Javier Ambler II – (2019) Austin Texas Javier died while being arrested after police chased him down for a traffic violation. He was tased to death while saying “please save me, I can’t breathe”.

Anderson, LaShanda, 36, ( - June 9, 2018) Debtford, NJ LaShanda was shot to death after she allegedly tried to run down a police officer outside of Marshalls.

Tanisha Anderson (1985 - Nov. 13, 2007) Cleveland, OH Killed by police in Cleveland, OH. Died while handcuffed face down on the ground after family members called 911 for assistance with her mental-health episode. Police officer gets a 10-day suspension. City settled a wrongful death lawsuit.

Ahmaud was a loving son and brother (the youngest of three siblings), uncle, nephew, cousin, and friend. He had a smile that would light up a room. Ahmaud was humble, kind, and well mannered. He always made sure he never departed from his loved ones without an “I love you.” He had a beautiful personality, loved to tell jokes, and had a way to make others laugh. Ahmaud was also quite the athlete, basketball and football being his top choices, and he loved to run. He was among the graduating class of 2012 at Brunswick High School and later attended South Georgia Technical College in Americus, Georgia. Ahmaud was shot and killed while jogging through a neighborhood in Brunswick. More than two months after Ahmaud’s death, on May 7, Gregory McMichael and his son Travis McMichael were arrested and charged with murder and aggravated assault. Gregory McMichael told police he and his son thought Arbery matched a burglary suspect, so they got in their truck with shotguns and chased him down a residential street. An autopsy report from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Ahmaud was shot twice in the chest with a third bullet grazing his right wrist. The fact that the McMichaels were not arrested until seventy-four days after the killing—after the video of the chase and shooting went viral—sparked debates on racial profiling in the United States. The GCPD and the Brunswick District Attorney's Office were nationally criticized for their handling of the case and the delayed arrests. Georgia Attorney General Christopher M. Carr formally requested the intervention of the FBI in the case on May 10, which was granted the following day. * Ahmaud’s name and incident were found by the STNM team. * Biographer: Contributing writer and artist, Radha Mehta. Thank you, Radha. *The above is summarized excerpts from Chavous B. Johnson and Reid Funeral Services, USA Today & Wikipedia.

Jimmy Atchison – (2019) Atlanta, GA Jimmy Atchison was shot and killed while hiding in a closet during an FBI warrant execution at an Adamsville apartment complex back in January 2019. Atchison, Jimmy

De’Von Bailey – (2019) Colorado Springs, CO De’Von was shot multiple times in the back while fleeing from police.

Jordan was not the kind of adult to look for trouble. After all, he was creating a new life for himself--working a part time job in manufacturing and attending Houston Community College in order to earn his advanced education, as well as provide a better life for his son, Jordan Junior, and his family. Living in the very neighborhood where he died, Jordan was deeply committed to his grandparents, who he routinely drove to their dialysis appointments. The area around the 5700 block of West Little York and Antoine in Northwest Houston had become a target of burglaries and was the focus of consistent sweeps by on-and-off-duty Houston police. Tensions were high in the police department and the community around these robberies and officers were on high alert. On the evening of January 16, 2014, police were in the neighborhood monitoring the area based on a robbery earlier in the day. Jordan, wearing his black hoodie, unarmed, and riding his bicycle through the area, knew some of the dangers the neighborhood held, and he rode his bicycle vigilantly, aware of his surroundings, eyes always scanning the streets, storefronts, and corners. Nearby, Officer Juventino Castro, sitting in an unmarked vehicle, working a second job guarding the strip mall in Jordan’s neighborhood, sat in uniform monitoring the area. Video camera footage from the parking areas have Jordan riding past parked cars, a Little Caesars pizza, and not anywhere close to windows or storefronts as was suggested in Officer Castro’s statement that he was ‘peering’ and ‘possibly casing’ the location. So as a black man, in a dark hoodie, in an area where crimes had occurred, he became a suspect of interest and ultimately a target. Mistakenly, Officer Castro, believing Jordan matched a description of a recent alleged suspect, pursued Jordan until eventually stopping him with his vehicle. Jordan, in an effort to get away, fled on foot into the alleys behind the stores. Officer Castro left his vehicle and gave chase. There were no witnesses to the following minutes which were the last of Jordan’s life and tell the story of how he ended up shirtless, handcuffed, and shot in the chest. “My son had every right to be where he was. My son was unarmed and did not deserve to die. Jordan was racially profiled and considered a criminal. I believe that justice delayed is not justice denied,” stated Jordan’s mother, Janet Baker. Despite a release of police video prior to the killing, there has been no video evidence, visual or audio related, provided of the actual time of the shooting. This murder, and the miscarriage of justice that followed, declared Officer Castro not guilty of the murder of Jordan. The court proceedings, verdict, and subsequent pursuit of the video footage speak to the inherent disparities connected with policing of black and brown communities in Houston and across the United States. “Houston police have shot more than 80 unarmed civilians in a five- year span,” states Natalia Cornelio, an attorney who directs a criminal justice reform project at the Texas Civil Rights Project. At the time, there were concerns from the public that Harris County was known to forward juries and agendas that would fail to hold police accountable; there were also public concerns that the Houston DA was a known police sympathizer. In 2020, Janet Baker was awarded a $1 million settlement from the City of Houston. A triumph in the work of honoring Jordan, but by no means a solution to the challenges faced, or a means to bring him back. Little Jordan, Janet Baker, and many loved ones continue to mourn the death of their dear loved one, Jordan. *Jordan’s name was submitted to STNM by Shere Dore, Houston Activist - Police Accountability & Racial Equality. *Biographer: STNM family liaison chair, Matthew Bowerman. Thank you, Matthew. *The above is summarized excerpts from Newsone, Houston Chronicle, Washington Informer, and chron.com.

Cary Terrell Ball, Jr. grew up in St. Louis, the first born of his mother, Toni Taylor. He was known as a loving and caring person who admired being a big brother to his siblings. A good student, Cary was always on the honor roll in school with dreams of helping others in his future. Outside of his passion for service towards others, Cary was a bit of a thrill-seeker. His family fondly remembers trips to amusement parks where he tricked older family members into getting into the lines for the front seats of the biggest rides. Although the family caught on to his trickery, they let him bring them along, because the game of it brought him so much joy. Remembering these times and his laughter is a constant source of reflection. In Cary’s junior year of high school, the family moved to Florida to care for his ailing maternal grandmother. But Cary missed St. Louis during his highschool years and eventually returned to his hometown after graduation and enrolled in St. Louis Community College, Forest Park, where he retained his honor roll status. He majored in Human Services, intending to become a social worker with the intention of starting an organization to help ex-offenders via prison ministry. On the day of his funeral, Cary was to receive the Emerging Scholar Award from his college. He had achieved a 3.86 GPA. On April 24, 2013, Cary, age 25, was driving home from his catering job at a downtown banquet hall when Officers Jason Chambers and Timothy Boyce drove up behind him at a Seven Eleven and put on their lightbar. Cary’s car was of legal registration, and the reason for the stop has been questioned, many claiming an instance of racial profiling. According to the police, instead of getting out of his car, Cary sped up, then eventually crashed in the 1000 block of North 9th Street. The report states, Cary grabbed his automatic handgun as he got out of his car and ran east on Carr Street. Multiple witness’ accounts say while officers were in pursuit, Cary stopped running, threw down his gun and put his hands in the air. But before Cary got to the ground on his knees, officers ran up and started shooting, then handcuffed him. Overall, Cary was shot 25 times, six times in the back. Carlos Ball, Cary’s brother, stated “They looked at the gun on the ground and fired. He never fired. They never fired until the gun was nowhere near him.” Officers Chambers and Boyce were put on administrative leave, however an internal investigation by the police department declined to press charges against the officers. The FBI and the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri also declined to uphold the case and a proper investigation never occurred. The 911 tapes, a critical component in Cary’s case, were “lost” by Attorney Freeman Bosley and no surveillance footage was ever recovered, which didn’t help to further proceedings. A Force Analysis by Adjunct Professor William Harmening at Washington University found: “Substandard investigation by the police. The Circuit Attorney failed to present evidence to a grand jury.” He also faulted the FBI for not doing an individual investigation. Cary’s family has been fighting hard for years to reopen the case. They are committed to getting Cary’s true story out to the public, a story that showcases Cary’s life in a proper manner, loved by his family, and how corrupt law enforcement took that life and has yet to account for it. *Cary’s name and story was submitted by his mother, Toni Taylor. *Excerpts and biography compiled by Linda Katz. Thank you, Linda. *The above is summarized from: Newsone.com 5/30/13; The St. Louis American, 6/13/13; The St. Louis Post Dispatch, 6/18/14; Riverfront Times, 12/20/17.

Ashtian, age 24, was fatally shot by a Harris County deputy constable after an attempted traffic stop in Houston,Texas. Authorities say the rental vehicle Ashtian was driving had a number of outstanding violations. According to the dash cam video, the deputy asked Ashtian if he had marijuana in the car. The deputy then asked Ashtian to pop the trunk. He complied. The deputy opened the driver's side door and the car began to move. Nearly immediately, the deputy jumped on the side of the car, pulled out his gun, and fired. Ashtian died at the scene. No charges were filed. Ashtain’s father said, "It's heartbreaking. I just celebrated his twenty-fifth birthday without him. He should be here today." *Extended biography is in process.

Crystalline Barnes – (2018) Jackson, MS She was a beautiful, outgoing, vivacious young woman. Her family describes her as a joy to be around. She was an honors student at Jackson State University, and she worked hard to create a good life and provide for her two young children. She was tall and a little lanky; she loved to dance and be silly. Crystalline had a big heart and was always willing to help anyone who needed her.   On January 27, 2018, Crystalline was shot by two police officers during a traffic stop in Jackson, Mississippi, resulting in her death. At the time of the shooting, most media outlets reported only the official police account of the incident, which included a number of inconsistencies and questionable assertions. In addition, the Jackson Police Department (JPD) released to the media a mugshot of Crystalline, along with evidence of a prior misdemeanor violation. (Public outcry over the blatant attempt to discredit the dead woman led the mayor to implement a new policy that the City of Jackson and JPD will not release such prior records to justify use of force by officers in unrelated incidents.) Adding to inconsistencies in the police report, the officers who shot Crystalline, Rakasha Adams and Albert Taylor, “gave accounts that differed from each other and even changed in subsequent interviews,” according to a recent report by the investigative news outlet WLBT 3, On Your Side.   On the day she was killed, Crystalline was stopped by Officer Rakasha Adams, who was responding to a call about a vehicle running another car off the road. The official police report gave the following sequence of events: Officer Adams radioed for assistance, and when Officer Taylor arrived in response, Crystalline started to drive away, then began driving backward toward Officer Taylor. Officer Taylor fired shots and Crystalline’s car hit his patrol car. According to the report, Crystalline then began driving forward, toward Officer Adams, who also fired shots. Ultimately, Crystalline’s car hit a utility pole and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

India, a 25 year-old aspiring rapper, was shot 5 times in the back by Norfolk, VA police in a parking lot for reportedly holding a fake handgun. The officers were monitoring the area for an unrelated investigation when they say they saw India brandish what they assumed was a handgun during an argument with a man. The officers say they confronted her and she made a threatening motion with the handgun, which turned out to be a toy gun. They shot and killed her on the scene. India was engaged and cared for four children. Her father, McKinley Beaty Sr., called his lost daughter "friendly and happy-go-lucky."

Jayvis Benjamin – (2013) Atlanta, GA Jayvis Benjamin, who had no previous criminal record, died after a brief confrontation with Sgt. Lynn Thomas in January 2013.

Cameron Bennett – (2019) Jefferson County, MS

Sandra is remembered as a smart, outspoken woman. In her younger years, she sang in the youth choir and participated in the church’s Girl Scout troop. After graduating from college, she returned to DuPage Church, serving on church committees, befriending older members of the congregation and helping organize the church’s Women’s Day event. She was viewed as an educated Christian who was excited about the future. On July 10, 2015, what initiated as a traffic stop escalated to an arrest, Sandra being charged with assaulting a public servant. Three days after she was arrested and jailed, Sandra was found hanged in a cell at the Waller County Jail. An autopsy concluded that Sandra’s injuries were consistent with suicide. The officer that arrested Sandra was placed on administrative leave for failing to follow proper traffic stop procedures. The FBI determined that Waller County Jail did not follow required policies, including time checks on inmates and ensuring employees completed mental health training. In December 2015, a grand jury declined to indict the county sheriff and jail staff for a felony relating to Sandra’s death. *The above is summarized excerpts from NY Times & Wikipedia.!

Jonie Block – (2017) Phoenix, AZ

Muhlaysia Booker – (2019) Dallas, TX On April 12, 2019, Booker and a cousin went to see a fight in Royal Crest Apartments. Booker was a 22 year old African American trans man. Upon leaving, Booker backed into a car and tried to flee the scene.[5] The driver got out of his car and held Booker at gunpoint until damages were paid. A crowd gathered around the altercation and Edward Thomas was offered $200 to assault Booker. Bystanders watched, videotaped, and yelled. The video was uploaded to social media and went viral. Booker had a concussion and fractured wrist. The Dallas mayor labeled it as "mob violence." On April 14, 2019, Edward Thomas was charged with aggravated assault and held without bond in Dallas County jail.

Bennie Branch – (August 23, 1995  -  September 8, 2019) Tacoma, WA Very little is publicly known about 24-year-old Benny Branch, killed by Tacoma police on September 8, 2019. He attended Washington High School, was survived by two sisters, Janae Baker and Angelina Smalls, an uncle, Jackie Johnson, and his mother, Brenda Branch. Bennie had a troubled history and was known previously to the Tacoma Police Department.  There are disputes between Bennie's mother and the police officers about the facts of Bennie's death, but early in the morning, around 2:30 a.m., Bennie went to check on his mother who had been sleeping in a red Subaru Legacy parked on a residential street. In the vicinity, Bennie saw a friend whom he asked for a ride into Seattle. Bennie got in his friend’s car, along with three women and another man. Seeing the idling car, a police officer approached the vehicle and began questioning the occupants, and soon another officer, Ryan Bradley, arrived as backup. Upon the officers' arrival, Bennie got out of his friend's car and returned to his mother’s Subaru. The officer ordered Bennie to get out of his mother’s car but Bennie did not comply. He was tasered twice and fell to the ground. There was a struggle and one officer hit Bennie in the head and chest up to eight times. At that point, the officer called out that he saw a gun on Bennie’s waistband. Officer Bradley discharged his weapon eleven times, hitting Bennie seven times in the chest, arm, and back. The perceived gun was found to be an Airsoft BB gun.  Brenda denied that Bennie was acting aggressively or posed any threat to the police officers. She repeatedly wailed, “Why did they have to kill him?” She reported that Bennie was shot in the back and said he never drew the BB gun or pointed it at the officers.  She said her son had been suicidal in the past and had a history of using meth. There was no video of the events. This was the first fatal police shooting in Tacoma to be investigated by an outside agency under a new law that went into effect on January 6, 2019. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department carried out the investigation and found no fault with police actions. Officer Bradley was placed on administrative leave for two weeks, then returned to duty.  Branch, Bennie

Brooks, Ollie (1952 - May 28, 2016) Tulsa, OK This poor, elderly Black man was sitting in his room at a cheap motel when police arrived at his door. Police had been going to motels checking guest registers against their list of outstanding warrants. Police tased and pepper sprayed Brooks, cuffed him then called medics. Brooks’s heart gave out.

Rayshard Brooks was a 27-year-old man who had been married for eight years and was a father to three daughters (1, 2, and 8) and a stepson (13). His loved ones called him a “girl dad.” On the day he died, he was planning to pick up his 8-year-old daughter and take her skating to celebrate her birthday. Rayshard’s family shared he was an outstanding person, outgoing and always kind. His co-workers shared that he was loyal, his laugh was infectious, his smile would encapsulate his entire face, he was a hard working employee and was always the first to arrive and last to leave work. He was a fast-learner, dedicated, and he tried to do what he could to care for his family. About five months before he was killed, he gave an interview to an advocacy group about his years of struggle in the criminal justice system, describing an “agonizing cycle of job rejection and public shame over his record and association with a system that takes millions of Americans, many of them Black like him, away from their families and treats them more like animals than individuals.” He went on to say “once you get in there, you know, you’re just in debt…I’m out now, and I have to try to fend for myself…clueless of everything that’s been going on. I don’t know, I’m trying to adapt back to society.” After a troubled past in the system, Rayshard was finally gaining firmer footing and was working to support his wife and family and planned to eventually move to Ohio to be closer to his father. On June 12, 2020, Atlanta police officers responded to a complaint that Rayshard was asleep in a car blocking a Wendy’s drive-through lane. Upon arrival, a breathalyzer exam was conducted and indicated that Rayshard’s blood-alcohol content was above the legal limit for driving. After about forty minutes of a seemingly calm conversation, Officer Garret Rolfe and Officer Devin Brosnan began to handcuff Rayshard. According to police testimonies, Rayshard then scuffled with the officers, got hold of Officer Brosnan’s taser, punched Officer Rolfe, and ran. Officer Rolfe then pursued Rayshard. Rayshard fired the taser towards Rolfe, and Rolfe responded by firing three shots at Rayshard. According to videos and eyewitnesses, after Rayshard was shot and on the ground, Officer Rolfe kicked Rayshard while Office Brosnan stood on his shoulder. Officer Rolfe was fired the day after the shooting, and Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields resigned. Officer Brosnan was placed on administrative leave. Less than a week later, Rolfe was charged with multiple counts of felony murder, and Brosnan was charged with aggravated assault. However, both officers are currently free on bail. *The above is summarized excerpts from New York Times, Los Angeles Times, AJC, Instagram & Wikipedia.

Kalief’s family called him Peanut because he was the youngest and smallest of the seven siblings. Because of his birth mother’s drug use, baby Kalief was placed in the custody of the foster family who was already caring for two of his biological brothers in the Bronx, New York. His brother Akeem recalls his determination and energy as a kid, how he would keep everyone laughing with his goofy antics. Their mother, Venida, was particularly devoted and caring, walking them to school every day, creating a warm and happy home for many children. As a young teen Kalief enjoyed sports, working out, and socializing at parties. In 2009, when Kalief was sixteen, he and some friends were caught taking a joyride in a bread delivery truck that hit a parked car. Kalief was charged as an adult under New York law, released on probation, and registered as a juvenile offender. A few months later on May 15, 2010, Kalief and a friend were walking home from a party when they were apprehended by the police. Being the era of stop-and-frisk policing in the Bronx, Kalief assumed they would be let go soon since they hadn’t done anything. They were accused of stealing a backpack containing valuables and had been identified by someone who was sitting in the police car. Nothing was found when Kalief and his friend were searched, and the victim’s testimony changed several times. Nevertheless, they were taken into custody and Kalief’s bail was set for $3,000. The family borrowed money for a bail bondsman only to find that because he was on probation for the 2009 incident, Kalief would not be released. Instead, he was on his way to Rikers Island. According to court records, the next three years consisted of deferrals, adjournments, and time-sucking technicalities of an overwhelmed system. Abused by inmates and guards, suffering intense hunger and stifling heat, Kalief consistently maintained his innocence. He focused on his schooling, worked out, and waited as his seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth birthdays passed, the majority of the time in solitary confinement. His mother faithfully made the trek every week to visit, bringing clean laundry. Kalief attempted suicide several times while in solitary confinement and requested—but never received—mental health treatment. After three years at Rikers, days after Kalief’s twentieth birthday, the DA dismissed the case and Kalief was released. It was a slow and hard readjustment to life outside of prison, but Kalief went on to pass his GED on the first try and enrolled in classes at the Bronx Community College. He requested a barbecue for his birthday and his brother recalls that he bonded especially with his four-year-old nephew and the family cat. He was passionate about telling his story and speaking out about the effects of solitary confinement on young people. His interviews appeared on The View, Ava DuVernay’s documentary film 13th, and in a docuseries by Jay Z, among others. Kalief was no longer the social teenager who laughed a lot, he felt distant and haunted by his experiences in prison. He said in one interview “...in my mind right now I feel like I’m still in jail, because I’m still feeling the side effects from what happened in there.” On June 6, 2015, Kalief died by suicide at his childhood home he shared with his mother and several brothers. President Obama cited Kalief’s story in an op-ed for the Washington Post and signed an executive order in 2016 banning the use of solitary confinement of juveniles in federal prisons. Several states have followed but many continue to allow teens to be held in isolation. The Kalief Browder Foundation was established in 2017 to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline and raise awareness about mental health. Biographer: STNM staff writer, Leah Eads. Thank you, Leah. *The above is summarized excerpts from Vibe, The New Yorker Magazine, The Kalief Browder Foundation, ncsl.com, and Youtube.

Andrew Brown Jr. – (2019) Elizabeth City, NC Andrew was shot in the back of the head of by police while they were serving an arrest warrant at the home.

Michael Brown Jr. was born in Florissant, Missouri on May 20, 1996. After his parents separated, Michael grew up living alternatively with his mother, father, and paternal grandmother. Although he had challenges early on with his education and attended different high schools, Michael graduated with his class in 2014 and planned to enroll in a training program for heating and air conditioning repair at Vatterott College Technical School. In his spare time, Michael was an amateur rap musician who posted songs on SoundCloud under the handle “Big’Mike.” On August 9, 2014, Officer Daren Wilson responded to a call about a baby with breathing problems. About three minutes later and several blocks away, Michael was recorded on camera stealing a box of cigars and forcefully shoving a clerk, to which a police dispatcher reported “stealing in progress.” Dispatch described the suspect as a Black male with a white t-shirt. After a few dispatch communications later, Officer Wilson called for backup. Reports of what happened next vary widely among sources and witnesses. Officer Wilson drove up to Michael and Michael’s friend, Dorian Johnson, asking them to move off the street. He then drove past them but decided to back up and stop close to them once again. According to some reports, a struggle took place between Michael and Wilson when Michael reached into the officer’s vehicle. Shots were fired, both Michael and Dorian fled. Wilson got of his car to pursue Michael on foot. He fired at least six shots across the front of Michael’s body. Michael was unarmed and immediately died on the street. Protests and riots erupted soon after. On August 11, 2014, the FBI opened a civil rights investigation, and on March 4, 2015, Wilson was cleared of civil rights violations in the shooting, concluding there was no evidence upon which prosecutors would rely to disprove Wilson’s asserted belief that he feared for his safety and that witnesses who contradicted him were not credible. *The above is summarized excerpts from BlackPast, APNews & Wikipedia.

Miriam Carey lived in Stamford Connecticut. She was a dental hygienist who practiced in both her home state and New York. She was born and raised in Brooklyn. Shortly after her daughter was born, Miriam was diagnosed with postpartum depression with psychosis, which can cause delusions and paranoia. Her sister reports that Miriam was making progress with the help of counseling and medications, recounting that her sister’s condition was not one where she was walking around in a psychotic state with delusions. Her condition was caused by being overwhelmed by the new amount of stress in her life as a mother. Within time, her sister said, medical professionals tapered off her medications, and Miriam claimed she felt fine as she adjusted to her reality as a new mother. The chase began at the White House during the Obama administration. On Oct. 3, 2013, Miriam approached a White House checkpoint when she was approached by Secret Service officers. In an attempt to drive away, Miriam attempted a three-point turn, when she struck an officer who was moving a barricade into her path. According to the police report, a car chase ensued. Attention was brought to surrounding security vehicles in the area. At one instance, Miriam was surrounded, and she put her car in reverse, hit a police vehicle and attempted to drive away as officers fired shots after her. In Miriam’s defense, her sister supports the claim that Miriam was not in a psychotic state during the car chase. She believes she was fleeing the situation out of fear of having guns drawn on her and her child and things escalated quickly, all parties losing control. However, the use of deadly force, she insists, was completely uncalled for, especially since her sister was unarmed.The autopsy report revealed that 34-year-old Miriam was struck by five bullets from behind. One hitting her in the head. Miriam’s one-year-old daughter was in the backseat and survived unharmed. Toxicology reports confirm Miriam was cleared of drugs or alcohol in her system. The car chase and shooting caught national attention, showcasing on cable networks, inciting national sensitivity when it was revealed the victim had an infant in the backseat. The officers were placed on administrative leave. Attorney Eric Sanders, who represented Miriam’s case in a wrongful death lawsuit, claims the autopsy report proves the shooting was unjustified. In July of 2014, the U.S. Attorney’s Office declared that no charges would be filed, stating, "After a thorough review of all the evidence, the U.S. Attorney's Office concluded that the evidence was insufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers who were involved in the shooting used excessive force or possessed the requisite criminal intent at the time of the events.” *The above is summarized excerpts from CNN, The Stamford Advocate, Daily Mail & Wikipedia.

