It is becoming a near everyday occurrence that police are killing unarmed Black people in America.
According to the Washington Post, in 2016, 233 black people were shot and killed by the police, with only 17 were unarmed; but the most recent police killing out of Las Vegas is dispelling that theory. Tashii S. Brown was unarmed and non-violent towards officers, when he was approached by an officer and tased before being choked to death by a moved that has been deemed illegal in all 50 states, the chokehold.
Kenneth Lopera, 31, has been arrested and charged with the involuntary manslaughter for Brown’s death, on Monday (JUN 5). Lopera issued an unauthorized, martial arts-type neck hold on Brown for over a minute that resulted in his death by lack of oxygen, or “asphyxia due to police restraint.” Lopera also administered his taser seven times on Brown prior to the chokehold. He was also charged with oppression under color of office.
According to the body camera video as well as the Undersheriff of Las Vegas, Kevin McMahill, Lopera did chase Brown down through an unauthorized employee only entrance of The Venetian on Las Vegas Blvd. Brown was initially approached by two uniformed officers for behaving erratically and told the officers that “people were chasing him.” The coroner later revealed that he was intoxicated off methamphetamine and had an enlarged heart, but his death has been ruled a homicide due to the lack of oxygen.
In the body camera video, once Tashii caught up with Brown, Brown raised his hands and kept them visible at all times. There was no apparent danger. Brown would not have faced any charges if he had survived according to McMahill.
One cannot ignore the similarities in the causes of death between Eric Garner and Tashii S. Brown, who both lost their lives at the hands of police due to a lack of oxygen and both men were unarmed. Garner’s case started the infamous “I Can’t Breathe” movement that was later adapted by the Black Lives Matter movement. There were no indictments for the officers involved in Garner’s death. Let’s hope that justice will extend her hands to the Brown family.
Words by Kardae Knight
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