floyd Square in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. This day marks the third anniversary of the death of Floyd, a Black man who died due to police excessive force in Minneapolis. [Photo by AP·Yonhap News]
This is not the only case where police mistook a caller for a suspect and opened fire. In April, in Farmington, New Mexico, police responding to a domestic violence call mistakenly went to the wrong house and fatally shot an innocent person.
The three officers who fired their weapons are currently on paid leave, and the New Mexico police are investigating the incident.
In September 2021, Charles Frederick Sharp (49) in Mantua, New Jersey, was shot and killed by police after reporting an intruder in his backyard.
According to The New York Times (NYT), Officer Salvatore Oldrati fired multiple shots at Sharp, who was standing outside his home, within five seconds of arriving on the scene, causing fatal injuries. Sharp was still on the phone with the police when he was shot. The New Jersey prosecutor’s office announced the day before that Officer Oldrati was charged with involuntary manslaughter.
Meanwhile, WP reported that in the past year, 1,079 people in the U.S. have died from police gunfire. This year alone, 407 people have died from police shootings.
Although half of those killed by police gunfire were White, considering that Black people make up only 14% of the total U.S. population, WP noted that the rate of Black people dying from police shootings is twice that of White people.
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