Philando Castile was a long-time employee for the Saint Paul public schools in Minnesota. His most recent job was working in a cafeteria at a Montessori school. A teaching assistant in the school lunchroom remarked on his calm demeanor and hard work. School children’s parents and Philando’s co-workers said that he took time to greet every child who came to the lunchroom and even gave extra food to kids who needed it. Philando appeared to have loved his job and loved serving his community. Philando’s cousin Antonio said Philando loved to play video games, read about his Egyptian heritage, think in solitude, and barely ever went out. On July 6, 2016, Philando was driving with his partner Diamond Reynolds and her 4-year-old daughter. At 9pm, their car was pulled over by two officers at a traffic stop in Falcon Heights, a suburb of Saint Paul. After being asked for his license and registration, officers claimed that Philando said he had a firearm and a license to carry one, to which one of the officers said, “Don’t reach for it then.” There was heightened miscommunication, and the officers claimed it was unclear whether or not Philando was reaching for his license and registration or his firearm. During this brief interaction, Officer Jeronimo Yanez shot Philando in close range seven times, hitting him five times. Philando died that evening at 9:37pm. Philando’s partner, Diamond, posted a video on Facebook after the shooting, which prompted local and national protests. Five months later, Yanez was charged with second-degree manslaughter and two counts of dangerous discharge of a firearm. However, after five days of deliberation, Yanez was acquitted of all charges in a jury trial, but later fired by the City of Saint Anthony. *The above is summarized excerpts from Star Tribune, Twin Cities Pioneer Press & Wikipedia.

Celestine Chaney – (May 15, 2022) Buffalo, NY The Buffalo Police Department has released its official list of victims in Saturday shooting at Tops Friendly Markets. The department said on Sunday that the victims identities were confirmed and all families and loved ones have been notified.

On April 30, 2015, Alexia Christian was shot ten times and killed by two Atlanta, Georgia police officers. She was 26 years old. After being arrested, police say Alexia managed to free herself from her handcuffs in the back of the squad car. The officers reported that Alexia shot at the officers with a handgun she’d somehow held onto during the arrest, which is why the officers fired back. The confrontation between Alexia and the officers is not visible in the released dash camera footage, which shows the view out of the front windshield of the car. Gunshots are audible, however, after the sound of a struggle. A man shouts “put the gun down” repeatedly and a woman responds saying, “I don’t have a gun.” More shots are fired and a woman is heard whimpering. Atlanta police usually have a video recorder in the back seat of squad cars to capture the suspect's every move. This time it was turned off for some reason. “Every mother and father should deserve to know what happens when those who pledge to protect and serve instead shoot your child dead in the backseat of a patrol car,” Alexia’s mother said. The officers were absolved of criminal responsibility.

Stephon Clark was a native of Sacramento, California. His childhood was complicated according to his family. He grew up in tough neighborhoods in south Sacramento, his father mostly absent. He and his siblings were raised primarily by their mother and their grandfather. In 2006, when Stephon was ten-years-old, his stepbrother died at the age of 16 after accidentally shooting himself in the abdomen. Not being brought up in the best circumstances, Stephon yearned to be loved, yearned for family, and felt abandoned at times. However, his friends said that Stephon dreamed of making a big difference someday, and that he was always a special person. Despite his challenges, he believed he was meant to do something in the world in some kind of way. Stephon did well in school, and he found joy and distraction on the football field. His brother said he was goofy, funny, smart and always loving. After attending Calvary Christian Center as a child, Stephon volunteered with the center’s youth outreach program “helping to build safe places for children” in the community. His high school teacher, Paul Schwinn, said Stephon got an A on every single test he had, and every time Stephon spoke in class, he had the right answer and had a way of explaining history in funny, accessible ways. On March 18, 2018, two Sacramento police officers responded to a 911 call that an individual was breaking car windows. Officers entered the front yard of Stephon’s grandmother’s house to confront Stephon, and upon asking him to stop and show his hands, Stephon fled to the back of the house. The officers’ body cams show them chasing Stephon and within seconds yell, “Show me your hands! Gun, gun, gun!” and immediately fire at him twenty times. The item Stephon was holding in his hand was an iPhone; he was unarmed. According to the autopsy, Stephon was shot eight times, including six times in the back, and one of the bullets fired was while he was already on the ground. Stephon died immediately. On September 26, 2019, U.S. Attorney General and FBI announced there was insufficient evidence to bring federal civil rights charges against the officers involved. The Sacramento Police Department also said that the department’s investigation found no policy or training violations related to the shooting. The officers have since been cleared to return to active duty. *The above is summarized excerpts from The Sacramento Bee, Washington Post & Wikipedia.

Dominique ‘Lucy’ Clayton – (2019) Oxford, MS Dominique was 32 years old at the time of her passing. The focus and light of her life were her four young children whom she was raising in Oxford, Mississippi.  Dominique was openly and outspokenly supportive of law enforcement. She was involved in a romantic relationship with Officer Kinne, a white Oxford police officer, who would visit her home in the middle of the night while he was on duty. In the nights before her passing, Dominique expressed to friends that she was nervous that he might hurt her because he did not want his wife to find out about their relationship. She also shared with family that she had told him she might be pregnant and that he had convinced her to get rid of her dogs, who would alert her to someone entering her home. On the night of May 19, 2019, Officer Kinne broke into her home and shot Dominique in the back of the head, killing her while she slept. Her children were spending the weekend with family and were not at home that night. The next day Officer Kinne was fired, then arrested and charged. His case is awaiting trial. Dominique was affectionately called “Lucy” by friends and family who have created a beautiful memorial near the site of her death with signs, photos, colored stones and flowers.

Clements, Decynthia (1983 – March 12, 2018) Elgin, IL Decynthia was shot several times by police while exiting her burning car on I-90.

Coleman-Singleton, Sharonda, 45 ( - May 15, 2015) Charleston, NC A mother of three and an assistant pastor at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. She grew up in Newark.

Addie Mae was one of seven children born to Julius and Alice Collins in Birmingham, Alabama. She attended Hill Elementary School and was an enthusiastic softball player, a budding artist and very outgoing. She happily went door-to-door in white neighborhoods of Birmingham to sell aprons and potholders her mother had stitched together, to make ends meet. On Sunday, September 15, 1963, Addie Mae, age 14, and her younger sister, Sarah, walked from their home to the 16th Street Baptist Church. She and her friends were preparing to take part in the morning sermon, titled, “The Love That Forgives.” The church was well known in Birmingham as a meeting place for civil rights activists, including Martin Luther King, Jr., Fred Shuttlesworth, and Ralph Abernathy. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the Congress of Racial Equality worked with the church on voter registration drives. In May 1963, James Bevel led the nonviolent Children’s Crusade from the church. Over one thousand students marched daily for a week to protest segregation. They were hit with water fire hoses and many were jailed. On September 15, 1963, at 10:22 AM, nineteen sticks of dynamite that had been placed under a stairwell of the church and attached to a timing device, exploded. Addie Mae and three of her friends were killed. Twenty others at the church were injured. When police arrived, the girls could only be identified by their shoes. Addie’s sister, Sarah, was blinded by shattered glass and ended up losing an eye. Four white supremacist members of the Ku Klux Klan were identified by the FBI within a week of the bombing. None were prosecuted until 1977 through 2002, because FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover did not believe an all-white jury would ever convict them. Birmingham became known as “Bombingham.” Thousands of people, including outraged whites, attended the funeral. Dr. King gave the eulogy. He said, “These children—unoffending, innocent, beautiful—were the victims of one of the most vicious and tragic crimes ever perpetrated against humanity.” All four girls killed in the bombing were posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, which is displayed in the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Their names have been inscribed on the circular black granite table of the Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery, Alabama. The 16th Street Baptist Church now bears a plaque naming it as a National Historic Landmark, and a youth center in Birmingham was named in Addie’s honor. In an interview in 2019, Addie’s sister, Sarah Collins Rudolph, said, “The police was involved. The mayor, the governor. They just hated our color. We couldn’t even call the police if we wanted. All of them in the office was Ku Klux Klan. You know, you go to church to praise God and you come out without your sister. And today we still haven’t gotten an apology from the City of Birmingham. Nothing. Nothing. We’re still paying bills for doctors for my eye.” In 1964 Joan Baez gained fame for her song about the bombing, “Birmingham Sunday.” In 1997. Spike Lee produced the film, “4 Little Girls.” Years after the bombing, Ms. Rudolph spoke at a parole hearing for Thomas Blanton Jr., one of the men convicted in the bombing. Parole was denied. *Addie Mae’s name and incident were found by the STNM team. If you are a family member, friend, or were ever in community with Addie Mae and have any additional information about her life or the incident that unjustly took her life, please email submissions@saytheirnamesmemorials.com. *Biographer: STNM staff writer, Linda Katz. Thank you, Linda. *The above information was summarized from: findagrave.com; biography.com, 4/27/17; splcenter.org, 9/15/20; Wikipedia.

John Crawford III was born on July 29, 1992 in Cincinnati, Ohio. His parents never married but they were considered a close family. John always visited his father, making a 400 mile drive between Jackson, Tennessee and Fairfield, Ohio, so they could see one another. After John received his high school diploma from Greensburg, Ohio, he worked a number of odd jobs by picking up telemarketing gigs through a temp agency and manual labor jobs through friends of his father. On August 5, 2015, John was shopping in Walmart and was seen via a surveillance video picking up an open-packaged BB air rifle inside the sporting goods section. Another customer called 911 claiming that John pointed the gun at fellow customers. However, security footage showed that John was talking on his cell phone and holding the BB gun as he shopped, but at no point did he aim the gun at anyone. Two Beavercreek police officers arrived at Walmart shortly after their dispatcher informed them of a “subject with a gun” in the pet supplies area of the store. Upon arrival, Officer Sean Williams fatally shot John. A second person, Angela Williams, died after suffering a heart attack while fleeing from the shooting. Her death was ruled a homicide. In the aftermath of the shooting, media revealed police aggressively questioning John’s girlfriend, Tasha Thomas, threatening her with jail time, demanding she respond to hostile questions and suggesting she was under the influence when she stated John did not enter the store with a gun. Tasha died in a car crash a few months later. A grand jury decided to not indict any of the officers involved on charges of either murder, reckless homicide, or negligent homicide. The U.S. Department of Justice conducted its own investigation, and officer Sean Williams was removed from normal duties until the federal investigation was complete. In 2017, the DOJ announced that it declined to see federal charges against the officer who returned to full duty soon after. *The above is summarized excerpts from BuzzFeed News & Wikipedia.

Layleen’s sensitive demeanor may best be captured in the words her older sister, Melania Brown, used to name Layleen in her phone: “Layleen My Whole Heart.” The sisters were three years apart, and Brown says her sister was her confidante, teacher, and best friend. Brown describes Layleen as a “born healer.” As a young child, Layleen would bring injured and abandoned animals into their home and nurse them back to health. As she matured, that attention of care turned towards people, making sure those she crossed paths with had enough to eat and a safe place to rest. Brown recounts numerous occasions when Layleen would give generous sums of money to someone on the street. In remembrance, Brown tries to carry on that tradition and spread generosity and empathy where she can. In contrast to Layleen’s empathetic nature, she faced numerous encounters of discrimination as a trans woman, repeatedly being turned away from pursuits to get a job and go to school, which in turn made her very depressed. In April of 2019, Layleen was arrested for misdemeanor assault charges from a 2017 drug and sex work charge. Her bail was posted at $500, which she could not pay, so she was sent to serve time in a woman’s facility on Riker’s Island. By June 7, Layleen was found dead in her cell. On the day of her death, Layleen had been placed in solitary confinement as a result of an alleged fight. When she was found unresponsive, it was unclear exactly how she died. Footage from Rikers was finally released revealing evidence that guards waited more than 90 minutes before calling for help. The video shows two corrections officers opening up the door to the cell and laughing at Layleen while calling her name and she doesn’t respond. It is reported that custodial staff tried to resuscitate her with CPR and a defibrillator before medical staff arrived. She was pronounced dead soon after. The autopsy report claims that Layleen died of natural causes due to her epilepsy. The family lawyer, David Shanies, said someone with Layleen’s condition should have never been placed in confinement and that officials knew of her condition and the risks, but made the decision to detain her in this way regardless. “It was a deliberate, considered decision to do this,” said Shanies. “It’s hard to imagine any condition that would be more contrary to segregation, unsupervised, locked in a box, than epilepsy.”“It is devastating that had Layleen been able to make her $500 bail, she would not have been in Rikers at all,” Donna Lieberman, the executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union has stated. “The inability to pay a few hundred dollars may have meant life or death.” Lieberman used this point to stress the corruption of the jail system.Bronx District Attorney, Darcel Clark, issued a statement soon after Layleen’s death that there was “no evidence of criminal wrongdoing." No criminal charges were issued at the time, but the family and lawyers continued to fight for justice. Further investigation found that while in Punitive Segregation, inmates need to be monitored by a suicide prevention agent at least every 15 minutes. There was a 47 minute timespan before anyone came to Layleen’s cell door and 90 minutes passed before medical help was called after she was found unresponsive. More than a year after her death, The New York Times reported that 17 Rikers guards, including a captain, would be held accountable for their part in Layleen’s loss of life. Layleen’s family received a $5.9 million dollar settlement. According to the Shanies, the family lawyer, this was the largest sum involving a death in jail in the state to date. Layleen’s sister claims the settlement is only a small step in the wake of her sister’s death towards justice. *The above is summarized excerpts from Elle & Vogue.

Deborah Danner – (2016) Deborah Danner was an IT/MIS professional with a BS in Computer Science from the New York Institute of Technology. She lived in the Bronx in an apartment lined with books. She took art and acting classes at Fountain House in Manhattan, a gathering place for people living with mental illness. She took adult education classes at her church, the Church of Heavenly Rest on the upper west side in Manhattan. During her years attending the church, she knitted blankets for the pastor’s newborn children. In 2012, Deborah wrote a six-page essay titled, “Living With Schizophrenia”, which she left in the care of her attorney. In the essay she wrote, “Schizophrenia is a curse that leads to complete loss of control. Generally speaking, those who don’t suffer believe the worst of those of us who do. We are all aware of the all too frequent news stories about the mentally ill who come up against law enforcement instead of mental health professionals and end up dead. We should all be aware that these circumstances represent very, very serious problems that need addressing.” During Deborah’s bouts of psychosis, law enforcement was often called by neighbors concerned about her erratic behavior. She had many psychiatric hospitalizations and was often on medication. On October 18, 2016, five police officers arrived in response to such a call. One officer, Sergeant Hugh Barry, entered the apartment first and saw Deborah sitting on her bed with a pair of scissors, threatening the officer if he came into her room. He talked her into putting the scissors down, but when he took a step forward, she picked up a wooden baseball bat. Here, accounts of the officers and medical techs differ and there were no body cameras. She may or may not have raised the bat. Sergeant Barry shot her twice. Deborah was 66 years old. Danner, Deborah

Stinney, George, 14 (Oct. 21, 1929 – June 16, 1944) Alcolu, SC June 16, 1944), Was an African American boy, who at the age of 14 was convicted, in a proceeding later vacated as an unfair trial, and executed, for the murders of two young girls in March 1944, Betty June Binnicker, age 11, and Mary Emma Thames, age 7, in his hometown of Alcolu, South Carolina . He was convicted, sentenced to death, and executed by electric chair in June 1944, thus becoming the youngest American with an exact birth date confirmed to be sentenced to death and executed in the 20th century. [3] A re-examination of Stinney's case began in 2004, and several individuals and the Northeastern University School of Law sought a judicial review. Stinney's murder conviction was vacated in 2014, seventy years after he was executed, with a South Carolina court ruling that he had not received a fair trial, and was thus wrongfully executed. [4][5] A vacated judgment "place[s] the parties in the position of no trial having taken place at all; thus a vacated judgment is of no further force or effect."

Angela Viola Davis - (2018) On the morning of Dec.18, 2018, Hopewell Virginia Police were called to a robbery and while canvassing the area, they encountered Angel, who they claimed matched a description of the robbery suspect. According to reports, Angel ran from the area and failed to heed police commands to stop. Allegedly, Angel turned toward the officers with a drawn weapon. The officers fired in her direction. Angel died instantly of a single gunshot wound in her chest. She was 31 years old. Some reports suggest that Angel suffered from Schizophrenia. Prior to her death, Angel was held for two months in jail before she was freed to be “restored to competency” for later adjudication. Angel was truly loved by many, especially her very devoted mother, Dr. Emily Grant DeCarlo, who wished her daughter had received the help she needed before her life was taken. *Angel’s name and incident were found by the STNM team. If you are a family member, friend, or were ever in community with Angel and have any additional information about her life or the incident that unjustly took Angel’s life, please email submissions@saytheirnamesmemorials.com. *Extended biography is in process.

Amadou Diallo – (September 2, 1975  -  February 4, 1999) New York, New York Amadou was the oldest of four siblings born to a prosperous Guinean family. As gemstone exporters, the family traveled the world. He was raised in Liberia, Togo, Singapore, Thailand, and Guinea. As a boy, Amadou loved sports and played soccer and basketball. Due to all the family travel, he spoke several languages, including Fulani (the language of Guinea), English, French, Spanish, and Thai.  At the age of 21, Amadou immigrated to the United States, which had long been his dream. He loved American pop music, especially Bruce Springsteen; his favorite song was, “Born in the USA.” In 1999, Amadou was living in an apartment on Wheeler Avenue in the Bronx, supporting himself as a vendor along 14th Street, selling video cassettes, gloves, and socks. He had hopes of attending college and working as a computer programmer. When his mother asked if he was afraid of living in New York, Amadou told her, “It’s safe here. I’m not afraid.” Five days before his death, he told his mother he had saved $9,000 for college tuition. “I will make you proud.” At 12:40 a.m. on February 4, 1999, Amadou was standing alone on the porch of his apartment building. Four plainclothes police officers drove down the block: Sean Carroll, Richard Murphy, Edward McMellon, and Kenneth Boss. They were part of the now-defunct Street Crimes Unit, a tough-on-crime project favored by Mayor Rudy Giuliani.  When the officers saw Amadou, they interrogated him. When Amadou reached into his pocket for his wallet to show his identification, the four officers fired forty-one shots from their semi-automatic pistols. Nineteen bullets coursed through Amadou’s unarmed, 23-year-old body.  The officers later claimed they were hunting a serial rapist in the neighborhood, testifying they mistook Amadou for the rapist. It was eventually revealed that the search for the rapist had actually taken place nine months earlier.  All four officers were charged with second-degree murder. The case led to large-scale protests and demonstrations in New York City, so the venue for the trial changed to Albany for safety concerns. All four officers were acquitted.  In April 2000, the Diallo family filed a $61 million dollar lawsuit against the city and the police, charging gross negligence, wrongful death, and racial profiling. 

Roberta Drury – (May 15, 2022) Buffalo, NY The Buffalo Police Department has released its official list of victims in Saturday shooting at Tops Friendly Markets.

Demetrius DuBose (3/23/1971 – 7/24/99) San Diego, CA Demetrius was born in Seattle, raised by a single mother in the midst of a large extended family. His mother, Jacqueline, was raised in Selma, Alabama, and joined the 1965 march over the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Demetrius graduated from O’Dea High School. While there, he was described as the best prep school football player in Washington State. A multi-talented athlete, he also ran track and played basketball and was active in student government. He was one of the most recruited athletes out of Seattle. Upon graduation, Demetrius attended the University of Notre Dame, where he was a linebacker from 1989-1992, All-American, and team captain, leading the team in defensive tackles. He had a reputation for helping and teaching younger players, who looked up to him as a mentor and a friend. He received his bachelor’s degree in government and international relations in only three-and-a-half years. In 1993, Demetrius joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for four seasons. At the end of his football career, he went to Europe and traveled widely. Settling in San Diego, he became involved in beach volleyball tournaments. On July 24, 1999, he was staying in his friend Randy West’s condo, where he could enjoy the sunset over the ocean from the balcony. That afternoon, he was discovered sleeping in an apartment whose balcony adjoined that of West’s condo. The resident told him to leave and he did, but then they called 911, reporting a possible burglary. From that point on, witnesses gave opposing reports of what they saw. Two officers arrived, Timothy Keating and Robert Wills. In the police reports, Demetrius was said to be initially cooperative but became belligerent and “charged” one officer, in a “linebacker’s stance.” He grabbed nunchucks from the officer and tried to use them. He then ran down an alley, causing the officer to chase him and jump on his back. Although the officer was 6’1’’ and two hundred pounds, Demetrius was bigger and threw the officer off, into a cement planter box. That is one version of the facts. Other witnesses described Demetrius as relaxed and cordial, answering the officers’ questions while standing by the building calmly with friends and the officers. They say the situation had already been resolved before the officers arrived. They described a full day of volleyball in which Demetrius had two beers. These witnesses say that when asked about any prior record, Demetrius was truthful about two episodes in his past and only became upset when told to turn around for handcuffs. He then ran down the alley. While chasing him, one officer tripped and fell into the planter box. When confronted in the alley, the officers used their nunchucks and Demetrious grabbed them. Demetrius was shot thirteen times, six shots in the back, some while he was on the ground. He died in the hospital. Protest demonstrations were held for several days in San Diego. In November 1999, District Attorney Paul Pfingst issued his decision that the shooting was justified. “The police were intimidated by his presence,” said his friend, Randy West. “The elephant in the room is he’s this big black guy. He wasn’t threatening in any manner. I don’t know what the purpose of the handcuffs was.” A teammate at Notre Dame, John Kouris, had been mentored by Demetrius. “He was a guide, a mentor, somebody who gave me great insight into how to be a better football player. He found ways to buoy my spirits.” Kouris is working on a documentary film about Demetrius, called Things Behind the Son. He said, “There’s more to Demetrius than what you see when you Google him. He was a complex, beautiful, and multi-layered human being. He was more than a football player. He was somebody’s son, he’s Seattle’s son, he’s Notre Dame’s son.” The Demetrius DuBose Foundation, created to address racial inequality issues, has been founded. Demetrius’ mother, Jacqueline DuBose-Wright, sued the city of San Diego for his wrongful death. In February 2003, a federal jury found the police and city not liable for the death. * Demetrius name and legacy was submitted to STNM by friend and protege, John Kouris, and Claudia Kennedy, Demetrius’ friend and former roommate. Demetrius’ legacy was showcased during the San Diego African American Museum of Fine Art “Say Their Names Memorial” Exhibit in 2021. *Biographer: Linda Katz * The above information was summarized from: www.cbsnews.com, 7/26/1999; www.archive.seattletimes.com, 7/27/1999; www.sandiegouniontribune.com, 8/1/2020; www.sportscasting.com, 1/17/2021; Wikipedia, and conversation with John Kouris

Corporal Roman Ducksworth Jr., 27, (April 9, 1962) Taylorsville, MS A military policeman stationed at Fort Ritchie, Maryland, when he received a call to return home to his wife who was experiencing complications with her pregnancy. Ducksworth, a Black man, made the thousand-mile journey home to Mississippi but never made it to his wife. He was shot and killed at the Taylorsville bus station on April 9, 1962. Ducksworth had fallen asleep on the final leg of his journey. According to a Department of Justice memo on the case, upon arriving at the bus station, the driver tried to rouse Ducksworth. Unable to do so, the driver called local Taylorsville police officer William Kelly for assistance. At least one witness reported that Kelly boarded the bus and woke Ducksworth by slapping him in the face then escorted Ducksworth off the bus.  Accounts of what happened next vary, but according to some witness statements, Ducksworth struck Kelly, who responded by hitting Ducksworth on the head repeatedly with his police club. Other statements said Ducksworth merely defended himself against Kelly. By all accounts, Kelly ultimately fired one shot at the ground and a fatal shot into Ducksworth’s chest. The victim died at the scene. His wife, Melva Ducksworth, gave birth that same day.

