ABC NewsThe family of a 22-year-old black man who was fatally shot by police in Utah is disputing investigators’ statements that he was shot after he lunged at officers with a sword and that race played no role in the shooting.
Randall Edwards, an attorney for the family of Darrien Hunt, said an independent autopsy requested by the family shows Hunt was shot “numerous times, all from the rear” in Saratoga Springs, about 35 miles south of Salt Lake City.
“This is consistent with statements made by witnesses on the scene, who report that Darrien was shot to death while running away from police,” Edwards said in a statement released Saturday night. “It would appear difficult, if not impossible, to reconcile these facts with a story that Darrien was lunging toward the officers when he was shot.”
Police say they were called Wednesday morning to investigate a “suspicious” man walking near businesses while carrying a “samurai-type sword.”
Utah County Chief Deputy Attorney Tim Taylor did not immediately return phone calls Sunday.
But Taylor, in a brief statement issued Saturday, said: “When the officers made contact with Mr. Hunt, he brandished the sword and lunged toward the officers with the sword, at which time Mr. Hunt was shot. There is currently no indication that race played any role in the confrontation between Mr. Hunt and the police officers.”
Hunt’s mother, Susan Hunt, told the Deseret News she believes her son would not have been shot had he been white. She is white and his father is black.
She said her son was carrying a 3-foot souvenir sword bought at an Asian gift store that has a rounded edge, not a blade. Family members considered it a “toy” sword.
“No white boy with a little sword would they shoot while he’s running away,” she said.
Cindy Moss, Darrien Hunt’s aunt, said she has tended not to believe stories by her sister’s family about mistreatment of blacks in today’s world. But her view has changed as the family has tried to figure out what led up to the shooting, she said.
“It’s difficult to make any sense out of the situation any other way (than race),” Moss, who is white, told The Salt Lake Tribune. “The police make it sound like it was a big sword he was wielding. I’m offended that they even say he was armed with a weapon.”
Saratoga Springs police, in a brief statement Friday, said claims that its officers’ actions were a result of Hunt’s race are “completely unfounded and speculative. Our officers responded to a call for service and addressed the situation that was presented to them.”
The shooting remains under investigation by authorities.
A candlelight vigil was set for Sunday night at the spot where Hunt died.
Saratoga Springs is home to Mia Love, who is vying to become the first black Republican woman ever elected to Congress. She served as mayor of the city of 27,000 people from 2010 to early this year.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/mans-family-disputes-police-version-shooting-25496565
I’m for an investigation as a matter of course; but since when does a 3 foot long ‘Samurai Sword’ count as a ‘toy’ with ’rounded edges’? The 22 year old man could have been carrying the sword in a bag, or he could have been brandishing it. Even a round edged toy steel Samurai sword is capable of doing serious injury. Mom is not doing the investigation any favors by misleading statements and playing the race card. It would appear she doesn’t want a real investigation.
It doesn’t matter if it was sharp as a razor, or if he was carrying a gun instead of a Samurai sword.
“Hunt was shot “numerous times, all from the rear”
shooting people in the back when they’re running away is NEVER justifiable.
“shooting people in the back when they’re running away is NEVER justifiable.”
I understand what your saying , but I beg to differ..and qualify what im going to say as it doesnt pertain to this story
if you just caught someone raping your mom or wife or assaulting to the point of certain death or that you found them dead and he got the jump on you and started to run off and your mom or wife could possibly be dead from the attack ,, I think its fair game at that point .. put the animal down so as he doesnt get away with it this time or ever again
Yeah, as much as I hate our militarized authoritarian police FORCE, I am not hanging around to find out just how sharp a samurai sword is. This mashed potatos-for-brains woman knows cops are bad but she’s out of luck with this race baiting scenario. No offense to mashed potatoes intended.
“Hunt was shot “numerous times, all from the rear”
Oh wow, a man is walking around with a sword. (or maybe a long stick) so somebody “feels” threatened. Did he attack anyone, no. Did he threaten anyone, no. Maybe he was going to the dojo to train, maybe he had just bought it, it has nothing to do with the pigs until a crime has been committed.
“If you see something, keep your bloody mouth shut. or you will get some other innocent killed.”
Well, to me, it’s quite suspicious that all the bullets entered his back. What’s up with that?
Thank you, Millard.
Hey J.R., I always follow your comments as you seem to have your head screwed on straight (for lack of better words to describe the wisdom you bestow upon us here at “The Trenches”)
It’s only sensible to dispute the police version of every shooting. Why would anyone believe lunatics with a long history of lying to cover each others crimes?
Do they ever tell the truth about anything? They’re a gang of state-sanctioned criminals tasked with beating the U.S. population into submission for the communist takeover, and anyone who didn’t figure that out yet isn’t paying attention.
Its perfectly normal for cops to shoot people in the back just like kicking in their doors at 2:30 AM is perfectly acceptable too! These thug bastards do as they please and the trash they work for always try to figure out why they were justified to be criminals in the first place. Please understand that by being a common citizen you are the bad guys to these fools!