Bobby Ray Duckworth had a larger-than-life personality, and an even bigger smile. Family and friends spoke about Bobby as having a big heart and an enormous capacity for sharing love with his family.Born May 21, 1993, in Utah, Bobby, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, was a father, son, brother, grandson, nephew and uncle, a young man who appreciated family and loved spending time with them. That same family described Bobby as “having a passion for fishing. He hunted as a young boy. He liked to camp and enjoyed being in the mountains. He enjoyed four wheelers.” Bobby loved the outdoors and found comfort there in nature, but it was also tragically the place where he would lose his life in a tragic shooting. On September 10, 2019, Wellington-Carbon County Police Officer Garrett Safely responded to the Knight Ideal Community Fishing Pond who reported a young man who was potentially despondent and suicidal. Bobby, who had been in the Wellington Justice Courthouse for a case earlier in the day, was found by Officer Safely not far from the courthouse near the railroad tracks. Previous attempts by Bobby’s fiancee, Sydney Fernandez, to take the knife from him, were unsuccessful. In a phone call, Bobby had told Sydney that “he was done.” She had rushed to the scene and was unable to help, and she knew he needed immediate mental health intervention. The entire incident was recorded on Safely’s body camera. Officer Safely speaks repeatedly to Bobby, but he is unresponsive. The camera records Bobby, standing over one hundred feet away, in a field, behind a fence, holding both a knife and its sheath in his hands (originally the sheath was incorrectly identified as having been a second knife). Officer Safely initially tells Bobby that he is not going to shoot him and wants to help, but when Bobby begins to move forward through the field, staggering across the brush, his hands at his sides, Officer Safely retreats to higher ground, calls in the situation to his dispatch, and discharges his weapon at least six times killing Bobby. The officer stated he did not have the benefit of cover on the rocky terrain, and was in fear of his life when he fired the fatal shots. Carbon County Deputy Attorney Jeremy Humes, along with a Critical Incident Task Force (CITF), thoroughly examined the body camera footage, reports, evidence and cased the scene. Hume determined that Safely was justified in the shooting, that there was no evidence of criminal conduct and declined prosecution. *Bobby Ray’s name and incident were found by the Say Their Names Memorial team. If you are a family member, friend, or were ever in community with Bobby Ray and have any additional information about his life or the incident that unjustly took Bobby Ray’s life, please email submissions@saytheirnamesmemorials.com. *Excerpts and biography compiled by STNM Family Liaison Chair, Matthew Bowerman. Thank you, Matthew. *The above is summarized from: deseret.com; springerturner.com; etvnews.com; si.com.

MiChance Dunlap-Gittens (2017) Des Moines, IA A Black teen from Des Moines, was killed as he ran away from plainclothes deputies, who burst from the back of a vehicle during a 2017 failed sting operation. Leading up to the planned action, officers pretended to be a 15-year-old female in search of alcohol and set up a meeting with a 16-year-old acquaintance of Dunlap-Gittens, whom they were investigating. They thought the acquaintance, who was with Dunlap-Gittens at the time he was killed, was involved in a hit-and-run death of another officer's son. But it turned out that neither youth was involved in the crime. Dunlap-Gittens and the person of interest were drawn toward an unmarked van, from which deputies burst. Deputies shot at Dunlap-Gittens, hitting him at least eight times as he tried to run away.

"My husband saved people's lives. He was a good human being. He sacrificed his life, his mental health to do something for his country." A sentimental outpouring from Gregory Lloyd Edwards’ widow, Kathleen. "This is how he's treated. The least the sheriff could do, if he was a patriot, is request an independent investigation." Gregory Lloyd Edwards was a good Christain husband, father, and friend, always volunteering his time and helping strangers on the side of the road. He never gossipped or judged people. Greg would give a stranger his last meal. Gregory grew up in East Orange, New Jersey. He loved sports; his favorite football team was the Jets. He loved working out at the local LA Fitness Center. His favorite color was army green, just like his wife, a suitable shade considering their devoted service in the Army. In addition to sharing a favorite color and time in service, Gregory and his wife also enjoyed recreational activities, such as fishing and camping. For the majority of Gregory’s adult life, he served his country as an Army combat medic, deployed to both Iraq and Kosovo. His wife, Kathleen, was also a combat veteran, and the two met at a VA hospital in West Virginia. Since they both suffered from PTSD associated with their time in combat, Kathleen said they hoped Brevard County would bring them peace, sanity and tranquility. They settled into the community of Brevard with hopes to become more grounded as a family unit and prepare a solid foundation for raising their family. Their children were everything to them, hoping for at least seven little ones. Gregory never lived to see the birth of his second child, and in a series of highly unfortunate circumstances, Gregory’s second child drowned a year and half after his birth. Kathleen described Gregory as a loving husband who could fix anything he touched, including Kathleen’s peace of mind. Both partners suffered from combat PTSD. “The trauma of losing Greg was even more unbearable because I relied on him; he took me to all my doctors’ appointments, and he made sure I was safe. We looked out for each other. I feel so helpless that I couldn't save his life even though he saved mine.” Around 11:30 a.m. on December 9, 2018, officers were called to a nearby Walmart in response to a call of an erratic man who had assaulted a charity worker and jumped into the back of a truck packed with Christmas toys. As seen from the police video footage at the scene, Kathleen told the officers her husband was a veteran suffering from PTSD and he was having an episode; she was going to take him to the hospital. Gregory was charged with misdemeanor battery and taken to the Brevard County jail. While detained, in efforts to subdue Gregory, who was resistant to authorities during the arrest, the deputies punched, tased, and pepper-sprayed him, eventually strapping him into a restraint chair and placing a spit hood over his head. Once “subdued,” Gregory was wheeled into a holding cell, where he was left unattended for sixteen minutes. By 2:45 p.m. paramedics were called to the jail’s medical building. Gregory was unconscious and without a pulse. After being transported to a medical center nearby, Gregory was hooked up to medical tubing giving him life support and handcuffed to his bed. Kathleen sat by his side. Gregory died the next day. Gregory’s death was ruled accidental and an outcome of “excited delirium,” a disputable diagnosis often assigned to police custody mortalities. According to the family attorney, medical records indicate that Gregory suffered symptoms not conclusive with “excited delirium,” such as swollen areas on his brain, caused by lack of oxygen, and CPR, which is not used in episodes of “excited delirium,” was also administered. Florida State Attorney, Phil Archer, released a statement in defense of the deputies' use of force at the jailhouse, calling it justified. In addition, after a month-long review of the sheriff’s in-house investigation into the circumstances leading to Gregory’s death, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement concluded the report was “complete and thorough.” Names of correction officers involved in the incident that ended Gregory’s life were not released, they were clear of any wrongdoing and the criminal investigation was closed. County Sheriff Wayne Ivey refused to release the video of Gregory’s beating in jail, citing security reasons. Throughout the summer of 2020, friends, family, and activists consistently gathered outside of Ivey’s office demanding the release of the video capturing Gregory’s final moments of life, as well as a more thorough investigation conducted by an outside agency. Many of the protests in Brevard County were fueled by the nationwide momentum created by the homicide of George Floyd and the urgent cry for greater police accountability. Florida Today, who conducted lengthy articles and in-depth reporting in regards to Gregory’s death and the Brevard County Police Department, has sued the sheriff to release the videos. The trial was set for October of 2020. The judge pushed the legal teams for the sheriff and Florida Today to resolve the lawsuit by offering redacted versions of the raw video footage “that balanced the sheriff’s security concerns and the public’s right to know.” Alton Edmond, Sheriff Ivey’s local challenger for sheriff in the upcoming 2020 election says: “Really, what this case needs is a new, independent investigation. What FDLE did was simply review, no actual witnesses were even interviewed for this overview. There needs to be...a federal investigation, someone with the resources to come in and independently find out what happened to this veteran.” *The following excerpts were gathered from NBC News, Click Orlando and Florida Today.

Jordan Edwards, an upbeat 15-year-old freshman at Mesquite High School in Balch Springs, Texas was well-liked by his classmates and teachers and displayed a strong academic record with a 4.0 GPA. He sported a million-dollar-smile, was known to be humble and was never in trouble. Jordan loved football and his coach Jeff Fleener said, “You create a checklist of everything you would want in a player, a son, a teammate, a friend and Jordan had all that. He was that kid.” Beloved by his family, he was especially close to his siblings. Based on a 911 noise complaint about an underage party, two police officers arrived at the scene to investigate. While in the home, the officers heard gunshots and ran outside just as Jordan and his brothers were driving away. Officer Roy Oliver came after the car, breaking the passenger window with his rifle, and shot into the car window three times, striking Jordan in the head, killing him instantly. Jordan was unarmed and had not been drinking. No drugs or alcohol were found in the home. Later, it was discovered that the gunshots were from a nursing home parking lot where the bullets were allegedly shot in the air. Oliver reported the vehicle Jordan was in was “backing down the street toward officers in an aggressive manner.” He said he feared for his life. After reviewing the body cam video, Police Chief Jonathan Haber, stated that the video contradicted Officer Oliver’s version of the story and the vehicle was actually moving forward away from the officers. Oliver, a six year veteran at the time, was immediately put on administrative leave after the incident and was later fired from the Balch Springs Police Department after review of the body cam footage. Oliver was eventually indicted in July 2017 for the slaying of Jordan Edwards. In August of 2018 he was convicted of murder and using excessive force and sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined $10,000. Officer Oliver appealed his case in April of 2019. In August of 2020, the Texas 5th Court of Appeals upheld Oliver’s conviction of fatally shooting Jordan Edwards. Jordan's death is a terrible loss not only to his family but also his community and society. He was terrific young man, intelligent, affable and athletic who had a reputation of being able to make everyone around him feel better. A shining star has been lost. *Jordan’s name was submitted to STNM for a private vigil held in Rockwall, Texas in 2020. * If you are family, friend of the family, or were ever in community with Jordan and would like to add more to Jordan’s legacy, please contact submissions@saytheirnamesmemorials.com. *Excerpts compiled by STNM biographer Emma Dugan. Thank you, Emma. *The information above was summarized from: Dallas News, Youtube, theroot.com, fox4news.com, wikipedia, cnn.com, and heavy.com.

Kylen English – (2011) Dayton, Ohio

Cindreia’s mother, LaToya Mack, says that her daughter learned to read at age three and continued to excel academically. Cinderella really loved science and was always experimenting and tinkering in her room. “She was just naturally gifted. She could just synthesize information.” She was accepted at Emory University with almost a full-ride scholarship. During her senior year at Emory, Cindreia’s father died and she abruptly dropped out of college, just one class short of her Bachelor’s degree. After that, her mother didn’t hear from Cindreia often. She heard Cindreia ended up in Utah, living in her car. On the day of her death, March 5, 2019, her car had been impounded. That evening, a witness at a shopping center in Millcreek reported “man down” in their parking lot and a Unified Police Department officer responded. The officer, Megan Franklin, drove over Cindreia unknowingly, continued on for about forty-five feet, then turned and drove over her a second time. Cindreia died later at a hospital. She was 23 years old. Officer Franklin had previously been employed by the West Valley City Police for over eight years, during which she had been responsible for seven car crashes deemed “preventable” and she was repeatedly sanctioned for careless driving. After a final crash in May 2017, she resigned from her position and went to work for the UPD in December 2017. Cindreia’s mother, LaToya Mack, filed a lawsuit against Officer Franklin, UPD, and the police dispatcher. Her attorney is Eric Hinckley. The lawsuit alleges that the dispatcher had been told by the caller that the “man down” was lying on the parking lot pavement and wearing dark clothing, but did not convey that information to the responding officer. It also alleges that Officer Franking was driving too fast for nighttime conditions in the parking lot. Neither drugs nor alcohol was considered a factor in the death. A poem written by Cindreia, “I Was Open in Front of Him”, was featured in the Wild Sound Festival Review in June of 2016. *Cindreia’s name and incident were found by the STNM team. If you are a family member, friend, or were ever in community with Cindreia and have any additional information about her life or the incident that unjustly took her life, please email submissions@saytheirnamesmemorials.com. *Biographer: STNM staff writer, Linda Katz. Thank you, Linda. *The above information was summarized from: wildsoundfestivalreview, 6/11/16; The Salt Lake Tribune, 3/30/19; apnews.com, 8/3/19; deseret.com, 11/13/19; kutv.com, 11/13/19.

Medgar Evers 38 (July 2, 1925 - June 12, 1963) Jackson, MS Evers was murdered in 1963 at his home in Jackson, Mississippi, now the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument, by Byron De La Beckwith, a member of the White Citizens' Council in Jackson. This group was formed in 1954 in Mississippi to resist the integration of schools and civil rights activism. As a veteran, Evers was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. His murder and the resulting trials inspired civil rights protests, and his life and death inspired numerous works of art, music, and film. Although all-white juries failed to reach verdicts in Beckwith's first two trials in the 1960s, he was convicted in 1994 based on new evidence.

Allan Feliz was born and raised in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City. Growing up, his favorite sport was basketball, and he was a huge fan of Micheal Jordan. According to his brother, Samy Feliz, Allan always donated food, clothes, and funds to less fortunate members of his community. “Allan was the kindest soul anyone could ever meet and he would believe in you even when you stopped believing in yourself,” Samy says. Allan was a 31-year-old new father at the time of the incident. His son, Eli, was only six-months-old when his father was shot by the NYPD. “This is his first child," Samy says. "He was ecstatic. He was overwhelmed with joy. Every moment that he spent with his child, it just brightened his day.” Allan’s favorite thing to do was spend time with his son and family, being the “life of the party” at family gatherings. Samy refers to Allan as a father figure to himself and his younger sisters, Ashley and Kimberly. Since their father was incarcerated for the majority of their lives, Allan adopted a caretaker role for his siblings, prioritizing their education and making sure they were always cared for. On October 17, 2019, after picking up a friend near Bainbridge in the Bronx, Allan is on his way to pick up his step-daughter from school when he is pulled over for an alleged seat belt violation. Allan stops his vehicle near Bedford Park. The time is nearly three o’clock in the afternoon. Many children are in the area, just having been released from school. Officer Edward Barrett approaches the vehicle in a congenial manner and acknowledges that Allan is wearing his seat belt, but it is difficult to discern, because Allan’s sweatshirt and seatbelt are the same color. Barrett continues to ask for Allan’s license and registration. Three low-level outstanding bench warrants come back after running Aaron’s license, at which point the officers on the scene begin the pursuit of an arrest. Barrett asks Allan to step outside of his vehicle, reassuring him that he is not in any trouble. Allan steps out of the vehicle, is quickly patted down, and after a brief moment calmly returns into the car. Sergeant Johnathon Rivera has positioned himself outside the passenger side door. When Allan gets back in the car, it lurches forward, prompting the officers to take quick action to keep Allan from driving off, as they expect he is trying to get away. Sergeant Rivera unholsters his firearm outside the passenger side door, threatening that he’ll shoot Allan if he does not comply and put the car in park. A frenzied flurry of punches and tasing from officers on both sides hit Allan over and over again as he says repeatedly, “Don’t shoot me. Please don’t shoot me.” “Yo, bro, I’m going to f@!#ing shoot you,” Sergeant Rivera says as Officer Barrett is shouting at Allan to put the car in park. Rivera then dives into the car, wrestling with Allan while leaning over the uninvolved passenger, Allan’s friend, continuing to punch Allan and strike him with the end of his Taser, warning him repeatedly to stand down. According to the passenger, Sergeant Rivera’s gun was drawn and pointed at Allan throughout the entire encounter. The struggle between the three men inside the vehicle causes the car to jerk forward and back and Officer Barrett is tossed side-to-side beside the opened driver side door. Allan is screaming and reacting emphatically to the attack, pleading for his life. Officer Almanzar is on the front driver's side and is yelling for the tussle to end. Amidst the chaos, it is hard to discern if an attempt is made to put the car in park, if Allan is truly trying to get away, or if the car was already placed in the park position, but eventually, the car comes to a halt. At this point, Rivera discharges his gun, and a single shot is fired into Allan’s chest. After the shot, Officer Almanzar asks her sergeant if he is okay, to which he replies he is. Almanzar follows up asking what happened and why Rivera discharged his firearm, and Rivera responds that he got tired, and curses. Officers Barrett and Rivera drag Allan out of the vehicle, put him in handcuffs, and as Allan is bleeding to his death in the middle of the street near the park, with his pants and underwear dropped below his knees, the officers attempt chest compressions. Emergency vehicles arrive and Allan is rushed to a nearby hospital where he is pronounced dead. Samy told reporters that he and his family heard what happened through social media and waited for hours at the precinct station house for confirmation. Attorney General Letitia James’ office investigated the shooting, but criminal charges were not being placed on the officers at the time of the investigation and law enforcement officials have maintained that officers acted responsibly during the incident. They contend—since the repetitive deployment of the taser did not subdue Allan and the movement of the car tossed the officers around—that Rivera was in the right to fire his weapon and kill Allan. There is eighteen minutes of video footage from all three officers’ body cams, which recounts the incident from the point of view of each officer. There is still contention between lawyers and law enforcement whether or not it can be discerned if the officers are truly in harm's way. According to the NYPD, Officer Barrett and Officer Almanzar both remain on the force, although they were reassigned to different precincts. Sergeant Rivera, also, remains on active duty. “We believe that there has to be a better method employed than shoot to kill,” says Robert Vilensky, the family attorney. Allan’s family has taken out a class-action lawsuit for $350 million against the city and the NYPD for an alleged pattern of racial profiling, such as employing illegitimate traffic stops, and excessive use of force. *Allan’s younger brother Samy submitted Allan’s name to the Say Their Names Memorial and verified the above account. *Biographer: STNM Editor-in-Chief, Stacy Feder. Thank you, Stacy. *The above is summarized excerpts from The Daily News, The New York Post, Gothamist, Norwood News, and Samy’s testimony.

Fells, Dominique (1993- June 2020) Philadelphia, PA Dominique was a Black trans woman found near a river with both legs severed above the knee along with stab injuries to the face and head. A male “friend” was charged in the case.

Fields, Cynthia ( 1958 – July 18, 2018 ) Savannah, GA Fields was a grandmother, shot by police who while in her home. Police and her grandson, outside on her porch, were exchanging gunfire with each other when she was shot.

George grew up in Houston, Texas. He played football and basketball throughout high school and college. George was a blue-collar worker by day and an early contributor to the development of Houston’s hip-hop scene. In addition, he was an active mentor in his religious community. In 2014, George moved to the Minneapolis area, finding work both as a truck driver and a bouncer. In 2020, he lost his security job during the pandemic.On May 25, 2020, George was arrested on a charge of passing a counterfeit twenty-dollar bill at a grocery store in Minneapolis. According to the store clerk, the bill was an obvious fake and George refused to return his purchase when challenged. Police were called and an arrest was under way. Handcuffed, George lay face down in the street, while two other officers further restrained him, and a fourth officer prevented onlookers from intervening. George died as Officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee on his neck for nearly nine minutes during the arrest. George’s death sparked protests globally against police brutality and lack of police accountability. Protests began in Minneapolis the day after his death and developed in over 400 cities throughout the U.S. and abroad. All four officers involved in George’s death have been fired from the Minneapolis police department. As of September 2020, the officers involved are awaiting trial. The ex-officer who placed his knee on George’s neck, Chauvin, is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter. Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao have been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and manslaughter. *The above is summarized excerpts from Wikipedia.

Cornelius Fredericks, age 16, was a ward of the state and living in a residential facility in Kalamazoo, Michigan. His young life had been defined by trauma and loss. His mother died unexpectedly when she was 32. Subsequently, his father was incarcerated. He was separated from his siblings when he was 12 and spent some years in foster homes before being placed at Lakeside Academy. Counselors who knew him during his years in state care said Cornelius wanted to become a counselor himself. He tried to teach adults how to play chess and he loved to show off card tricks. They described him as a child who wanted to be liked. One person said “Corn was a Sour Patch Kid. He had a really tough exterior that could be a little frightening but he had a really soft heart.” Cornelius’ stay at Lakeside Academy was rocky and he was often disciplined and restrained. On April 29, 2020, he threw a sandwich at another resident in the cafeteria. Two male staff members and a female nurse threw him to the floor and restrained him by lying across his torso. There are two videos of the action. He was restrained for twelve minutes, initially saying “I can’t breathe”. Once he became limp and silent, the staff failed to try to resuscitate him for several more minutes. He was transported to a hospital where he died on May 1, 2020. Autopsy revealed Cornelius died of cardiac arrest caused by “restraint asphyxia.” After Cornelius died, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued a statement that the actions of the Lakeside staff were “significantly disproportionate” to the situation. The state of Michigan revoked the agency’s license and fired the director. Criminal charges were filed against three staff members, for manslaughter and child abuse. Attorney Geoffrey Fieger, representing Cornelius’ aunt, Tonia Goshay, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit seeking $100 million in damages. Cornelius’ short life and traumatic death reflect a foster care system in which abused and neglected children of color are disproportionately overrepresented nationally while federal and state funding for their care is grossly inadequate. *Cornelius’ name and incident were found by the STNM team. If you are a family member, friend, or were ever in community with Cornelius and have any additional information about his life or the incident that unjustly took his life, please email submissions@saytheirnamesmemorials.com. *Biographer: STNM staff writer, Linda Katz. Thank you, Linda. *The above information was summarized from: www.nytimes.com, 6/24/20; cbsnews.com, 6/27/20; cnn.com, 7/1/20; wwwthesun.com, 8/5/20.

Korryn Shandawn Gaines lived in Randallstown, Maryland, outside of Baltimore. Her mother, Rhanda Dormeus, is a nurse. Her father, Ryan Gaines, is a police dispatcher. Korryn was the mother of a five-year old son and an infant daughter. She graduated from Morgan State University and worked as a hairdresser. After her death, a friend described her as “a beautiful person with an infectious laugh. You could hear it a mile away. She had always been very mature, even at a young age.” In young adulthood, however, Korryn began showing symptoms of a possible mental illness. In March of 2016, Korryn was stopped for a traffic violation for invalid license plates and not having her car registered in Maryland. The officer issued a citation and an order to repossess the vehicle. A verbal conflict ensued. When Korryn did not follow the subsequent requirements or pay the fine, a warrant was issued. On August 1, 2016, officers arrived at Carriage Hill Apartments to serve the warrant. Korryn and her son were in the apartment and she refused them entry. She spoke of being “a free person” and not subject to their commands. Referring to the police as “the devil at my door,” she showed them she had a shotgun and began filming the events on her phone. She also posted videos to Facebook and Instagram. There was a standoff of several hours with armed officers outside her door. Finally, Korryn threatened to shoot. One officer fired. She shot back with a buckshot, and the officers shot three more times, killing Korryn and wounding her son. Videos of the encounter remain on YouTube. Korryn was 23 years old. The American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland condemned the killing, saying: “The police decided to use deadly force to execute the warrant for a traffic violation, knowing that a five-year-old child might be in the line of fire.” The National Organization of Women asked the US Department of Justice to investigate. The National LGBTQ Task Force condemned the shooting. News outlets questioned why the Crisis Intervention Team was not deployed. The Gaines family filed a wrongful death lawsuit, alleging officers shot Korryn out of a loss of patience from the long standoff. In February of 2018, a jury of six women awarded more than $38 million in damages to the family. In February of 2019, an appeals judge dismissed the complaint and the damages. In July of 2020, after appealing and having the case heard by a second jury, jurors reinstated the original $38 million verdict, $32 million of which will go to Korryn’s son. The family’s attorney was J. Wyndal Gordon and the attorney for Korryn’s young son was Kenneth Ravenell. *Korryn’s name and incident were found by the STNM team. If you are a family member, friend, or were ever in community with Korryn and have any additional information about her life or the incident that unjustly took her life, please email submissions@saytheirnamesmemorials.com. *Biographer: STNM staff writer, Linda Katz. Thank you, Linda. *The above is summarized excerpts from Wikipedia; nbcnews.com, 8/3/16; huffpost, 8/3/16; baltimoresun.com, 8/5/16; baltimoresun.com, 2/15/19; essence.com, 7/2/20.

Eric was a dedicated father too stubborn to let asthma get in the way of his life. He was remembered by family and friends as a “gentle giant” who was always there for his family. "My father never missed a birthday," his daughter Erica said at the funeral. "The only thing my daughter asked for was Pop-Pop and a birthday cake. I don't know how I can explain to her that Pop-Pop this year is not bringing the cake." Eric also enjoyed working on cars and visiting Coney Island with his 90-year-old aunt, according to family at the service. On July 17, 2014, Eric Garner died in Staten Island after Daniel Pantaleo, a NYPD officer, put him in a choke hold while arresting him. Garner repeated the words “I can’t breathe” eleven times while lying face down the sidewalk. After Garner lost consciousness, officers turned him onto his side, continuing their chokehold. Garner remained lying on the sidewalk for seven minutes while the officers waited for an ambulance to arrive. Garner was pronounced dead at an area hospital approximately an hour later. On December 4, 2014, a Richmond County grand jury decided not to indict Officer Pantaleo, and on July 13, 2015, and in 2019, the U.S. Department of Justice declined to bring criminal charges against Pantaleo under federal civil rights laws. A judge later recommended that Pantaleo’s employment be terminated. Pantaleo was fired more than five years after Eric’s death. *The above is summarized excerpts from DNAInfo & Wikipedia.

Andre was visiting family in Portland, Oregon on January 6, 2019, when he was shot and killed by city police. Responding to a trespassing call, an officer arrived on scene to find Andre inside a stranger’s home. According to a witness, the officer first used his Taser on Andre but then shot him twice point-blank range when tasing failed to subdue him. The officer claimed Andre had a knife, but the grand jury transcripts later disclosed the knife belonged to the officer. A Multnomah County grand jury decided the use of deadly force by a Portland police officer that resulted in Andre’s death was a lawful act of self-defense. Family members shared Andre had suffered from Schizophrenia and was legally blind. They believe he may have been in the middle of a mental health crisis when he was killed. *Andre’s name and incident were found by the STNM team. If you are a family member, friend, or were ever in community with Andre and have any additional information about his life or the incident that unjustly took Andre’s life, please email submissions@saytheirnamesmemorials.com. *Extended biography is in process. Andre Gladen.jpeg

Brendon Glenn (1986 - May 5, 2015) Los Angeles, CA Shot twice in the back while laying face down on his stomach. No charges filed against officers. Family received $4 million in wrongful death lawsuit.

Graham, Ramarley ( April 12, 1993 – April 12, 2012) Bronx, NY At the time of his death he was a student at the Young Scholars Academy of The Bronx where he aspired to travel the world and become a veterinarian. Graham died on February 2, 2012, at the age of 18 after being shot by a New York Police Department officer in his grandmother’s bathroom. Ramarley Graham was spotted adjusting the waistband of his pants during a NYPD narcotics squad surveillance of a bodega near his home. Officers assumed Graham was concealing a gun. When plainclothes officers approached Graham, they reported that he ran to the home of Patricia Hartley, his grandmother, a few blocks away. Surveillance footage from outside the front entrance to Hartley’s building, however, shows Graham calmly walking up to the door and entering without urgency. The same surveillance footage shows two officers running up to the building with their guns drawn just moments after Graham enters. As the two officers try to force their way through the locked door, other NYPD officers gained entrance through the rear of the building and opened the front door. One officer ran upstairs to Hartley’s apartment and broke down the door without a search warrant or announcing that he was a police officer. Plainclothes Officer Richard Haste then ran into the apartment and discovered Graham in the bathroom attempting to flush a bag of marijuana down the toilet. Without any orders to comply, Graham was shot once in the chest in front of his little brother, Chinoor Campbell, and grandmother. Haste later reported that Graham reached into his waistband for a gun but no weapon was found in the Hartley apartment. Twenty minutes after the shooting, Graham was removed on a gurney from Hartley’s home by police officers. His family suspected he had already died but he was officially pronounced dead at 3:53 PM at the Montefiore Medical Center. Patricia Hartley was arrested, detained, and questioned by NYPD about the series of events that occurred in her home for seven hours at the local precinct after watching her grandson, Graham, die at the hands of Haste. Graham’s body was also misidentified after his death, which prevented his parents from seeing his body for four days after his murder. In 2012, a grand jury voted to indict Haste, but the indictment was tossed out due to a prosecutorial mistake. A second grand jury declined to indict Haste, allowing him to walk free. After further investigation during a departmental trial in March 2017, Haste was found guilty on all charges and turned in his badge and gun before Deputy Commissioner of Trials, Rosemarie Maldonado, asked Police Commissioner, James O’Neill, to fire him. Although Haste is no longer employed by NYPD, many people are still fighting to see justice for Ramarley Graham.

Oscar Grant III was born in 1986, the son of Oscar Grant Jr. and Wanda Johnson in Oakland, California. Grant’s father was incarcerated at the time of his birth and his mother raised Oscar as a single parent. During his short life as a young person, Oscar enjoyed playing sports. He is remembered as loving being in community with friends of all stripes, being helpful, and living life to the fullest expression. At the family’s local church, Oscar performed in front of the congregation reciting scripture and singing hymns. He fell in love with his high school sweetheart Sophina, who gave birth to their daughter, Tatiana, in 2005. Oscar attended school in the Bay area, Hayward, where he dropped out during tenth grade. Following his exit from high school, he was arrested five times by police for various nonviolent drug-related offenses. In 2006, he was arrested for carrying a loaded gun and sentenced to 16 months in prison, which he served in the county jails. During his incarceration, he earned his GED and discovered his passion for cutting hair. He set his mind to becoming a barber upon his release. When Oscar returned home, he lived with Sophina, Tatiana, and other family members in Hayward. He and Tatiana hoped to one day live in a place of their own, perhaps away from Hayward. He held a job as a butcher at Farmer Joe’s Marketplace in Oakland, a local grocery, but lost it a few weeks before his death, due to arriving late on several occasions. On December 31, 2008, Oscar prepared for his mother Wanda’s birthday party by buying special crabs for gumbo. Later that night, he also took the BART train into San Francisco to see the new year’s fireworks with loved ones. On the way back home in Oakland, Oscar ran into a fellow former inmate from jail and a fight ensued between them. Oscar’s friends and several others on the train broke up the fight, and Oscar, his friends, and Sophina got off the train at Fruitvale station. On the train platform, seven BART police officers detained people suspected to be involved in the train fight. Several eyewitnesses gathered to cop-watch the scene, including some who filmed the events on their phones. Having been aggressive with other detained people, Officer Tony Pirone rushed at Oscar and punched him repeatedly in the face. Grant had raised his hands while seated against the platform wall. Officers Johannes Mehserle and Pirone then lay Oscar facedown while he pleaded they not hurt him. Officer Pirole kneeled on Oscar’s neck as Officer Mehserle stood up in an attempt to handcuff Oscar, then shot him in the back in what eyewitness testimony implies might have been either a sudden impulse or a mistake. Oscar was taken to Highland Hospital and died from the gunshot seven hours later. Oscar Grant’s death sparked an outcry in the Bay Area and across the country. During a daytime protest that lasted into night, crowds of protesters in Oakland were met with police in riot gear who deployed teargas, rubber bullets, and other weapons. Many credit this outcry among the early sparks of this decade’s Black Lives Matter movement. Officer Mehserle was arrested, and his $3 million bail was quickly posted by the police union. In 2010, he was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and not guilty for charges of second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter by a Los Angeles jury. Officer Mehserle served a total of 292 days in prison, including the 146 days he’d spent in custody following the trial. Oscar’s mother Wanda continues to advocate for families of victims of police violence. Tatiana is now 16 years old. *Oscar’s name and incident were submitted by the STNM team for the San Francisco Opera House exhibit in 2021. *If you are a family member, friend, or were ever in community with Oscar and have any additional information about his life or the incident that unjustly took his life, please email submissions@saytheirnamesmemorials.com. *Biographer: STNM staff writer, River Seidelman. Thank you, River. *The above information was summarized from the following: Blackpast.org (5/10/2017); KPFA.org (8/25/2020); The Atlantic (7/12/2013); Slate.com (7/12/2013).

Freddie Gray, Jr. was born in Baltimore, Maryland on August 16, 1989. Alongside his mother, Gloria Darden, an older sister, Carolina, and twin sister, Fredericka, he grew up in an impoverished household. Throughout his childhood, his family moved frequently. In 2008, the family won a settlement from their landlord involving failure to remove lead paint from their home. Research later revealed damaging levels of lead in the family’s blood, leading to a myriad of educational and medical issues for all of them, ultimately exacerbating the cycle of poverty already exceedingly difficult to break. Personality-wise, neighbors say Freddie was friendly and funny, and any time anyone needed a laugh, they’d go straight to Freddie. He and his community all treated one another as family. Freddie loved football and always wanted to play tight end despite being too small. Three weeks prior to April 12, 2015, Baltimore police requested “enhanced” drug enforcement efforts near streets where Freddie lived. On the morning of April 12, 2015, Officers Brian Rice, Edward Nero, and Garrett Miller were patrolling on bikes and made eye contact with Freddie. Freddie proceeded to flee on foot “unprovoked upon noticing police presence.” After a brief chase, Freddie was taken into custody “without the use of force or incident.” According to Officer Miller, Freddie seemed to be carrying a knife clipped to the inside of his pocket. However, video recordings show Freddie was captured as screaming, being dragged to a police van by officers, and then being “folded” into the van. The police timeline states Freddie was placed in the van eleven minutes within his arrest, and within thirty minutes was taken to the hospital in a coma. Media suggests a possibility of a “rough ride,” where Freddie was placed in the erratically driven van without a seatbelt, as the main contributing factor of his injuries. The Baltimore Police Department issued a revised seatbelt policy six days prior to Freddie’s arrest to protect detainees from injuries during transport, however, the policy was not followed in Freddie’s case.Freddie later suffered from cardiopulmonary arrest, underwent extensive surgery, but in the end, the spinal injury during transport is what ultimately led to Freddie’s death on April 19, 2015. The Baltimore Police suspended six officers pending investigation due to not seeking medical attention in a timely manner and failing to follow the seatbelt policy during transport. The officers were charged with false imprisonment since they failed to establish probable cause for Freddie’s arrest as no crime was committed. All six officers were later charged in varying degrees from manslaughter, second-degree depraved heart murder, reckless driving, and misconduct. However, all six officers were later found either not guilty or all charges were dropped through separate trials for each of them. *The above is summarized excerpts from BlackPast, CNN & Wikipedia.

Police say Andre, age 15, was behind the wheel when they attempted to pull over a carjacked vehicle on August 9, 2015, in Indianapolis. When being pulled over, two passengers got out and ran off, but officers say Andre stayed at the wheel and attempted a three-point turn in the car as police boxed him in. Officers gave him commands to stop, but Andre used the car to ram a police cruiser, narrowly missing a police officer. All three officers fired at Andre. Police said Andre fell to the ground outside the car with a gun nearby. They made no assertion that Andre pointed or fired his gun at officers. Andre was pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem examination found that Andre was shot five times, including once in the back. There is no dash cam, body cam, or civilian video of the incident. The officers involved in Andre’s death were not disciplined and were back on duty shortly after the incident. The police department portrayed Andre as a “troubled” teen with a criminal past. "He wasn't a thug," said Andre’s aunt.”He was a runaway, but a good kid going through something,” she said. "He was born on a curvy road and hit a bump," she added. *Andre’s name and incident were found by the STNM team. If you are a family member, friend, or were ever in community with Andre and have any additional information about his life or the incident that unjustly took Andre’s life, please email submissions@saytheirnamesmemorials.com. *Extended biography is in process.

Green, Lloyd, (December 15, 1986 – June 29, 2013) Suffolk,Virginia

Sandy Guardiola was a proud daughter of Puerto Rico parents, born in New York City. She came from fairly humble beginnings and her family had to work hard to survive, and it was in this environment that Sandy learned to defeat the odds life handed her. Throughout her life she endured many hardships, surviving a serious car accident and two bouts with breast cancer resulting in a double mastectomy, but Sandy never let these setbacks get the best of her. During her recovery years, she continued to go to school to achieve a master’s degree in social work from Columbia University. Standing only 5’4”, Sandy was considered quite a tough cookie by her children and coworkers alike. She worked in law enforcement for nearly twenty years as a correction officer, a court officer, and a parole officer. She was described as “tough but warm” and someone who cared for everybody and always put others first. At a later point in her career, Sandy moved upstate to Canandaigua to be closer to nature. Shortly after the move, she was in a car accident that left her bedridden, and she needed to be on sick leave for four weeks. Colleagues and appropriate personnel were informed of Sandy’s condition, but one police officer decided a “wellness check” was in order due to the fact that she had not reported to work that day. It is reported that the officer made no attempt to connect with her emergency contacts. Sandy was shot in her bed while sleeping while on medical leave as a result of this officer’s “wellness check.” The officer’s bullets hit her in her head, her abdomen, and her arm. According to Sandy’s medical exam, it is the doctor’s professional opinion that the timeline of events is not scientifically sound. The forensic analysis suggests that Sandy was shot first, before turning her body to retrieve her firearm, which she kept under her pillow. There was a claim form the police report that Sandy’s service weapon was discharged, insinuating that the officer acted out of self-defense. In addition, there was ten minutes of lag time between when the shooting occurred and when paramedics were contacted. It has been reported that Sandy was alive and breathing during this time and had emergency responders arrived sooner, she could still be alive today. After the county reviewed all pertinent documentation, they deemed the shooting justified. A wrongful death lawsuit was filed by Sandy’s family. The lawsuit seeks justification for Sandy being killed in violation of her fourth and fifteenth amendment rights and state constitutional rights. *The above is summarized excerpts from 13 Wham Local News, Democrat & Chronicle & Change.org

Gulley Titi, 31, ( - May 27, 2019 Portland, OR Reported as homeless, queer and Black, Gulley’s body was found hanging from a true. Police ruled it a suicide. Others are not so sure.

Akai Gurley was with his girlfriend when he was fatally shot by the NYPD. As the officers were patrolling the Louis H. Pink Houses in Brooklyn, Akai and his girlfriend entered the seventh-floor stairwell, fourteen steps below them. The stairwell was pitch-dark, unlit. One of the officers fired his weapon, which ricocheted off a wall and struck Akai in the chest. Akai was 28 years old. On the following Friday, Akai’s family, in a joint statement, demanded “The NYPD permanently end all vertical patrols and stop using the NYPD as [your] security.” They also requested the officer who shot their son to be fired from the department and for the city to reinvest the funds in programs like "affordable housing, community centers, and after-school programs," instead of using it to keep growing the base of NYPD officers. A jury convicted the officer of manslaughter, which a court later reduced to criminally negligent homicide. The officer was sentenced to five years of probation and eight hundred hours of community service. *Akai’s name and incident were found by the STNM team. If you are a family member, friend, or were ever in community with Akai and have any additional information about his life or the incident that unjustly took Akai’s life, please email submissions@saytheirnamesmemorials.com. *Extended biography is in process.

Miles Hall – (2019) Walnut Creek, CA Walnut Creek police officers had previous knowledge that Hall dealt with mental illness after they had subdued him using nom-lethal force during a previous encounter in which he had brandished a knife. Officers first attempted to contact Hall but he did not respond to commands to stop running and drop the digging tool he was carrying. Hall began running toward the officers with the digging tool and was fired upon by a beanbag shotgun. The beanbags did not slow Hall, at which point the officers fired hitting him four times. Hall was pronounced dead soon after.

Mya Hall (2015) Baltimore, MD

Hall, Tatiana, (2020) Newark, NJ A transgender woman, little is known of how or where she died, her family says she was discovered abandoned on the street. She is one of 23 transgender people who are believed to have died as a result of violence in 2020 so far, a majority of whom have been women of color.

Hammond, Jr., Samuel “Bubba”, 18 ( - 1968) Orangeberg, SC In what became known as the Orangeburg Massacre, police in 1968 shot at college students protesting on their campus, killing three people and wounding 28. Among the dead was Samuel Hammond Jr. -- or Bubba, as his sisters called him. Hammond was 18. Hammond had gone to the historically black South Carolina State College in Orangeburg after growing up near Fort Lauderdale, Fla. -- where Carter and Clark still live. Hammond was just a freshman when several black students tried to visit the town's only bowling alley, which had a whites-only policy. They were turned away, sparking outrage and protests among the students. And just days later, students lit a bonfire. State troopers advanced onto the campus, and a violent melee erupted. Three students were killed; Samuel Hammond died after being shot in the back.

When you look up Fred Hampton, so much of what one finds on Fred Hampton is about how he died, and the corrupt systems guilty of perpetrating the horrific, early morning slaughter on December 4, 1969. His murder, his assassination, was an act of brutal cowardice, narrated by racist Chicago law enforcement, Cook County, and federal government officials, who were unable to comprehend neither the influence of Fred’s impact in his Chicago community nor the depth of the activism he sought to pursue in awakening Black and Brown consciousness. “If you ever think about me, and you ain't gonna do no revolutionary act, forget about me. I don't want myself on your mind if you're not going to work for the people.” Maybe then, for Fred, it is more fitting to speak of how he lived, because Fred Hampton lived like a whirlwind of positive action, bringing messages of non-aggression and peace to the street gangs of Chi-town, protesting economic inequality and police brutality, and working tirelessly in partnership with groups like the NAACP, Student NonViolent Committees, and the Rainbow Coalition to pursue an equitable, liberated future for people of color in this country. It is important to note that Fred’s impassioned community service, having been part of him even as a young boy in Illinois, was at its core built on a powerful love for the neighborhoods of Chicago and the people of color who filled them. Fred Hampton was born August 30, 1948, and grew up in the Chicago suburb of Maywood, Illinois. He was both a highly gifted student and athlete, and after graduating from high school he pursued pre-law at Triton Junior College. He was an active member of the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and rose to take the role of the Youth Council President due to his depth of conviction, passion, and prominent oratory skills. Fred was a man of the people, by the people, using his charisma, and energy for the cause to improve the lives of young people. He sought to act as an advocate for the underrepresented in Chicago while continuing to bring state and national attention to the racism in the city, his city. Daily, Fred could be found on the front lines protesting, launching non-violent offenses against police racism, as well as state and federal injustice against people of color. Fred loved Chicago and identified with the struggles of the working class: substandard housing, disparities in socioeconomic status, rampant racism—these were the issues Fred attacked and precipitated him joining the Black Panther Party in 1968, rising to become the Chicago Chapter Leader. In his position, Fred organized nonviolent protests and worked closely with the BPP's local People's Clinic. He also taught political education classes every morning at six a.m. and launched a project for community supervision of the police. Fred was also instrumental in the BPP's Free Breakfast Program. “We got to face some facts. That the masses are poor, that the masses belong to what you call the lower class, and when I talk about the masses, I’m talking about the white masses, I’m talking about the black masses, and the brown masses, and the yellow masses, too. We’ve got to face the fact that some people say you fight fire best with fire, but we say you put fire out best with water. We say you don’t fight racism with racism. We’re gonna fight racism with solidarity.” December 4, 1969—2337 W. Monroe Street—Black Panther Party Headquarters Fred Hampton, drugged earlier in the evening with a sleeping agent by William O’Neal—an FBI informant planted in the BPP—is asleep next to his fiancee, Deborah Johnson, pregnant with their son. Police raid the building, firing over one hundred bullets—fourteen police officers firing round after round into the sleeping quarters. Black Panther leader Mark Clark is killed, others are beaten and wounded. No Panthers fired at the police. It was later stated by Harold Bell, BPP member and survivor of the attack, that Deborah was taken from the room by police, and Fred, who had taken a bullet to the shoulder, was then executed at point-blank range, by an officer who shot him twice in the head. Fred was 21 years old. Deborah and their unborn son survived the massacre. After many years of lawsuits, misdirection by law enforcement, denial of criminal action by the state and local government, as well as the FBI, evidence was provided to demonstrate a conspiracy between the FBI and the police to coverup the raid that was, in actuality, a planned assassination of Fred Hampton. In 1982, Cook County and the City of Chicago paid $1.85 million to the survivors and relatives of Hampton and Clark in a highly publicized civil lawsuit. In 1990, and later in 2004, the Chicago City Council passed resolutions commemorating December 4th as Fred Hampton Day. “I believe I’m going to die doing the things I was born to do. I believe I’m going to die high off the people. I believe I’m going to die a revolutionary in the international revolutionary proletarian struggle.” ~ *Fred’s name and incident were submitted by the STNM team. If you are a family member, friend, or were ever in community with Fred and have any additional information about his life or the incident that unjustly took his life, please email submissions@saytheirnamesmemorials.com. *Biographer: STNM Family Liaison Chair, Matthew Bowerman. Thank you, Matthew. *The above is summarized excerpts from Wikipedia, History.com, Blackpast.org, and Youtube./p>

Hart, Jonathan (1997 – Dec.2, 2018) Hollywood, CA Jonathan was killed by an armed security guard in Walgreens. Hart was unarmed and had a California ID card in his hand at the time of his death.

Quanice Hayes, known as “Moose” to his friends and family, was a native of Portland, OR. He was the oldest child of his mother Venus, and older brother to four younger siblings. His siblings looked up to him, and turned to him whenever they had a problem. Quanice had a large family. In addition to his mother and siblings, he was close with his grandmother, Donna, as well as uncles, an aunt, and cousins. His family remembers him as a funny person who always got a laugh out of people. His grandmother remembers their long conversations and that he often introduced her to the latest music. Quanice was a talented dancer and athlete, playing just about any sport his mother could sign him up for—basketball, football, baseball, tennis, rugby, and lacrosse. He wasn’t a great student, and he sometimes ran away from home. At sixteen, he met his girlfriend, and they dreamed about moving to California together and having a big house and lots of kids. On February 9, 2017, Officer Andrew Hearst shot Quanice three times with an AR-15 rifle outside a Northeast Portland home. Hearst suspected Quanice was involved in an earlier incident where a man was held up in his car. Hearst and another Officer, Robert Wullbrandt, gave contradictory commands. Quanice followed Wullbrandt’s order to crawl on his hands and knees, which contradicted Hearst’s command to crawl on his knees with his hands in the air. A toy gun was later found about two feet from Quanice’s body, but he was unarmed at the time he was killed, and Hearst later testified that he never saw Quanice with a gun. Quanice was seventeen years old. After a grand jury found no criminal wrongdoing by Hearst, Portland community members organized demonstrations and repeatedly shut down Portland City Council meetings with demands for justice for Quanice. The family filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city of Portland and Hearst, contending Quanice wasn't a threat when he was killed but was on his knees and unarmed. In their response to the suit, the City of Portland claimed that neither the city nor police are at fault “because the death of Quanice Hayes was the sole and exclusive fault of Mr. Hayes.” The city provided a list of reasons including blaming Quanice for "failing to sleep properly" the night before, owning a replica gun, stealing items from a car and a house, and breaking a homeowner's alarm system. A judge ruled that the majority of the city's legal defense blaming Quanice for his own death could not be used in trial. The city also blamed Quanice’s mother for his death, claiming she had “failed to supervise her son,” an allegation it later withdrew after a public outcry. In February of 2021, the case settled for $1.5 million, plus attorneys fees and costs. It’s among the largest amounts Portland has paid out for a police officer killing someone. As part of the agreement, the city admits no wrongdoing, and Hearst is still on the force. Quanice’s uncle said the family had agreed to settle with the city because Quanice’s mother was tired of the long legal battle, even though they don’t believe the settlement means justice has been served. “They just want to get rid of us — put enough money in our face that we’ve got to say yes to go away,” he said. “It’s my sister’s son and she’s done. She can’t live in this city anymore. After this settlement, she’s moving out of the state.” A couple weeks before the case settled, more than one hundred people came out for a candlelight vigil in honor of Quanice. “He had a family who loved him and we won’t forget,” said his uncle, Steven Hayes. “We love that people are still remembering and showing up. The community really supported our family. It’s a blessing to see all these people of different colors and creeds. They are all representing for my nephew. It’s a beautiful thing.” *Quanice’s name was found by the STNM team and his tribute is part of the Portland Memorial Project. *Biographer: STNM staff writer, Hannah Kane. Thank you, Hannah. *The above is summarized from: Oregon Live, 6/5/18; Portland Mercury, 3/11/20; OPB, 2/23/21; Pacific Northwest Family Circle, and Longreads.com, 2/18.

Henderson, Yvette, 38 (1977 – Feb 3, 2015) Emeryville, CA On Feb. 3, 38-year-old Yvette Henderson joined the list of victims of racist police murder in the Bay Area. Yvette, a mother of two, was in a Home Depot located on the Emeryville side of the city line with Oakland. A store security person accused her of trying to steal. Henderson left the store and the security team called the Emeryville police, claiming that Henderson had been confrontational when she was accosted and that they believed she had a gun on her. By the time two Emeryville cops found Henderson, she was on the Oakland side of the city line, and was trying to wave down a city bus. The bus did not stop for Henderson and the police cornered her in front of a parked vehicle and shot at least seven times, killing her. The owner of the car Henderson was standing in front of, Russ Whitehead, was in the vehicle at the time of the shooting and nearly lost his own life as bullets shattered his window. He survived only because he instinctively ducked when he heard gunfire.

Hicks, Kevin ( 1972 - April 5, 2016) Indianapolis, IN Kevin was killed by police after an apparent struggle at a gas station with his wife present.

QuanDavier Hicks was taken too soon from this planet and from his family. Although he grew up loving kids and helping the elderly in his community, he never grew up to have any children of his own and no one will ever be able to return the favor of taking care of him in his golden years. On June 9, 2015, at the age of 22, QuanDavier was shot and killed by Cincinnati police. QuanDavier had been involved in an altercation with a neighbor, during which a call was made to the police. Officer Doris Scott and her partner knocked on the door of the multi-family house where he was living. It is not known if they announced themselves as police. There was no answer. Without a warrant they entered the house and climbed the stairs to the attic. When they knocked on the attic door, QuanDavier opened it while holding a loaded rifle. One officer grabbed the rifle while Officer Scott fired one shot into the young man’s chest, killing him. It was later learned that the rifle could not have fired as it contained the wrong type of ammunition. QuanDavier’s mother, Erica Hicks, and family members drove overnight from Atlanta on June 11, 2015 to attend a Black Lives Matter rally in his memory. The rally remained peaceful although emotions were high. The family disputed the police version of events and sought answers. They filed a lawsuit against the city and Police Department on behalf of his grandmother, Ruby Hicks. Officer Doris Scott had been on the Cincinnati Police force for two years. Her partner, Justin Moore, had just graduated from the Police Academy one week earlier. Officer Scott was granted “qualified immunity” in the case as the shooting occurred while she was doing her job. However, a court later said that the officers’ lack of a warrant violated Constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. The family’s lawsuit continued and on April 4, 2020 the Federal Appeals Court of the 6th Circuit reinstated their suit against the city and the Police Department. On June 9, 2020, the fifth anniversary of the killing, a march and vigil were held on the Northside of the city. The court case continues. *The above is summarized from: Hicks vs Scott—US Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, #19-3410, 5/1/2020; FOX19NOW.com, 6/10/2015; WCPO Cincinnati, 6/18/2016; WKRC Cincinnati, 5/4/2020; www.youtube.com. *QuanDavier’s story was submitted by his mother, Erica Woods.

Brianna Hill – (2019) Kansas City, MO She is the 21st transgender or gender non-conforming person known to be killed in 2019. She was shot to death.

Cariann Hithon – (2017) Miami, FL Cariann was shot to death by police after fleeing the scene of a car crash.

Meagan Hockaday (2015) Oxnard, CA She was a 26-year-old African American resident of Oxnard, California who was shot and killed by police officer Roger Garcia in the early hours of Saturday, March 28, 2015. Garcia responded to a 911 call made by Hockaday's fiancé, Luis Morado, reporting a domestic dispute at The Timbers, an apartment complex in Oxnard. Within twenty seconds of officers arriving at the family's apartment, Hockaday, who was wielding a knife and apparently advanced at the officers, was fatally shot by Garcia. The couple's three children were in the apartment at the time. They were subsequently evaluated by Child Protective Services and released to family. It was reported that on August 18th The D.A.'s office found the shooting justified as Hockaday was charging at both the officer and her husband Luis Morado.

Justus Howell – (2015) Howell was killed by the officer during a foot chase after he allegedly stole a gun. The shooting was captured on surveillance video.

Hunt, Darrien ( 1992 – Sept, 2014 ) Saratoga Springs, UT. Hunt was dressed up as a Japanese samurai with a decorative sword (cosplay) when shot 6 times in the back by police. Officers faced no criminal charges.

Cynthia Graham Hurd, 6/21/1960 - 6/17/2015 Charleston, SC Cynthia Hurd was a well-known and much-admired Charleston resident. She received a B.A. from Clark Atlanta University and an M.A. in Information Science from the University of South Carolina. She had a 31-year career as a city librarian, much of it as a manager in the Charleston Public Library system. She took pride in being called, affectionately, a “book nerd.” In addition to her work as a librarian, Cynthia joined the board of the Housing Authority of the City of Charleston, was an active member of Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and was deeply involved in her church, the oldest AME church in the South often referred to as “Mother Emanuel.” The church was often a site of civil rights activities. On the evening of June 17, 2015, Cynthia was attending her regular Bible study class at the church when a young white man known to be a racist proselytizer joined the group. He listened for almost an hour, then stood up and began shooting. Cynthia was killed, along with nine others, including the pastor. It was four days before her 55th birthday. Cynthia’s funeral filled the church with more than eight hundred people and a second church took in the mourners left standing outside. The Reverend Jesse Jackson delivered a eulogy. Cynthia was part of a large Charleston family, having a sister and four brothers. Her husband, Steve Hurd, a Merchant Seaman, was overseas at the time of the killings and rushed home. Her brother, Malcolm Graham, a former State Senator, said “Cynthia was the matriarch of our family, the glue that kept the family together. Our goal is to focus on how Cynthia lived, not how she died.” Her brother Melvin Hurd, described her this way: “Cynthia was not a victim. She was a Christian. She was a warrior. She was with her maker when she took her last breath. God bless our sister and this community.” After her passing, the City of Charleston Public Library renamed the St. Andrews Regional Library with her name, as it was her last posting. All sixteen of the city library branches closed for a day in her honor. The Graham family established The Cynthia Graham Hurd Fund for Reading and Literacy. With multiple funding sources, a wall-sized mural to celebrate her life was painted on another of the city’s branch libraries where Cynthia had worked. Her friend, Library Manager Kim Odom, called the mural a beacon. “It brings people to one of the places she loved most in the neighborhood she grew up in. This is always where you’d find Cynthia. She’d be here among the children, doing what she loved while engaging and serving the people she loved.”

Jimmie Jackson – (19656) Selma,AL On the night of 18 February 1965, an Alabama state trooper shot Jimmie Lee Jackson in the stomach as he tried to protect his mother from being beaten at Mack’s Café. Jackson, along with several other African Americans, had taken refuge there from troopers breaking up a night march protesting the arrest of James Orange, a field secretary for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in Marion, Alabama.

Jamal Hakim – (1973) Boston, MA Hakim Abdullah Jamal was born on this date in 1931. He was a Black radical and author. He was born Allen Donaldson in Roxbury, Boston. His father was an alcoholic, and his mother abandoned him when he was 6. Donaldson started regularly drinking alcohol when he was ten and became a heroin user at 14. In his early 20s, he spent four years in prison. Donaldson's violent temper led to his committal to a mental asylum after two attempted murders. He later underwent a conversion to the teachings of the Nation of Islam and renamed himself, Hakim Jamal. He became a spokesman for the movement and contributed articles to various newspapers promoting Black Power. After Malcolm X left the Nation of Islam, Jamal supported his decision and was outspoken in his criticism of Elijah Muhammad. After Malcolm X's death, Jamal joined with Maulana Karenga and others to found the "US," Organization promoting African American cultural unity. He had already circulated a self-produced magazine entitled "US," a pun on the phrase "us and them" and the accepted abbreviation of "United States ." This promoted the idea of Black cultural unity as a distinct national identity. They published a magazine Message to the Grassroot in 1966, in which Karenga was chairman and Jamal was the founder of the new group. Jamal argued that the ideas of Malcolm X should be the primary ideological model for the group. Jamal's views increasingly differed from Karenga's. Jamal emphasized radical politics, while Karenga wished to root Black Americans in African culture. He left "U.S." to establish the Malcolm X Foundation, based in Compton, California. Though married to Dorothy Jamal, Jamal had several affairs. He had a brief relationship with actress Jean Seberg. Jamal moved to London during the late 1960s, where he met Gale Benson, daughter of the British MP Leonard Plugge. Jamal and Benson traveled in America seeking funds to create a Montessori school for black children. They later joined West Indian Black Power leader Michael X in his commune in Trinidad, where Jamal wrote articles supporting the commune. In 1971, he wrote his autobiography, Malcolm X and Me from the Dead Level. It was published in the U.K., and at this time, Jamal became involved in a relationship with his London editor, Diana Athill. In her memoir Make Believe, she later wrote about their romance, recording his increasing mental instability and alleged that he made repeated assertions that he was God. Benson traveled to America to raise funds but was unsuccessful. Shortly after returning to Trinidad in 1972, she was murdered by Michael X and his associates. Jamal eventually returned to his wife and moved back to Boston, where he revived his role as director of the Malcolm X Foundation. On May 1, 1973, Jamal was killed when four men burst into his apartment in Boston. Police attributed the crime to a factional dispute linked to Jamal's attacks on Elijah Muhammad. It was blamed on a group known as De Mau Mau. Five members of the group were convicted of involvement in the murder. Reference: Goodreads.com

Kendra James was a homemaker in the city of Portland, Oregon, where she lived her whole life. She was the mother of two sons, Melvin and Marques. Her father spoke of her love for dancing, and with great emotion, cried during her hearing mentioning the family’s inability to pay for a proper headstone. On May 5, 2003, Kendra was a backseat passenger in a car that was pulled over by officers Rick Bean, Kenneth Reynolds, and Scott McCollister of the Portland police. The driver, Terry Jackson, had a warrant out for his arrest. He and another passenger were peacefully removed from the vehicle, and as they were being handcuffed and led to the squad car, Kendra, refusing to exit the car, jumped into the front seat. From here, a struggle between Kendra and Officer McCollister ensued. McCollister claims he tried several tactics to derail Kendra’s attempts to potentially flee the scene, including positioning 80% of himself inside the vehicle, pulling her her hair, using his taser, and attempting to use his pepper spray (although no particulate of the spray was detected and it was confirmed later his spray can was operable and available). At this point, McCollister withdrew his firearm and aimed it at Kendra’s head insisting she exit the car. McCollister testified that it was at this point that he felt the car move and fearing his own life, that he would be run over, he fired his gun. One single shot hit Kendra in the hip. The bullet traveled up to her lower rib cage where it killed her. As is normal practice, the officers handcuffed Kendra, removed her from the car and left her face down on the pavement as they roped off the crime scene. There was no attention to her vital signs nor any paramedics called. The officers reported that they believed her to be faking unconsciousness. Further disregard for her life was displayed by Officer Reynolds when he left the scene of the crime to use a restroom at a precinct nearby and said he got lost coming back, delaying much needed attention to her status. It has also been reported that the trio of police officers all went out to dinner together at the end of their shift, as if the night’s events caused no contemplation. The family lawyer tried to bring justice to Kendra by asking for evidence whether Kendra tried to move the car or not, whether McCollister’s tactics were consistent with police training, especially positioning himself inside the car. There is discrepancy between McCollister’s testimony and those from eye witnesses regarding where McCollister was located when he fired his gun at Kendra. However, the county District Attorney declined to investigate any of these matters. Trial deliberation lasted only four hours and returned with a verdict that Officer McCollister was justified in killing Kendra. The shooting of Kendra resulted in much unrest in the community and furthered mistrust for the Portland Police Department. Fifteen years later, a memorial still stands at the location of the incident. Fresh flowers and Black Lives Matters signs continue to be posted at the memorial, reminding the public to “Say Her Name” and attempt to build a community where no more Black people are killed by cops. *The above is summarized excerpts from Black Girl Tragic, Portland Mercury & Wikipedia.

Botham Jean was a 26-year-old preacher, singer, volunteer, and community leader. At the time of his death, he was an accomplished accountant at Price Waterhouse Coopers. Co-workers described him as joyful and the “light in a dark room.” At an early age, Botham was self-assured and ready to dedicate himself to Christ, getting baptized at the age of eight. Botham began preaching in his early teens and later took to singing in his mother’s church choir. Embellishing his devotion to the choir, Botham taught the choir how to read music and arranged singers in sections of sopranos, altos, bass and tenors. In 2011, Botham was accepted into Harding University and moved to Arkansas. He often returned to his birth home of Saint Lucia with classmates to share his treasured culture. Botham also gave back to his community via volunteering with at-risk youth and visiting the Saint Lucia orphanage. Botham’s love for singing and Christ was prevalent throughout his life, from singing in his church choir in Saint Lucia to being a part of a Christian a cappella group at his university, to then becoming a song leader with the Dallas West Church of Christ. On September 6, 2018, an off-duty Dallas Police Department Patrol Officer, Amber Guyger, accidentally entered Botham’s apartment thinking it was her own. Due to her confusion in attests to thinking the apartment is her own, and since finding the door slightly ajar, she thought Botham was an intruder in the darkened living room. She feared Botham would kill her. Botham was unarmed eating ice cream on his couch in his own living room. Two independent witnesses, however, asserted they heard knocking on Botham’s door and a woman’s voice saying, “Let me in, let me in.” Guyger was arrested three days after the killing. She was initially charged with manslaughter, which led to outrage and protests over the killing of an unarmed Black citizen. Guyger was then later charged and found guilty of murder, receiving a sentence of ten years in prison. *The above is summarized excerpts from WFAA, KHOU11 & Wikipedia.

Atatiana, lovingly referred to as “Tay,” was a warm-hearted, loving individual, who was full of integrity and devoted to the care of her family. As a caring aunt, looked over her nephews after her sister underwent surgery. According to her sister, her relationship with her nephews was “indescribable” and often people thought Atatiana’s nephews were her own sons. To help care for her ailing mother, Atatiana packed up and moved to the Fort Worth area. Her mother believed her daughter possessed the ability to change the world. Equally career-minded, Atatiana graduated from Xavier University with a BA in biology, and began her adult life by entering the workforce in the field of human resources. Early in the morning on Oct. 12, 2019, police arrived at Atatiana’s home after a non-emergency call from a neighbor requesting a welfare check. The front door of the house had been open for several hours in the middle of the night. Footage from the officer’s body-cam reveals that when Atatiana came to the window to peek outside, Officer Aaron Dean fired a shot through the window and killed her instantly. A warrant was issued for Dean’s arrest, and he was taken into custody from his attorney’s office two days after the incident and charged with murder. A $200K bond was issued, which was posted, and he was released merely three hours later. Dean did not provide any written statement. Dean was eventually indicted by a grand jury for Atatiana’s murder in December of 2019, two months after the shooting. *Atatiana’s name and incident were found by the STNM team. If you are a family member, friend, or were ever in community with Atatiana and have any additional information about her life or the incident that unjustly took her life, please email submissions@saytheirnamesmemorials.com. *Biographer: *STNM Editor-in-Chief, Stacy Feder. Thank you, Stacy. *The above is summarized excerpts from ABC WFAA & Wikipedia.

Johnson, Dion

Not much is denoted regarding Duanna’s life previous to the incident that brought her story into focus. However, in lieu of her story, her community’s campaign against racism, homophobia, and transphobia was suddenly under a long-awaited spotlight. Duanna is remembered for bravely standing her ground against the Memphis police officers who brutally assaulted her. One February evening in 2008, Duanna was picked up by two Memphis police officers, Bridges McRae and J. Swain, and taken to jail after refusing to respond to anti-gay and anti-transgender slurs. She was pinned down by them and beaten repeatedly. The aggressive assault was captured on video and shared on regional newscasts. Duanna received national media attention, her story a symbol of resistance to prejudice and hate crimes. Due to the proliferation of the video, officers McRae and Swain were eventually fired. The video also helped form Stop Police Brutality, a coalition of Memphis human rights activists who lobbied for more sensitivity training in the Memphis police force. Tragically, Duanna did not live to see full justice served. Victim to another assault, Duanna was shot "execution style" in her hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. *The above is summarized excerpts from The Memphis Flyer & Glaad.

Jamee was a 22-year-old college student when he was shot to death by a police officer in Jacksonville, Florida. The police pulled Jamee over for driving without a seatbelt, according to their report. The officer smelled marijuana and saw what he believed were marijuana flakes. Jamee denied the marijuana possession, but disclosed he had a firearm in the car on the floor of the passenger seat. The officer asked him to exit the car, and Jamee complied. The officer began to escort Jamee back to his police car but a struggle ensued when Jamee reportedly shoved the officer away and jumped back into his own car. During the reported struggle, police said Jamee tried to drive off while the officer’s body was partially exposed outside the vehicle. The officer shot Jamee four times. Jamee was taken to a Jacksonville hospital where he was pronounced dead. Jamee had no criminal record. He was enrolled at Florida A&M University as a business major and had planned on graduating the following Spring, according to family members. *Jamee’s name and incident were found by the STNM team.

Johnson, Terrell, 24 (1993-2017) Portland, OR. Shot at a light rail station. Johnson was experiencing a mental health crisis. $600,000 settlement made to family.

Not much is known about Aiyana other than she was a seven-year-old girl living on Detroit’s east side who loved Justin Beiber’s song, “Baby.” At too young an age, she suffered a tragic death at the hands of Officer Joseph Weekley who shot her in the head during a drug raid conducted by the Detroit police. Due to her young age and the calamity of the case, her shooting attracted national media attention and the investigation was brought to a federal level. According to press reports, police arrived at the scene shortly after midnight. As a means of announcing their presence to the occupants, they fired a flash grenade through the front window. Weekley claims the flash blinded him temporarily and therefore he could not see the person sitting on the couch in the front room. There is much disagreement from those present at the scene, including residents, bystanders, and police officers, about the following sequence of events. In reports, after the flash grenade, Weekley pushed himself inside protecting himself with a ballistic shield. Weekley claims Aiyana’s grandmother, Mertilla, attempted to slap his MP5 machine gun which made it fire, striking Aiyana. Weekley stated, "A woman inside grabbed my gun. It fired. The bullet hit a child." To defend himself, Weekley reported to his sergeant that a woman, Aiyana’s grandmother, grabbed after his gun. Mertilla was arrested that evening and tests for drugs and gunpowder were administered. She was released the following morning. At the trial, it was eventually disclosed that Mertilla’s fingerprints were never found on the weapon. Mertilla has a different account. She says she never reached in front of the officer or reached for his gun. After the grenade came through the window, she said she reached for her granddaughter, because the flash had set Aiyana on fire. The family lawyer also provided evidence to suggest that the officer’s gun went off before ever entering the house. The raid was conducted to find Chauncey Owens, Aiyana’s aunt’s boyfriend. Chauncey was found upstairs in the duplex and surrender upon request. In October 2011, Weekley was charged with involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment with a gun. At the trials, Aiyana’s grandmother and aunt were both recorded as exhibiting outbursts and disrespectful behavior, which did not please the judge, and lawyers feared persuaded the jury to the family’s disadvantage. A mistrial was not called at that time. However, both trials eventually ended in mistrials, due to a deadlocked jury. Weekley was eventually cleared of all charges and no further trials were pursued. Nine years later, the family agreed to an $8.25 million settlement from the city of Detroit.*Biographer: STNM Editor-in-Chief, Stacy Feder. Thank you, Stacy. *The above is summarized excerpts from The Detroit News & Wikipedia.

Marquise Jones was 23 years old on February 28, 2014, when he was a passenger in a car at the drive-thru of Chachos Restaurant in San Antonio. A friend was driving the car. Marquise’s sister was in the backseat. Their car pulled up abruptly and ran into the car in front of it, causing some fender damage. An off-duty police officer, Robert Encina, was working as a security guard that night at the restaurant. He approached the driver’s side and told the driver to get out of the car. Marquise opened his door and began to run. Officer Encina fired eight rounds, hitting Marquise in the back once and firing two bullets into another car in the lot. Officer Encina claimed that Marquise had a gun in his hand. A gun was found on the ground but with no prints on it and no evidence it had been fired. Two nearby witnesses denied that Marquise had a gun; both came forward with their accounts and one later signed an affidavit to that effect. The Jones family said that Marquise ran from the officer because he was on probation and feared getting into trouble. According to the family, Marquise had recently started taking classes at Northwest Vista College. He was an extremely proud father of his infant daughter, Kaelynne. A Bexar County Grand Jury in 2015 declined to indict Officer Encina. Following national outrage over the police killing of George Floyd in 2020, a request was made for a second Grand Jury, but it was denied by Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales. His mother, Cheryl Jones, and father, Blake Lamkin, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the San Antonio Police Department. Finally, a federal jury cleared Officer Encina in the wrongful death suit. Cheryl Jones said, “I’m here with my granddaughter who is 7 years old and she’s continuing asking about her father. And we’ve got to continue to explain and let her know that all cops aren’t bad but some are, and one of those bad cops is the one who took her father away.” The family’s attorney, Daryl Washington, said, “What’s wonderful about this family is that they’re not just fighting for Marquise, they’re fighting for all families so that no one has to go through this. They show up for Antronie Scott, Charles ‘Chop’ Roundtree and others killed by the police.”*Biographer: STNM staff writer, Linda Katz. Thank you, Linda. *The above information was summarized from: opnateye.com, 3/1/14; sacurrent.com, 3/21/17; ksat.com, 4/3/17; expressnews.com, 1/13/21; keranews.org, 1/18/21.

Redel Jones – (2015) Los Angeles, CA

Wayne Arnold Jones wanted to bring more joy and light into the world. He got to live any football fan's dream when, in February of 2009, his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers won the Super Bowl with a last minute pass to the back of the end zone. His love of transcendent athletes leaping through the air led to a fascination with all forms of flight. He attended air shows to watch the jets arc in the sky, and he loved to read magazines about how airplanes are constructed to be lighter than air. At family gatherings in his hometown of Martinsburg, West Virginia, Wayne often served as the deejay for the party, bringing people to their feet with his selection of joyous dance music. In support of his fellow man, Wayne also volunteered his time at a local free medical clinic nearby in Winchester where he made friends and connected with his community. Wayne suffered from schizophrenia, which left him at times to live in homeless shelters or outdoors. One night in March of 2013, a passing officer ordered him to walk on the sidewalk instead in the street. When Wayne at first resisted, he was soon surrounded by five officers who began to tase him. He tried to defend himself with a pocket knife he had in his sleeve. After cutting one of the officers in the torso, all the responding police opened fire on him with live ammunition. In all, he was shot 22 times. The Herald Mail Media later reported that the stab wound Wayne inflicted on the officer was minor and required no medical attention. It took seven years for a civil lawsuit to swim upstream through the courts, but in July of 2020, Wayne's family received a $3.5 million settlement from the city of Martinsburg. Wayne's brother Bruce said, "I promised my mother before she died that we would continue to fight for justice. The settlement makes me feel a little bit better, but until I can have a chance to have these cops prosecuted, I am still going to be pushing for justice." The city said that the settlement is not an admission of guilt, but rather a way to end the lengthy court challenges. The family is still pursuing criminal charges for the officers involved. They hope that in the heightened awareness of police violence surrounding the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis that they can finally find justice for their beloved Wayne. *Wayne’s photo and legacy was submitted to Say Their Names Memorial by friend Dayton T. Uphold, who knew Wayne during the time he volunteered at the free medical clinic. *This biography contains reporting from The Washington Post, Herald Mail Media, and the Omps Funeral Home in Winchester, VA.

Giovonn, a 20-year-old college student, was shot and killed by a Kent, Washington, police officer after a failed traffic stop. The officers pursued Giovann and attempted to force the car into a spin before trapping it in a cul-de-sac. One officer exited his patrol car and fired two shots through the other car's windshield, hitting Giovonn, who was unarmed, in the chest. His parents have filed a lawsuit claiming that the officers stopped Giovonn, because one of the officers apparently thought he looked suspicious and because the vehicle had an expired registration. Friends and family described Giovonn as someone who was well-liked, a sports-lover, and always smiling. “He was a person who would go out of his way for you if you needed something. *Giovonn’s name and incident were found by the STNM team. . *Extended biography is in process.

India, a Navy Veteran, and her boyfriend Angelo Perry, drove to Virginia Beach to introduce their 4-month-old baby, Roman, to Angelo’s family. Unbeknownst to them, Virginia Beach police were tailing their car. While India, Angelo, and Roman were parked at 7/11, a SWAT team threw a flash bang grenade and opened fire on their car. Four officers fired over fifty-one rifle rounds into India’s car, while baby Roman sat in the back seat, India and Angelo were killed within seconds. Roman survived. A jury decided that the two Virginia Beach police officers acted with gross negligence when they shot and killed India. Her mother, Gina Best, describes India as a “beautiful, soft-spoken poet.”

Christopher was 19 years old when he was killed by Clackamas County Sheriff’s deputies, at his family’s home in Oak Grove, Oregon, on January 28, 2016. He was a graduate of Rex Putnam High School and had been living with his family in Oregon for fourteen years. Born in Nahariya, Israel, Christopher was the son of a Ukrainian Jewish mother, Irene Kalonji, and a Congolese father, Antoine Kalonji. The family immigrated to the US when Christopher was six years old. As a young adult, he spoke both Russian and English. Christopher was described as a friendly and helpful person, proud of his mixed ancestry and proud to be Jewish. He wore his hair in a big Afro and had many friends. One high school friend described how Christopher recognized him as a Russian immigrant and befriended him, helping him learn English. He had no criminal record or history of mental illness. The story of this young man’s death began weeks before when he and some friends were confronted by law enforcement while drinking in public. Christopher was said to have “failed the attitude test” by arguing with the officers and reciting what he knew were his legal rights. At one point he called 911 to report being harassed by the officers and was punched and had his head slammed into the sheriff’s car. He was ticketed and given a court date of January 28th. From that date on, Christopher was terrified of law enforcement and believed they would kill him if he came to court. On his court date, Christopher grew hysterical and could not be persuaded to go. His distress was so great he himself called 911, asking for medical help. Others in his family also called 911, asking for help for him. Sheriff’s deputies arrived, as well as a mental health unit, and, later, a SWAT unit. According to his parents, Christopher took off his clothes so the officers could see he had no weapon. According to the deputies, they believed he had a rifle and threatened them and his family. He was shot in the chest and the arm, left to bleed out for several hours before being taken to the hospital, where he died. His death certificate said the cause of death was suicide, which his family strongly denies. No gun was found where he died. A Grand Jury found the shooting justified. Both deputies were veteran Clackamas County officers. Sergeant Tony Killinger had fifteen years with the department; Deputy Lon Steinhauer twenty-one years. A Go Fund Me campaign helped with funeral expenses. At the funeral, the Rabbi said “Jews don’t grieve silently or privately. We grieve outwardly and publicly. Our tears are important.” One year later, a memorial event was held at which several people spoke fondly of him, including one of Christopher’s high school teachers. *Biographer: STNM staff writer, Linda Katz. Thank you, Linda. *The above information was summarized from: theskanner.com, 2/14/2016; The Clackamas News Review, 3/7/2016; poormagazine.org, 3/6/2017; oregonforthepeople.com, 4/22/2020.

Patrick Kimmons (1991 – Sept. 20, 2018) Portland OR. Father of 3, Shot 9 times by Portland officers later cleared by grand jury.

Son of Ronald and Odessa King, Rodney was born in Sacramento and grew up in Altadena, outside of Pasadena, California. Both of his parents worked as cleaners and in building maintenance. Rodney’s father struggled with alcohol addiction throughout his life and died at age forty-two. As a child, Rodney struggled in school, and at home was overshadowed by his four brothers who demanded more attention than he, who has been described as gentlemanly, quiet, kind, and shy. If very little is known of Rodney besides the violent events that made him known, it is because the burden of celebrity was so unwelcome. He strove to maintain privacy, order, and clarity in the face of a public eye hungry for scandal. He would carry this burden until the end of his life. After leaving the struggles of high school behind, Rodney partnered with his high school sweetheart Crystal Waters, who gave birth to their daughter. Rodney had developed his own struggles with addiction, and having lost a job, robbed a store, and was convicted in 1989. He was sentenced to two years in prison and released on good behavior after serving one. Overall, Rodney had three daughters, partnered once, and married twice. After his release, Rodney worked in construction but lost employment once more. On March 3rd, 1991, Rodney and friends Bryant Allen and Freddie Helms were driving after an evening of drinking and watching sports. When Rodney was spotted driving fast on the freeway just after midnight, husband and wife CHP officers Tim and Melanie Singer pursued Rodney’s car. Fearing that an arrest would violate the terms of his parole and land him back in prison, Rodney attempted to escape arrest and a chase ensued. The chase reached speeds as fast as 117 mph. Several LAPD vehicles joined the eight-mile pursuit which ended when Rodney was cornered in a residential neighborhood off the freeway. After ordering them out of the car and onto the ground, CHP and LAPD officers kicked and beat Bryant and Freddie, later placing them in handcuffs. Rodney was also ordered out of the car and onto the ground. Perceiving a threat, LAPD ranking Officer Stacey Koon tasered Rodney twice, Officer Laurence Powell beat him repeatedly with a baton, joined eventually by Officer Timothy Wind, while Rodney continually attempted to stand and escape the beating. Other officers stood by and commented on the beating taking place. After at least fifty-five baton blows, Rodney was arrested and taken to the hospital, where he was discovered to have a broken leg, several skull and face fractures, nerve damage, broken teeth, burns from the taser, and several lacerations and bruises. He would also have permanent brain damage. Unbeknownst to the officers, bystander George Holliday witnessed and filmed the incident on a camcorder in his home. Footage of the event shows Rodney surrounded by eight officers, visibly hurt and overpowered, raising his arms and attempting to shield his body from the blows and kicks. Holliday took the footage to local television station KTLA, where it was first aired on a news program. The footage quickly circulated around the country and received widespread outrage, exposing the LAPD to public calls for justice. After one year, the first trial of four of the arresting officers began in nearby Ventura County. The officers faced charges of assault and use of excessive force. The jury, only one of whom has African American ancestry, acquitted all of the officers of all charges but one (which they could not agree on). The verdict was met with anger and confusion by a public who could not reconcile what they had all seen in Holliday’s video with the trial’s outcome. In L.A. and other US cities, it was met with particular anger by Black people who had spoken out about unfair treatment by city police and other public institutions for years. Within hours, South Los Angeles erupted in rageful protests, which grew into riots, including fires, physical attacks against people with light skin, and destruction of property. Smaller protests rippled through the country. Over six days of unrest now known as the Rodney King Riots, an estimated sixty-three people died, 3,100 businesses were damaged, and thousands arrested. Personnel from the US National Guard, Army, and the Marine Corps intervened, being viewed by some as a politically suppressive occupying force in Black neighborhoods, and by others as needed to restore order. The riots highlighted racial divisions in the realms of the criminal justice system, the economy, and media portrayal. Later that summer, a federal grand jury charged three of the arresting officers for violating Rodney’s civil rights, and in the ensuing trial Officers Powell and Koon were found guilty and sentenced to thirty months in prison. In the following year, Rodney was awarded $3.8 million in a civil suit against the city of Los Angeles. Rodney continued to struggle with his lifelong addictions and was arrested several times for DUIs over the following decades. He went into and out of recovery from addiction until his death at age 47 in 2012. He often voiced that he struggled with being a public figure identified so closely with police brutality. He was often mocked for his entreaties to peace and order during the riots. Rodney also fought to be seen for his inherent value as a human being, often feeling that he was used as a pawn by both police and racial justice advocates. In his later life, he attempted to embrace his celebrity and become a force for peace and healing. Shortly before his death, he published a memoir. *Rodney’s name and incident were submitted by the STNM team for the San Francisco Opera House exhibit in 2021. *Biographer: STNM staff writer, River Seidelman. Thank you, River. *The above information was summarized from the following: The New York Times, 3/16/1991, The New York Times 4/20/1994, The New York Times 6/17/2012, The Independent 2/21/1993.

Dijon Kizzee, 29, - (2020) Los Angeles,CA Was killed by L.A. County sheriff's deputies Monday in the Westmont neighborhood of Los Angeles. (Kizzee family).

Korchinski-Paquet, Regis. 29 ( - May 27, 2020 ) Toronto, CA Korchinski-Paquet was a talented gymnast and dancer during her school years, and held a variety of jobs after high school, including working for a computer security company and at a deli counter. Just 26 minutes ticked by from the initial 911 call that summoned police to Regis Korchinski-Paquet’s door until the moment the 29-year-old Afro-Indigenous woman fatally fell from her 24th-floor balcony. Much happened in that time, as revealed in a detailed report released Wednesday from Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU), the police watchdog that probed the high-profile death — an incident that has set off protests amid an international reckoning over policing and race. After interviews with 15 civilian witnesses and seven police officers, a review of audio and video from the scene, surveillance footage, forensic evidence and more, the watchdog’s director, Joseph Martino, concluded no criminal charges should be laid in the case, a decision called “disappointing” by lawyers for the family of Korchinski-Paquet, who believe there was a basis for criminal charges.

Ethel Lee Lance – (30 Aug 1944 - 17 Jun 2015) South Carolina Mrs. Ethel Lee Lance is most remembered by her community for her dedication to her family— both her biological family and her church family. She served as the sexton at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church for three decades where she was a faithful member. Mrs. Ethel dedicated herself to the upkeep of the historic church building and took pride in making it a welcoming space with her energetic love and warm sense of humor. The church staff recalls seeing her dancing while vacuuming the halls of the church. Called “the heart of the family” by her grandson, Mrs. Ethel and her late husband had five children and six grandchildren. The quintessential matriarch, she loved getting dressed up and taking the family to gospel performances. She valued education—not having had the opportunity to complete high school herself—and took great pride in her children and grandchildren, always pushing them to succeed. Mrs. Ethel worked at the Gaillard Municipal Auditorium from 1968 until her retirement in 2002, keeping rooms tidy with respect and discretion for high-profile speakers and performers like James Brown, Jimmy Carter, and Martin Luther King Jr. On June 17, 2019, Mrs. Ethel and others were meeting for their regular Wednesday night Bible study at the church. Dylann Roof, a young white man who had not been there before, joined them and they welcomed him in. Near the end, as they were holding hands in a circle to pray he took out a gun and began shooting, killing Mrs. Ethel and eight others. Upon investigation, a racist manifesto and photos of him posing with the confederate flag were found on his social media. This church mass shooting re-ignited and catalyzed a broad effort to remove the confederate flag from the South Carolina statehouse and takedown confederate monuments across the South. At Mrs. Ethel’s funeral, the choir sang “One Day at a Time,” her favorite gospel song. Her daughter said the song gave her strength in difficult times. *Ethel’s name and incident were submitted by the STNM team. If you are a family member, friend, or were ever in community with Ethel and have any additional information about her life or the incident that unjustly took her life, please email submissions@saytheirnamesmemorials.com. *Biographer: STNM staff writer, Linda Katz. Thank you, Linda. *The above is summarized excerpts from Time Magazine, Emmanuel Nine Feast Day Tribute Page, postandcourier.com, findagrave.com, Fallen Heroes Project, abcnewsgo.com. l

Lee, Rev George ( - May 7, 1955) Belzoni,MS Belonzi, MS - Reverend George Lee, co-founder of the Belzoni, Mississippi, NAACP and the first African American to register to vote in Humphreys County since Reconstruction, was shot and killed in Belzoni on May 7, 1955. He is considered one of the early martyrs of the Civil Rights Movement. Rev. Lee first moved to Belzoni to preach, but began working to register other African Americans to vote after the local NAACP was founded in 1953. He later served as chapter president and successfully registered some 100 African American voters in Belzoni—an extraordinary feat considering the significant risk of violent retaliation facing Black voters in the Deep South at the time. Belzoni was also home to a White Citizen's Council—a group of white residents actively working to suppress civil rights activism and maintain white supremacy through threats, economic intimidation, and violence. The council learned of Rev. Lee's voter registration efforts and targeted him with threats and intimidation, but he was undeterred. While Rev. Lee was driving home on the night of May 7, gunshots were fired into the cab of his car, ripping off the lower half of his face. He later died at Humphreys County Medical Center. When NAACP field secretary for Mississippi Medgar Evers came to investigate the death, the county sheriff boldly denied that any homicide had taken place; instead, he claimed that Rev. Lee had died in a car accident and that the lead bullets found in his jaw were dental fillings. An investigation revealed evidence against two members of the local White Citizen's Council, but when the local prosecutor resisted moving forward, the case stalled. The NAACP memorial service held in Rev. Lee's honor was attended by more than 1,000 mourners. In April 2019, the Equal Justice Initiative dedicated a monument honoring Rev. George Lee and 23 other Black men, women, and children killed in acts of racial violence in the 1950s. Hundreds of community members gathered to support the act of remembrance, including family and community members connected to each of the named victims. Ms. Helen Sims, founder and operator of the Rev. George Lee Museum in Belzoni, was present to stand for the memory of Rev. Lee.

LeGrier, Quintonio, 19 (- December 26, 2015) Chicago, IL LeGrier called 911 three times on the morning after Christmas, pleading for help from Chicago police shortly before he was fatally shot by an officer responding to his father's West Side residence, according to officially released recordings

Seventeen-year-old Isaiah was shot and killed by police officers in Edmund, Oklahoma when he was just days away from graduating high school. That evening, Isaiah’s girlfriend called the police to report that he was behaving erratically. Isaiah stripped off his clothing and ran around the neighborhood naked while police searched for him. When the officers caught up with him and tasered him, he allegedly continued to fight until he was shot and killed by an officer. Isaiah was unarmed. The district attorney did not find probable cause to charge the officers involved, who were not wearing body cams. "He doesn’t get to graduate on May 18 like he could have," his mother Vicki Lewis said. "He didn’t go to the prom. He didn’t get his driver's license. There are a whole lot of firsts that he got to miss, and I don’t get to see him for the rest of his life, for the rest of my life.”

Logan, Eric (1965 - June 16, 2019) South Bend, IN Father of 7 with great cooking skills, fatally shot by police under suspicion of burglarizing cars. The officer involved resigned and was charged later with two felonies not related to this killing.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15th, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. His parents were heavily involved in the Baptist church and civil rights. The young King took violin and piano lessons and sang hymns in church. On two separate occasions in his childhood, he thought his actions were accidentally responsible for the death of a family member, and Martin was so guilt-stricken that he jumped out of his second-story window, surviving both times. King attended Moorehouse College and became known for his stirring speeches, the tone of which was influenced by the ministers he had seen throughout his life. In 1955, King was on the committee in Birmingham that looked into the case of racial segregation on local buses. He was instrumental in leading the bus boycott after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat and go to the back. King received national attention after the year-long boycott was finally successful in ending racial segregation on public transportation in Birmingham. King Jr. studied the nonviolent activism of Mahatma Gandhi and brought that philosophy of resistance to the marches and protests he led as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. King connected the treatment of Native Americans with the subjugation of Africans in slavery as the uninterrupted Imperialist operations of a country only rhetorically interested in unity. King's words shone a light on the hypocrisy of the lack of inclusivity of the United States government and power structures. "We are perhaps the only nation which tried as a matter of national policy to wipe out its indigenous population," he said. "Moreover, we elevated that tragic experience into a noble crusade." King led the March on Washington with specific demands for racial equality, including a federal minimum wage equal to over $15 in today's dollars. He made his famous "I Have a Dream" speech while facing hundreds of thousands of people gathered in between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. The most widely known portion of the speech was not part of the originally prepared remarks, and was perhaps inspired by Mahalia Jackson shouting, "Tell them about the dream." King worked for voting rights, opposed the Vietnam War, and fought for economic justice. His actions and his communications were tracked by J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI, ostensibly for suspected ties to communists. He was the target of bomb threats, knife attacks, harassment, and vitriol from his critics. He was assassinated in Memphis on April 4, 1968, by a lone man with a gun. Fifteen years after his death, in 1983, the third Monday of January was officially declared a national holiday, Martin Luther King Junior Day. King won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1963 and was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal. King's dream of harmony for the human race resonates with people fighting for justice around the world. Two months before his death, when asked how he would like to be remembered, King said the following: "I'd like somebody to mention that day that Martin Luther King Jr. tried to give his life serving others. I'd like for somebody to say that day that Martin Luther King Jr. tried to love somebody. I want you to say that day that I tried to be right on the war question. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try in my life to clothe those who were naked. I want you to say on that day that I did try in my life to visit those who were in prison. And I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity. Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major. Say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter. I won't have any money to leave behind. I won't have the fine and luxurious things of life to leave behind. But I just want to leave a committed life behind."Biographer: STNM staff writer, Nick Jaina. Thank you, Nick. *The above is summarized from New York Times, From Civil Rights to Human Rights: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Struggle for Economic Justice by Thomas F. Jackson, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University. ~ *Dr. MLK’s name and incident were submitted by the STNM team.

Charleena, known to her friends and family as Leena, was small in stature but full of personality. The 30-year-old was the mother of four children, ages 12, 11, 4, and 1, and was three months pregnant at the time of her death. She loved to take long bus rides with her kids, taking them to the library and to the park. Leena suffered four years of domestic violence by the father of her youngest children and was seeing a therapist weekly to help her recover. She and her children were living in the Brettler Family Place, a complex of apartments in Magnuson Park, for families who had at some point been homeless. Throughout her adult life, she’d had bouts of mental illness for which she was treated with medication. On June 5, 2017, Charleena was arrested and jailed after arming herself with a pair of scissors as protection against her boyfriend. She was released after ten days. On June 18, she called 911 to report an attempted burglary at her apartment complex. When Officers Jason Anderson and Steven McNew arrived, they spoke with her for several minutes. They were aware of the previous arrest and considered her possibly dangerous. Her children were present in the small apartment during the encounter. One officer was an SPD veteran of eleven years and the other was a newer hire. They later reported that Leena “displayed a knife” and both officers shot her. Leena was hit a total of seven times and died at the scene. In her jacket pockets were library cards and a bus transfer. Both officers were placed on paid administrative leave. It was learned that neither was carrying their Taser, although that is a Seattle Police Department requirement for officers who have had the necessary training, as they had. One of the officers said his Taser had a dead battery and he hadn’t replaced it for several days. The family filed a wrongful death lawsuit which was dismissed. In 2021 an appeals court overturned that decision, noting that the officers could have used non-lethal means, particularly since Leena was slight in stature and not a credible threat. The court also took into account her mental health status and possible inability to intended use of the knife. The family acknowledged a sudden and rapid decline in Leena’s mental health. Leena’s sister, Monika Williams, asked, “Why couldn’t they have tased her? They could have taken her down. I could have taken her down. She was tiny.” Despite her mental health battles, her brother, Domico Jones, said his sister was “not a person you would fear or feel intimidated by.” Her second cousin, Shanae Isabell, spoke at a protest gathering in response to the killing. She said “Charleena loved to smile. She loved to dance. She didn’t have all the best moves. But she would do a little something-something. So, when you’re saying her name, put a little something-something with it.” Many vigils and demonstrations, both large and small, have been held in Seattle for Charleena. Her children now live with a paternal grandmother outside of Seattle.*The above information was summarized from: newsweek.com, 6/19/17; seattletimes.com, 6/20/17; essence.com, 2/13/19; southseattleemerald.com, 6/24/20; mynorthwest.com, 2/16/21.

Merci Mack (2020) Dallas, TX A 22-year-old Black transgender woman killed on June 30 in Dallas, Texas. Her death is believed to be at least the 18th known violent death of a transgender or gender non-conforming person this year in the U.S. Since HRC began tracking this data in 2013, 10% of all deaths have occurred in Texas and another 10% of all deaths occurred in Florida, the states with the highest counts nationwide.

Andre Mackniel – (2020) Buffalo, NY Andre Mackneil was among the shoppers who were killed at the store in a predominantly black neighborhood in Buffalo.

Travyon Martin was born on February 5, 1995 in Florida to parents who cared to show him the world around him. They did so by taking him on skiing vacations, horseback riding, and on a trip to NYC. While at Carol City High, Trayvon was enrolled in honors courses; his favorite subject was math. He showed extreme interest in studying aviation and thought about becoming a pilot. At the time of his death at 17, Trayvon had no criminal record nor evidence of ever carrying a firearm. On February 26, 2012, an off-duty neighborhood watch person, George Zimmerman, noticed Trayvon walking by a convenience store while on his drive home to his housing community. He later called the Sanford police non-emergency line reporting a suspicious person, describing an unknown male “just walking around and looking about” in the rain and said “this guy looks like he is up to no good or he is on drugs or something.” Zimmerman mentioned, per the recording, that Trayvon was wearing a dark hoodie and that “these assholes, they always get away.” About two minutes into the call, Zimmerman said Trayvon was running, to which Zimmerman then followed Trayvon against the request of the dispatcher. Upon ending the call, a violent encounter took place between Trayvon and Zimmerman, and Zimmerman fatally shot Trayvon within seventy yards of his family house. On July 13, 2013, after a 16-hour deliberation, the jury found Zimmerman not guilty on all counts, and the U.S. Justice Department later announced that no federal civil rights charges will be filed against Zimmerman. *The above is summarized excerpts from Biography, CNN & Wikipedia.

Katherine Massey - (2022) Buffalo, NY The Buffalo Police Department has released its official list of victims in Saturday's shooting at Tops Friendly Markets.

David McAtee – (2020) Louisville,KY McAtee was shot and killed by National Guard members at his restaurant, YaYa's BBQ, during the 2020 racial justice protests.

Renisha McBride was born on April 11, 1994. She always had a love for dance and was part of her highschool cheer squad. Her family described her as an outgoing girl who loved cars and shopping. Friends say Renisha was a very sweet lady who cared for everybody. If she was around somebody, she’d offer a word of advice and try to cheer them up. Her family says she had a wonderful smile that made others smile, and she loved to sing and crack jokes. Even if someone was mad at her, they said, she had a way of making them laugh. A cousin, Monique Hobbs, said Renisha wanted to be a police officer and always talked about it. Since many of their family members passed away on the streets, and out of love for her city and her community, Renisha felt she wanted to help. On November 2, 2013, a 911 call reported a woman had been speeding down the street, struck a parked car, got out of the vehicle, and then left on foot. The incident was considered a low priority, but forty minutes later, another call stated the driver had returned. Emergency vehicles arrived on the scene, but Renisha walked away from the scene untreated. The owner of the parked car told police that Renisha appeared to be in a “confused state” and was unable to give a phone number or any information. Three hours later, Renisha was shot in the head by a homeowner, Theodore Paul Wafer, from the porch of his home. Renisha’s family says Renisha may have been looking for help after becoming disoriented from the crash and having sustained a head injury. The homeowner, Wafer, initially stated to police that he thought his home was being broken into when he accidentally fired his 12-gauge shotgun. Wafer was later charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter, and possession of a firearm during commission of a felony. He was later sentenced to 17 to 32 years of prison (fifteen-to-thirty years for second-degree murder and a mandatory two-year sentence for the felony gun charge). *The above is summarized excerpts from The Daily Mail & Wikipedia.

Elijah was a Denver native living in Aurora near his family. At an early age, after being homeschooled for some time, his mother, Sheneen, noticed Elijah was intellectually gifted and fiercely independent. He took learning and discipline very seriously. During his teenage years, he taught himself to play guitar and violin, and on his lunch breaks, he'd bring his instruments to animal shelters to perform for abandoned animals believing music would put them at ease. He became a vegetarian as a result of his deep love for animals, and friends say this gentleness also extended to humans, bringing an empathetic and healing energy to his practice as a massage therapist. Friends and family all confirm Elijah to have been generally abstinent from drugs and alcohol, a "straight edge" guy. As a customary habit after interactions with people, Elijah would often turn to them and bow slightly as a form of gratitude. Friends shared that Elijah suffered from anemia, rendering him cold even on hot summer nights. He was an avid runner and would always wear long sleeves and a mask on the hottest days during his runs. Elijah privately suffered from social anxiety, so friends say he'd don the mask as a way to make himself more comfortable interacting with people. On the night of August 27, 2019, Aurora police officers stopped Elijah after receiving a call describing a man wearing a ski mask and "flailing his arms at the caller" which friends believed was Elijah dancing. Reports and footage say Elijah refused to stop, appeared in an agitated state, and three police officers held him on the ground while he repeatedly said, “I can't breathe.” Officers gave him ketamine to sedate him. During the ambulance ride to the hospital, Elijah suffered cardiac arrest and later that night was pronounced brain dead. He was pulled off life support on August 30, 2019. *The above is summarized excerpts from NYTimes, Sentinel Colorado & Wikipedia.

McCoy. Willie ( - Feb 9, 2019) Vallejo, CA McCoy was a rapper, appeared unconscious in his car at drive-thru window of a Taco Bell. Officer responded and 6 officers fired 55 rounds at McCoy over 4 seconds.

Tony McDade, a 38-year old Black transgender man, was born in Tallahassee, Florida on June 18, 1981. He was the second born in his family and was known as a loving, compassionate, loyal person with a beautiful smile. He was diligent, tenacious, and a gifted athlete. Tony’s friends and family said he’d light up a room and give everything he had to ensure people he loved were happy, satisfied and fulfilled. Tony was a competitive lightweight boxer as well as a stylistic barber who created designer haircuts, trims and hairstyles. Aside from boxing and barbering, he was also a competitive basketball player and loved to sing. Tony accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior at a young age, and always expressed gratitude and unconditional love for his mother, Wanda. On May 27, 2020, Tony was fatally shot in his apartment complex by an officer of the Tallahassee Police Department. According to police, Tony was a suspect in the fatal stabbing of Malik Jackson earlier that day, and claimed Tony had in his possession a handgun and a bloody knife that was found at the scene. Witnesses claim the officers never identified themselves nor told Tony to freeze. Instead, they fatally shot Tony while he stood still in front of them. Since then, investigations were launched on the incident of the stabbing and the fatal shooting of Tony, but remain unsolved. The officer involved was placed on administrative leave pending the investigation. *The above is summarized excerpts from Tillman Funeral Home & Wikipedia.

Robert McIntosh was described by his brother as having a heart of gold. He had a big smile and was a joy to be around, always making his friends and family laugh. "A ladies man," his brother said, "who loved the lady in his life." Robert McIntosh died in Southeast Houston on January 8, 2007, after he was shot three times by Houston Police Department officer L.D. Smith during an altercation that began with a traffic stop. According to police, McIntosh overpowered the officer and seized his Taser, causing Smith to fear for his life. Several witnesses contradicted that account, telling reporters that McIntosh had in fact been handcuffed after the fight, and was then shot while lying helpless on the ground. Robert died unarmed, shirtless and wearing transparent white Nike sweatpants. Two of the witnesses who claimed McIntosh was handcuffed before he was shot later recanted their statements. A Harris County grand jury declined to indict the officer involved in the shooting. "The death of Mr. McIntosh is unfortunate, but the facts are that he violently resisted arrest," Houston police said in a statement. *Robert’s name was submitted by his brother, John McIntosh. *Biographer: STNM staff writer, Nick Jaina. Thank you, Nick. *The above is summarized from: The Houston Chronicle and Midland Reporter-Telegram

McMillan, Marquesha

Denise was born Carol Denise McNair in Birmingham, Alabama, eldest child of Maxine and Chris McNair. She attended Center Street Elementary School, where Condoleezza Rice was a school friend. She was in Brownies, sang in the church choir and played baseball. She helped to raise money for charity by staging plays, dance routines and poetry readings in the family carport. On Sunday, September 15, 1963, Denise, age 11, walked from her home to the 16th Street Baptist Church. She and her friends were preparing to take part in the morning sermon, titled, “The Love That Forgives.” The church was well known in Birmingham as a meeting place for civil rights activists, including Martin Luther King, Jr., Fred Shuttlesworth, and Ralph Abernathy. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the Congress of Racial Equality worked with the church on voter registration drives. In May 1963, James Bevel led the nonviolent Children’s Crusade from the church. Over one thousand students marched daily for a week to protest segregation. They were hit with water fire hoses and many were jailed. On September 15, 1963, at 10:22 AM, nineteen sticks of dynamite that had been placed under a stairwell of the church and attached to a timing device, exploded. Denise and three of her friends were killed. Twenty others at the church were injured. When police arrived, the girls could only be identified by their shoes. Four white supremacist members of the Ku Klux Klan were identified by the FBI within a week of the bombing. None were prosecuted until 1977 through 2002, because FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover did not believe an all-white jury would ever convict them. Birmingham became known as “Bombingham.” Thousands of people, including outraged whites, attended the funeral. Dr. King gave the eulogy. He said, “These children—unoffending, innocent, beautiful—were the victims of one of the most vicious and tragic crimes ever perpetrated against humanity.” All four girls killed in the bombing were posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, which is displayed in the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Their names have been inscribed on the circular black granite table of the Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery, Alabama. The 16th Street Baptist Church now bears a plaque naming it as a National Historic Landmark. In 1964, Joan Baez gained fame for her song, “Birmingham Sunday.” In 1997, Spike Lee produced the film, “4 Little Girls.”

McVae, Marcus, 34, ( - April 15, 2019) San Angelo, TX

Michael, Kisha, 31 (1985- ¬Feb. 21, 2016) Inglewood,CA Shot by police officers who were responding to a call about a vehicle that was stopped in traffic lanes.

Depayne Middleton-Doctor, 49 (Dec, 15, 1965 -june 17, 2015) Charleston, SC Rev. Depayne Middleton-Doctor was 49 years old and the mother of four daughters when she was killed in the massacre at the Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC. An ordained Baptist minister, Depayne had a B.S. degree in Science from Columbia College and a Masters Degree in business from Southern Wesleyan University in Charleston. She worked for many years as a grant administrator for Charleston County, helping needy applicants find resources and programs. In December 2014 she started a new job as an enrollment counselor at Southern Wesleyan University. Depayne sang in the choir at Mother Emanuel Church and often attended the mid-week Bible Study and prayer meeting. Depayne and her younger sister, Bethane Middleton-Brown, were inseparable as children. As adults, they maintained their close connection with each other and with one another’s children. Depayne’s daughter, Hali Doctor, was 13 at the time of the murders; a student and basketball player at Mallard Creek High School. With the death of their mother, the four sisters moved to Charlotte to live with their aunt Bethane. Hali Doctor decided to attend Columbia College, like her mom, and to major in biology, like her mom. She once said, “I want to tell my mom that I’ve become such a strong person and (basketball) player. I want to tell her that I’m doing this for her.” Hali has forgiven the shooter. Her aunt Bethane explained, “We come from a family of ministers and they would see how their mother forgave people and how she carried herself.” Bethane Middleton-Doctor filed a lawsuit for wrongful death in federal court, the 15th such lawsuit based on the mass shooting at the church. The suit alleges that the FBI failed to do an accurate background check on the shooter before he bought the handgun used in the crime. A prior drug arrest would have shown up if mistakes had not been made. FBI Director James Comey said the purchase should have been denied. If it had been, nine church members including Depayne would gone home safely after Bible study that night. *Depayne’s name and incident were found by the STNM team. If you are a family member, friend, or were ever in community with Daniel and have any additional information about his life or the incident that unjustly took his life, please email submissions@saytheirnamesmemorials.com. * Biographer: STNM staff writer, Linda Katz. Thank you, Linda. * The above information was summarized from: legacy.com; cbsnews.com, 6/18/15; counton2.com, 6/19/15; charlestonobserver.com, 3/6/20; dailymail.co.uk, 4/13/21. Biographer: Linda Katz

Marshall was the third youngest in his family with four sisters, but that didn’t stop him from being “the man of the house.” Unlike most siblings, Marshall and his sisters rarely fought or argued. A natural comedian, from a young age Marshall had an incredible sense of humor and a love of laughter. In addition to his jovial disposition, Marshall was also a protector in his family. His sisters called him “our little big brother,” because he was always looking out for them. Even into adulthood, Marshall would check on his sisters every day, making sure they were ok and had everything they needed. He never left a conversation without sharing, “I love you.” “He was our Superman,’” says his sister, Maureen. Marshall also adored and cared deeply for his mother. They were inseparable. Marshall carried this devotion forward into his role as a father, loving his children with all his heart and spending most of his time with them. Also a friend to those outside of his family, Marshall was always ready to lend a hand and share money and resources with friends in need. On Sunday, October 28, 2018, Marshall was arrested for vandalism after behaving erratically and appearing intoxicated in public. After being taken to jail, officers said he was uncooperative when they tried to get him into the cell. A police video was later released showing multiple officers pinning Marshall down on his stomach while stepping on him, holding down his head and limbs, and putting their knees into his back while he yelled, “I can’t breathe.” Marshall repeatedly said, “I can’t breathe” before losing consciousness, but the officers did not change their restraint tactics nor administer medical attention. Once motionless, the officers continued to tell Marshall to “stay still” and left him face down on the cell floor. (The family believes this was in an effort to cover up the fact that they had rendered him unconscious.) Marshall never regained consciousness. He was compassionately released from custody to die surrounded by his family at a nearby hospital. The sheriff told the hospital and family that Marshall suffered a heart attack, but the family was later told the police "starved his brain of oxygen" by smothering him to death. The hospital told the family that Marshall was without air for 20-25 minutes, and a CT scan found “findings consistent with global hypoxic anoxic injury,” which is a partial or total lack of oxygen to the brain. The coroner also noted that Marshall has several blunt injuries to his body. Marshall passed away on November 1, 2018. His death was attributed to drug intoxication and restraints by sheriff deputies. Autopsy results confirmed methamphetamine, cocaine, amphetamine, and marijuana were in Marshall’s system at the time of death. The coroner listed his official cause of death as "complications of cardiopulmonary arrest during restraint and mixed drug intoxication." Despite the coroner's report, Marshall’s family does not believe he took the drugs willingly. His sister reports that Marshall “was not ‘crazy’ or a drug addict like the police portrayed him to be, adding, “I've never in my 40 years seen him act erratic like he was in those videos.” Marshall’s death was followed by community vigils, mourning, and outcry against police brutality. In 2019, his family filed a federal lawsuit claiming wrongful death, alleging the officers used illegal and excessive force against Marshall, purposely failing to tell medical personnel that they had applied force when he lost consciousness. Attorneys believe the injury was caused by suffocation and that Marshall’s brain had been starved of oxygen while under restraint in jail. *Marshall’s name was submitted to STNM by Maureen Miles, one of Marshall’s sisters. *Biographer: STNM staff writer, Daisy O’Connor. Thank you, Daisy. *The above is summarized excerpts from ABC News, sacbee.com, and theappeal.org.

Treshun was a bright, young man known in his circle and family as a brilliant thinker, ahead of his time. He was also an accomplished athlete and showed his prowess in football both in high school and college. Treshun used marijuana regularly in part due to an anxiety condition. However, the state of Texas, prohibited the possession of marijuana, which led to Treshun developing a reputation with the Arlington PD. The story of Treshun’s last moments begins in the parking lot of a shopping center just after 10 p.m. in North Texas. Arlington police reported that the Toyota Corolla Treshun was riding in was pulled over for failure to use a traffic signal. Once the officers approached the car, they smelled marijuana and asked the two passengers in the front seat, the driver and Treshun, (there were two more friends in the backseat) to exit. Although he didn’t know it, Treshun recorded his last social media post just before exiting the Corolla. He made a comment about the police officers asking the passengers to turn off their phones for “police safety” and Tre asks what about their safety. When Treshun climbed out of the car, he made an attempt to run, but was blockaded by the officer flanking the car trying to handcuff him. A scuffle ensued and gunshots were exchanged. It is reported that Tres’shun was carrying a 9mm gun and pulled it on the officer, shooting him in the pelvic area. Once the officer went down in pain, the other officer on the scene returned fire at Treshun, unloading several rounds of bullets while chasing him. Both Treshun and the injured officer were rushed to area hospitals. The first ambulance was used for the downed officer, although Treshun’s life was in equal, if not fatal, danger. Witnesses reported that Treshun received no medical attention while waiting for the second ambulance. Treshun’s medical attention was further delayed one hour and 45 minutes because the ambulance responsible for transporting him to Harris Methodist in Fort Worth broke down en route and no secondary response team was administered. This delay in care ultimately led to Treshun bleeding to death. The unidentified officer was released from the hospital two days later. Treshun was reported dead three hours after he arrived at Harris Methodist. He was 20-years-old. Treshun’s friends who were also involved in the altercation were reported to be cooperative with the investigation and were not arrested. Treshun’s family continues to fight for justice, believing that Treshun used his gun in self-defense. They have asked for the Arlington PD to be fully transparent. It was presented that Treshun most likely ran from the police once he was out of the car out of fear from a previous attack on him by police in 2017 wherein which he was tased to the point of hospitalization over possession of marijuana violation. Treshun’s mother, Trena, has submitted the following video to explain in more detail the continued fight for Treshun’s justice. Please take a moment to view The Consequence of Knowledge. *Treshun’s name was submitted to STNM for a private vigil held in Rockwall, Texas in 2020. His story has been verified and fact-checked by his mother, Trena. *STNM Editor-in-Cheif, Stacy Feder, collected and compiled Treshun’s story. * If you are family, friend of the family, or were ever in community with Treshun and would like to add more to Treshun’s legacy, please contact submissions@saytheirnamesmemorials.com. *Excerpts summarized from: Fort Worth Star Telegram, CBS Dallas, The Daily Mail, nbcdfw.com, findagrae.com, and emails with Treshun’s mother, Trena.

Milton, Riah, 27 ( - June 9, 2020) Township, OH A 25-year old Black trans woman was shot and killed during a robbery in Liberty Township, Ohio on June 9th, according to media reports. Riah’s death occurred just one day after the death of Dominique “Rem’mie” Fells, 27, whose death has been ruled a homicide. Riah worked as a home health aide. Her mother shared that Riah loved traveling and being outside, was outgoing, helpful, and always put her family first. Riah’s sister, Ariel Mary Ann shared, “My sister Riah, she was a joyful person,” she said. “She loved her family and she loved her friends. She was just a joy to be around.”

Margus Morrison – (2022) Buffalo, NY The Buffalo Police Department has released its official list of victims in Saturday shooting at Tops Friendly Markets.

Huey Newton – (1989) Oakland, CA Huey P. Newton, a leading proponent of African-American militancy in the 1960s and a co-founder of the radical Black Panther Party for Self Defense, was shot three times in the head.

Mantry Norris – (2019) Renton, WA

O’Neal, Paul (2000 – July 28, 2016) Chicago, IL Shot in back after fleeing police in a stolen vehicle. Officers were fired for their reckless handling of the case and for endangering the public and other police officers.

Alfred Olango – (2016) ElCajon,CA Alfred was shot several times by police responding to a call for emergency psychiatric aid. He died later that day

Opher, Rashad, 20 ( - March 17, 2017) Baltimore, MD

Keaton Dupree Otis was a quiet, well-mannered young man who was close to his family. He was an artist who loved music, loved his bicycle and his dog, enjoyed foreign languages and barbeque. He hiked with his mother. Raised in northeast Portland by his mother, Felisia, and stepfather, Joseph, Keaton attended Buckman Elementary School. School friends remember him as a happy child with many friends. He attended Hosford Middle School and Benson High, revealing an early interest in architectural graphic design. He was interested in both community service and entrepreneurship. Eventually, struggling with depression, he was unable to finish high school. Keaton moved to Canada for a time to live with cousins, helping in the family roofing business. He returned to Portland with ambitions to raise money to return to Canada someday with his own t-shirt business. Back at home, he withdrew and grew increasingly frightened. His parents were unable to provide ongoing care for Keaton after he turned eighteen, and during this time his mental health deteriorated. Over the next few years, his condition declined even more. In November 2009, Keaton began starving himself, dropping fifty pounds off his slim frame within months. Hamstrung by state and federal law, Felesia was becoming desperate to find ways to help her son. She scheduled a meeting with a nurse practitioner on May 13, 2010, to consider options for him, the day following the tragedy that unjustly took her son’s life. On the evening of May 12, 2010, Keaton was killed not far from home. The facts of the case have been disputed and no police were found at fault, finding instead the use of force was within bureau policy. It is not disputed that Keaton was pulled over while driving his mother’s car for failure to signal for one hundred feet before changing lanes. Four police cars and seven police officers boxed him in. Keaton was tased, bean-bagged, and shot twenty-three times inside the car. An officer involved in the shooting is reported to have said Keaton was pulled over because he "kind of looks like he could be a gangster”—an assumption derived since Keaton was wearing a hoodie, had facial hair, and drove slumped down in the driver seat. However, at six feet and four inches tall, weighing only 155 pounds, Keaton was a gaunt young man, frightened, and possibly in the throes of a mental health crisis. Shortly before his death, Keaton connected with his biological father, Fred Bryant. Fred began a vigil one month after Keaton’s death at NE Halsey and 6th Avenue, the site of the incident that unjustly took his son’s life. Until his death in 2013, Fred sustained this vigil, building community support and pursuing justice for his son. The group “Justice for Keaton Otis” continues to this day—upholding the annual vigil, and fighting for police accountability and justice in Keaton’s name. Another group, “Friends of Keaton Otis” focuses on helping families affected by mental illness find resources. *Keaton’s name and incident were found by the STNM team for the Portland Memorial Project. *If you are a family member, friend, or were ever in community with Keaton and have any additional information about his life or the incident that unjustly took his life, please email submissions@saytheirnamesmemorials.com. *Biographer: STNM staff writer, Stacey Heath. Thank you, Stacey. *The above was compiled with excerpts from The Oregonian and oregonlive.com.

Palmer Jr., Everett (1977 - April 9, 2018) York County Prison, PA Palmer was a U.S. Army veteran and father of 2. Palmer had driven from his home in Delaware to PA to resolve an outstanding 2-year-old DUI warrant, and died in prison 48 hours later. The family received the body after an autopsy with missing internal organs.

Parker, Mack, 23, (1936 – 1956) Poplarville, MS Army Veteran waiting in jail after being accused of raping a white woman. Parker waw pulled from jail by a gang of white men who beat him bloody, shot him, weighed his body down with chains and threw his body in a river

Heyward Patterson – (2022) Buffalo, NY Patterson, a 67-year-old father and grandfather, was one of 10 people killed in the shooting at Tops Friendly Market. The accused shooter was an 18yr old man by the name of Patton Grendon. He is a supporter of white supremacy and was charged with 1st degree murder.

Penn, Lt. Col. Lemuel (Sept.19, 1915 – July 11, 1964) Madison County GA. Decorated WWII veteran, Assistant Superintendent of Washington DC public schools, father of 3; murdered by 3 KKK members 9 days after passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Lajuana Phillips, age 36, had recently moved to Helendale, California, from Los Angeles, in order to give her three children a safer, better life. Her cousin, Shonteze Williams, described her as “a hard worker, a mother, a daughter. She had vision, she had dreams, and she did the best she could with what she had. And she didn’t deserve this.” Lajuana had bought a used car from a dealer in Victorville and said it turned out to be a lemon. She was angry about this and on October 3, 2018, went to the dealership to complain. In the ensuing argument, she allegedly punched a man in the face and police were called. She got back in her car and locked the doors. Deputy Sheriff Jaime Pulido insisted she get out and, seeing one window slightly rolled down, sprayed pepper spray at her. Lajuana apparently began to drive the car at which point Officer Pulido fired six shots into the car, killing her in the parking lot. Lajuana was unarmed. Following her death, Lajuana’s three children were picked up by Children and Family Services. A vigil was held for her on October 13, 2018, with flowers, candles and music, organized by her cousin, Shonteze. He said, “I don’t have a problem with law enforcement—I know they are necessary. But why have law enforcement if people who are supposed to protect and serve us are the ones killing us? They are not supposed to be the judge and executioner. It’s such a shame. She was so excited about her new car, her new place, her new life.” Officer Pulido was cleared of wrongdoing. The family hired attorneys Sharon Bruner and James S. Terrell, who filed suit. In May 2019, San Bernardino County settled the case for $2.6 million for the children and Lajuana’s mother. Attorney Bruner said, “The settlement will assist the minor children but will never make up for the life-long loss of their mother.” *Lajuana’s name and incident were found by the STNM team. If you are a family member, friend, or were ever in community with Lujuana and have any additional information about her life or the incident that unjustly took her life, please email submissions@saytheirnamesmemorials.com. *Biographer: STNM staff writer, Linda Katz. Thank you, Linda. *The above information was summarized from: vvng.com, 10/3/18; ktla.com/news, 10/3/18 and 10/19/18; YouTube, 10/24/18; vvdailypress.com, 2/5/20.

Nathanial Pickett – (2015) San Bernardino, CA Pickett, was reportedly mentally ill and had just moved into a hotel. News reports said he had been trying to avoid the deputy and started running. The Deputy pursued him, believing that Pickett was trespassing on the Motel property. The lawsuit alleges that Pickett fell and was trying to move away when the deputy shot him in the chest. The court found that the deputy was negligent by unlawfully detaining Pickett, denying him timely medical care and using deadly force.

Rev. Clementa Pinckney (July 30, 1973 – June 17, 2015) Charleston, SC Killed by an avowed white supremacist in Charleston SC, during Bible Study along with 8 other parishioners. Rev Pickney was a politician and a Democratic member of South Carolina Senate.

Nina Pop – (2020) Sikeston, MS On May 3, 2020, a 28-year-old black transgender woman named Nina Pop was found dead with multiple stab wounds after being stabbed with a knife inside her apartment on South New Madrid Street in Sikeston, Missouri.

Jonathan Price, age 31, was raised in Texas by a single mother. He credited two white families with helping to raise him and encourage him to play sports. He was an employee of Wolfe City, Texas, a small town northeast of Dallas and he also worked as a personal trainer. Jonathan was a high school football star and in college he played football at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene. He worked with kids and was known in Wolfe City as “Coach Price.” On October 3, 2020, Jonathan intervened to stop a domestic assault at an Exxon gas station. When Officer Shaun Lucas, 22, arrived at the store in response to a call reporting a possible fight in progress, Jonathan greeted him with a handshake. Officer Lucas later said he thought Jonathan was intoxicated and he tased him. When Jonathan appeared to try to grab the taser, Officer Lucas shot him in the torso four times, killing him. Autopsy results will not be released for 6-8 weeks. Officer Lucas was a rookie police officer, in Wolfe City only six months, and it was his first job in law enforcement. The town of 1,400 people is predominately white. Although he was new in town, Officer Lucas had a reputation for harassing people over minor violations. A dozen town residents told The Washington Post that he was a “menacing presence.” It was noted that Officer Lucas was an outsider and would otherwise have known that Jonathan posed no danger. However, Lucas’ friends and family described him as non-racist and friendly. The Texas Department of Public Safety said that Jonathan “resisted in a nonthreatening posture” and that Lucas’ actions were “not justifiable force.” Jonathan had no history of violence. Officer Lucas was arrested, charged with murder, and held in the Collen County jail until he was released on a million dollar bail bond and eventually fired from the police department. When Jonathon’s mother, Marcella Louis, learned of Officer Lucas’ arrest she said, “That uplifted me since I know that he’s locked up. I got some sleep after that.” Jonathan also has a sister, April Louis. Former MLB player William Middlebrooks, a childhood friend of Jonathan, posted on Facebook a Go Fund Me account for the family, called Justice For Jonathan Price. To date the fund has raised $117,636. Civil rights attorney S. Lee Merritt is representing the Price family. The above was summarized from: ABC News 10/6/20; CNN, 10/8/20; abcnews.go.com, 10/8/20; The Cut, 10/8/20; The Washington Post, 10/10/20.

Prude, Daniel, 41 (1979 - March 30, 2020) Rochester, NY. Prude was the father of 5, recently moved to NY from Chicago. Prude’s brother called 911 because Prude was acting erratically. Police officers responded, put a mesh bag over Prude’s head and held his face to the pavement. Prude stopped breathing after 2 minutes, never regained consciousness, was declared brain dead and taken off of a ventilator one week after the incident.

Quaweay, Joyce, 24, (1992 July 29, 2016) Philadelphia, PA Mother of 2, beaten to death while handcuffed by her boyfriend and children’s father because she “would not submit to his authority.” Their two small children witnessed this.

Brenda Ramos, mother of Michael Brent Charles Ramos, visits her son’s grave every Sunday. She says, “I can feel him. I feel him.” Michael, who was 42 when killed by Austin, Texas police, was her only child. She described her son as “big-hearted and a character.” She noted that he always came to check on her, because of her age. As a child, Mike used to get pastries for his grandmother every week from La Mexicana, a panaderia that has been a mainstay on South First Street for thirty years. Just a block away from where he and his mother lived on Annie Street, the bakery’s south wall now bears two murals commemorating Michael. Ms. Ramos has been a steadfast advocate for justice for Michael in the months since the killing, giving press interviews, testifying at Austin City Council meetings and appearing on TV. Her goal is for the Austin police to change so no one else must suffer as her family has. On April 24th, 2020, a 911 call was received by the Austin Police Department, asking for officers to respond to an apartment parking lot in SE Austin. The caller claimed a Latino man and woman in a Prius were smoking crack and showing a gun. When Officers Mitchell Pieper and Christopher Taylor arrived, they shouted at Michael to get out of the car and show his hands. He complied and lifted his shirt to show he had no gun. At one point, Officer Pieper fired a “non-lethal” shot at Michael, a beanbag projectile. When hit a second time, Michael fell back through the open car door and fell into the drivers’ seat again. The officers began shouting at him to get out of the car, but he began driving slowly out of the parking space, at which time Officer Taylor shot him twice, killing him. His car then crashed into another parked car. Dash cam and body cam videos reveal bystanders yelling at the officers not to shoot, that Michael had no gun. The officers soon discovered that Michael had been unarmed. A witness on the site asked, “Why did they have to kill him? He was no threat to anyone.” Subsequently, the police department reported that Michael’s car matched one believed to have been part of a series of unspecified burglaries. Officer Pieper was a recent cadet class graduate who had been on the job for three months. Officer Taylor was a five-year veteran. Taylor had been involved in another officer-involved killing one year earlier, with no charges filed. An investigation by the Austin Police Department and the Texas Rangers is ongoing. Travis County District Attorney, Margaret Moore, announced she will not bring the case to the Grand Jury but will let her successor make that decision in January. Advocates with The Austin Justice Coalition are drafting the “Mike Ramos Act” in hopes of seeing a bill in the legislative session in 2021. Austin Mayor Steve Adler reviewed the videos and said “Mike Ramos does not appear to threaten but ends up dead. There’s got to be a better way.” “I’m very disturbed.” *Michael’s name and story were found by the STNM team. If you are a family member, friend, or were ever in community with Michael and have any additional information about his life or the incident that unjustly took Michael’s life, please email submissions@saytheirnamesmemorials.com. *Biographer: Linda Katz. Thank you, Linda. *The above information was summarized from: The above information was summarized from: patch.com/texas/downtownaustin, 5/11/20; kxan.com, 5/11/20; kvue.com, 10/14/20; fox7austin.com, 10/24/20.

Morgan was a free spirit with many goals and aspirations. From a young age, she faced many life obstacles, such as surviving kidney cancer at the age of three, which brought about an early realization that she was on this earth for a reason. By the age of 13, Morgan started writing and compiling music. Her dream was to express herself through hip hop. By the age of 19, she had written numerous songs and developed a fan base. Morgan believed through her music she could be a catalyst for change. Although friends and family say Morgan struggled with complications from a mental illness, she was an accomplished student, graduating from Huston-Tillotson University in 2016 with a degree in psychology. Post graduation, she continued her studies and musical aspirations by attending Austin Community College and pursuing Commercial Music Management. Morgan was paving the way for her dreams. The events leading up to Morgan’s death began with an anonymous 911 call from a woman who claimed someone was attempting to blow up her house and ended after a car chase filled with hard to follow twists and turns. When officers arrived at the site of the 911 call, a Dodge Charger reversed out of the driveway and swung around in the street to face the officers head on and accelerated quickly, forcing the officers, who were on foot, to jump out of the way. The car then doubled back in an apparent attempt to collide with the officers again, but missed, then sped off down the road, reaching a speed of nearly 90 mph. The cops pursued the Charger and the chase began.In an attempt to derail the Charger, “stop sticks” were set up across the road as a means to puncture the tires of the speeding car. It is unclear whether Morgan swerved due to the “stop sticks” or by some other force, but after another attempt to collide with an officer, Austin Police Officer Benjamin Rogers, the Charger swerved, narrowly missing Rogers, and crashed into a pole along the side of the road. Rogers approached the vehicle with his gun drawn. The district attorney’s statement claims that Morgan exited her car with a knife in her hand and refused officer orders to drop the knife and walk forward. Rogers claims, since Morgan had already tried to run him over several times during the chase, he feared his life was in danger, so when she refused to drop the knife and approach him, he discharged his weapon. Rogers shot three bullets, two entered Morgan’s body, eventually killing her. A later viewing of the transcript indicates that Rogers pulled his gun prior to Morgan coming out of her car, therefore engaged to shoot before ever seeing if she held a knife or not. Rogers faced no criminal charges. *The above is summarized excerpts from The Statesman News Network, Tribute Archive & AAPF.

Kajuan Raye – (2013) West Englewood, Chicago

Dante Redmond – (2019) Franklin County, Washington DC

Dreasjon Reed, known as Sean, was a 19-year-old student at Tarrant County College in Texas. He lived in Ft. Worth but split his time between Ft. Worth and Indianapolis where he had grown up. He was a graduate of Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis. His mother, Demetree Wynn, and father, Jamie Reed, described Sean as a kind and joyful son, sibling, colleague and friend, with a bright future. He had always been very active and loved to play basketball. On May 6, 2020, Indiana State Police began a high-speed chase of Sean’s car, believing it might be stolen. They slowed and fell back to avoid endangering others in the vicinity. When Sean parked the car and began running away, Officer Dejoure Mercer got out of his car and pursued him on foot. Sean had been filming the episode on Facebook Live but the police had no dashcam or body cam. Here, accounts differ. The police fired a Taser and at least thirteen shots at Sean, killing him, saying that he fired two shots at them. Witnesses reported seeing no gun, just a T-shirt in Sean’s left hand and two cell phones in his right hand. A Grand Jury declined to indict the officers. The family filed a federal lawsuit for excessive force and wrongful death against the City of Indianapolis and the Indiana Metropolitan Police Department but a judge later removed the IMPD from the lawsuit. The family’s attorneys were Fatima Johnson and Swaray Conteh. *Dreasjon’s name was submitted to STNM by Radha Mehta, artist, bio contributor, and curator for San Francisco Opera House exhibit in 2021. * If you are a family member, friend, or were ever in community with Dreasjon and have any additional information about his life or the incident that unjustly took his life, please email submissions@saytheirnamesmemorials.com. *Biographer: STNM staff writer, Linda Katz. Thank you, Linda. *The above is summarized excerpts from https://www.vibe.com, 5/7/20; https://www.nytimes.com, 5/7/20; https://www.indystar.com, 5/13/20; https://www.abcnews.go.com, 10/29/20; https://www.npr.org, 11/10/20.

Tamir Elijah Rice was born in Cleveland, Ohio on June 25, 2002 to Samaria Rice and Leonard Warner. He was a natural athlete, showcasing talent in basketball, football and ping-pong. Tamir was known for his tight football spiral, often joining pick-up games with older kids in his community. Although Tamir was only in elementary school, his friends claimed his athletic abilities could’ve challenged even LeBron James. In recognizing his athletic prowess, Tamir’s mother, Samaria Rice, moved her family to a warmer climate with the hope of giving him the best opportunities to excel in sports. Tamir was also involved in arts programs within his community; he enjoyed pottery and crocheting embroidery for his mother. Samaria said the arts helped Tamir with self-expression. He told her he wanted to live in a world that was equitable for all. Tamir and his 14-year-old sister, Tajai, were inseparable. He’d get spooked watching scary moving with his 16-year-old brother, but he loved crawling into bed with his mother at night afterward. On November 22, 2014, two officers from the Cleveland Police Department were responding to a police dispatch call regarding a male who had a gun. A caller reported that a male was pointing “a pistol” at random people at a rec center, but throughout the call, the caller said “the pistol is probably fake” and “he is probably a juvenile.” However, this information never got related to the officers on the initial dispatch. Upon arrival at the rec center, the officers claimed to have yelled “show me your hands” as Tamir was drawing what they believed to be a gun. Witnesses claim they did not hear the officers issue any verbal warning to Tamir. Within seconds of arriving, before the squad car came to a full stop, officer Timothy Loehmann shot Tamir, later recognizing that the item Tamir had was a toy gun. Tamir died the following day. Soon after the shooting, both officers Timothy Loehmann and Frank Garmback, were placed on administrative leave, and several months later, a grand jury declined to indict the officers. Years after the shooting, however, it was revealed that Leohmann was deemed an emotionally unstable recruit and unfit for duty in his previous job as a police officer in the Cleveland suburb of Independence. Leohmann never disclosed this fact on his application to join the Cleveland police, and the Cleveland police never reviewed his previous personnel file before hiring him. In 2017, Loehman was fired for withholding this information on his application. A review by a retired FBI agent, Kimberly Crawford, found that Rice’s death was justified and Leohmann’s “response was a reasonable one.” Further steps towards justice were denied on December 29, 2020, when the Department of Justice announced that an “independent federal investigation into the fatal shooting of Tamir Rice on Nov. 22, 2014, in Cleveland, Ohio, found insufficient evidence to support federal criminal charges against Cleveland Division of Police (CDP) Officers Timothy Loehmann and Frank Garmback.” This judicial decision was yet another grieving point for those involved in endless protests in 2020 for justice over the previous deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many others. *STNM’s mission is twofold: to foster a sense of community and encourage awareness to the gravity of Black lives lost unjustly due to systemic racism while also honoring and supporting the lives of Black family members and loved ones who have suffered and grieved as a result of these unjust incidents. Please do not hesitate to contact us at info@saytheirnamesmemorials.com if you do not want your loved one to be a part of our memorials, if you have any updated support or donation information, or have any relevant concerns you’d like to address with us. Our hearts and our ears are open. *Tamir’s name and incident were found by the STNM team. If you are a family member, friend, or were ever in community with Tamir and have any additional information about his life or the incident that unjustly took his life, please email submissions@saytheirnamesmemorials.com. *Biographer: Contributing writer and artist, Radha Mehta. Thank you, Radha. Please visit her Say Their Names tribute work here. *The above is summarized excerpts from Cleveland Foundation, Cleveland.com, Vox, Essence & Wikipedia.

Friends and family who knew Josef would tell you he had a smile you could see from a mile away and that he was spontaneous and always ready for the next family BBQ or seafood boil. His uncle remembers his face: “He had an amazing smile and dimples you could see from far away, and it didn’t matter where you saw him, he would always be smiling from ear to ear, and he was never violent because he didn’t have to be.” Josef loved people, and people loved Josef. He was always at the center of the crowd, planning, laughing, and smiling.”People gravitated towards him for his warm personality,” continued his uncle. It is that kind way, that approachable manner, that made Josef so likable in his community. On July 25, 2019, the West Baton Rouge Parish Police Department executed a “no-knock” search warrant at the Budget 7 motel room where Josef and his girlfriend, 39 year old, Jessica Cloutare, were staying. A “no-knock” warrant is a legal tool used to establish the element of surprise to prevent the destruction of evidence found at the scene during an investigation. Lieutenant Brett Cavalier and Deputy Vance Matranga, pursuing information from an informant, encountered Josef and Jessica upon entry. Police reports filed stated that Lt. Cavalier and Josef engaged in a verbal and physical altercation. It was during this alleged altercation that Deputy Matranga, stating he believed Josef to have removed a weapon from his waistband, fired a single shot from his personal weapon at close range. This single shot entered the back of Josef’s neck, severing his spinal cord and critically injuring the base of his skull. Josef died at the scene. Josef’s girlfriend, uninjured but taken into custody, was traumatized by the events in question and unable to provide additional details around Josef’s shooting. Josef’s shooting prompted rallies throughout the area and continued outrage around allegations of disparities in police conduct towards people of color. Attorney Ron Haley stated: “We've asked for body cameras. Those have not happened. Nothing has changed. It's 365 days later, and nothing has changed since that horrific evening.” Following an internal investigation by the West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, it was concluded there was no wrongdoing by Dy. Vance Matranga and the River West Narcotics Task Force in the fatal shooting of Josef Richardson. Deputy Matranga, the officer who shot and killed Josef, was returned to full-time duty as a WBRSO officer and range instructor. The Richardson Family, in an open letter to the public dated July 21, 2020, in The West Side Journal, stated: “We were treated poorly by individuals that the community elected into these positions in which they failed to do their job. From the beginning of the investigation, there was no transparency at all. The community deserves to have individuals that are going to hold police officers accountable for their actions and not let them break the law as if they are above the law. The West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office needs to review its policies and procedures and make some serious changes.” *Josef’s name was submitted to STNM by his uncle, Reynard Douglas. *Biographer: STNM Family Liaison Chair, Matthew Bowerman. Thank you, Matthew. *The above is summarized excerpts from The West Side Journal, wbrz.com, wafb.com, and conversations with Josef’s uncle.

Risher, Richard

Jemel Roberson, 26, (1992 - Nov 12, 2018) Chicago, IL. Robertson was an armed security guard wearing a hat emblazoned with “security,” holding down a man following a shooting inside a suburban bar where he worked when police arrived and shot him. Robertson was a father of one and expecting another.

Carole Rosamund Robertson was the third child of Alpha and Alvin Robertson. Her father was the band master at a local school in Birmingham and her mother was a school librarian. At age 14, Carole was an avid clarinetist, preparing to make her first appearance with the Parker High School band at a football game the evening of September 15, 1963. She’d been practicing all week. She was in the Girl Scouts and a member of Jack and Jill, an organization for African American children to raise cultural awareness and provide educational development. She had attended Wilkerson Elementary School where she sang in the choir. At Parker High School, she was a straight-A student, a member of the marching band and the science club. On Sunday, September 15, 1963, Carole walked from her home to the 16th Street Baptist Church, where she was an usher. She and her friends were preparing to take part in the morning sermon titled, “The Love That Forgives.” The church was well known in Birmingham as a meeting place for civil rights activists, including Martin Luther King, Jr., Fred Shuttlesworth, and Ralph Abernathy. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the Congress of Racial Equality worked with the church on voter registration drives. In May 1963, James Bevel led the nonviolent Children’s Crusade from the church. Over one thousand students marched daily for a week to protest segregation. They were hit with water fire hoses and many were jailed. On September 15, 1963, at 10:22 AM, nineteen sticks of dynamite that had been placed under a stairwell of the church and attached to a timing device, exploded. Carole and three of her friends were killed. Twenty others at the church were injured. When police arrived, the girls could only be identified by their shoes. Four white supremacist members of the Ku Klux Klan were identified by the FBI within a week of the bombing. None were prosecuted until 1977 through 2002, because FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover did not believe an all-white jury would ever convict them. Birmingham became known as “Bombingham.” The Robertson family chose to have a private funeral for Carole. Thousands of people, including outraged whites, attended the funeral for the other three girls. Dr. King gave the eulogy. He said, “These children—unoffending, innocent, beautiful—were the victims of one of the most vicious and tragic crimes ever perpetrated against humanity.” All four girls killed in the bombing were posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, which is displayed in the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Their names have been inscribed on the circular black granite table of the Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery, Alabama. The 16th Street Baptist Church now bears a plaque naming it as a National Historic Landmark. The Carole Robertson Learning Center in Chicago was named in her honor. Carole’s mother, Alpha Robertson, testified at the murder trials of Thomas Blanton Jr. and Bobby Frank Cherry. Both were convicted. She said, “It was just an awful sound, like something shaking the world all over.” The Special Prosecutor, Doug Jones, said the following of Ms. Robertson: “We referred to her as the moral center of the universe. She just had that presence and aura that brought you in and cradles you.” In 1997, Ms. Robertson appeared in Spike Lee’s film, “4 Little Girls.” She displayed a string of Girl Scout merit badges Carole had earned as well as the worn Bible she had in her pocket the day of the bombing. *Carole’s name and incident were found by the STNM team. If you are a family member, friend, or were ever in community with Carole and have any additional information about her life or the incident that unjustly took her life, please email submissions@saytheirnamesmemorials.com. *Biographer: STNM staff writer, Linda Katz. Thank you, Linda. *The above information was summarized from: findagrave.com; phillytribune.com, 9/25/18; wbur.org, 4/30/19; latimes.com, 8/13/02; Wikipedia.

Tony Robinson Jr. – (2015) Madison, Wisconsin Tony was unarmed when he was fatally shot by the police during a “check-person” call.

Deravis Rogers – (2016) Atlanta, GA Rogers was shot and killed by former Atlanta Police officer James Burns the night of June 22, 2016. Burns was responding as backup to a call of a suspicious person possibly breaking into cars at an apartment complex off Monroe Drive. That's where Burns encountered Rogers' vehicle heading in his direction. He flips on his lights and siren, but the car continues forward. Burns jumps out of his patrol car and orders the car to stop, but it keeps going. Burns then fires a fatal shot through the front passenger window, hitting Rogers in the head. Author: Addie Haney, Joe Henke

Rose, McHale, 19 ( - May 19, 2020) Indianapolis, IN Shot 4 times in the back and once in the head while he was live on Instagram.

Antwon was fatally shot by an East Pittsburgh police officer after being involved in a near-fatal drive-by shooting. A video recording taken by a bystander shows police ordering the driver to step out from the car. While the driver was being handcuffed, Antwon and a third occupant ran from the car. The officer fired three rounds after them, and Antwon was struck by all three. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. Antwon was 17 years old. The video taken at the scene also captures a woman's voice saying, "Why they shooting at him? All they did was run, and they shooting at them.” Antwon had been unarmed when he was shot. Following the shooting, the officer was charged with criminal homicide. After a four-day trial, the officer was acquitted on all counts. Antwon’s mom, Michelle Kenney has continued to fight for police reform. “I have been pushing for a registry that keeps track of officers that are fired, discharged or reprimanded for any bad behavior or misconduct on the job,” she said. “Had that been done, that officer wouldn’t have been in East Pittsburgh.” *Antwon’s name and incident were found by the STNM team. If you are a family member, friend, or were ever in community with Antwon and have any additional information about his life or the incident that unjustly took Antwon’s life, please email submissions@saytheirnamesmemorials.com. *Extended biography is in process.

Diamond Ross – (2018) Dallas, TX The police responded in the early hours of August 18, 2018, to an argument between Diamond and her boyfriend. Diamond was acting erratically, and it was found later she had psychedelic substances in her system. She was arrested on outstanding misdemeanor warrants and before transporting her, paramedics evaluated her and cleared her to be taken to jail. Handcuffed, Diamond was placed in the back of the squad car with no seatbelt. Footage shows that she asked for water and help multiple times on the ride and said that she could not breathe. When they arrived at the detention center she was unresponsive and was pulled out onto the pavement, dragged into a cell face down by her arms, then minutes later flopped into a wheelchair. It is unknown when Diamond stopped breathing, but after several minutes another officer insisted the paramedics be called to evaluate her again. They immediately began CPR and transported her to the hospital where she passed the following morning. Her cause of death was stated to be an accidental drug overdose. The two officers involved received a written reprimand for improper transport and failing to provide medical treatment. Over a year later, the details and footage surrounding Diamond’s death were released for the first time. Dallas city managers responded by implementing changes that now require paramedics to be on-site at all times for medical emergencies and to evaluate each person before booking them at the city detention center. “Nobody should be treated like that, nobody," said Diamond's mother, Ethelyn Ross.

Charles Roundtree Jr., nicknamed “Chop”, was 18 years old when he was killed by police on October 17, 2018. His family members, especially both his biological and adoptive mothers have been outspoken advocates for justice for Charles since the killing. His biological mother, Patricia Slack, said, “It’s just so hard. He was the life of everything.” His adoptive mother, Bernice Roundtree, said, “He was just a joy to be around. He was a clown. He loved to make everybody laugh.” Circumstances of the killing are disputed although body camera videos have been made available. What is not disputed is that Charles was an unarmed bystander, sitting in a chair in the living room of a house with a few of his friends. Officer Steve Casanova, a five-year veteran of the San Antonio Police Department, was responding to a report of an assault at about 1 a.m. with two other officers. He stepped up to the door, knocked, beamed his flashlight into the living room through the burglar gate, without identifying himself as a police officer. He shouted, “What’s up?” One of the occupants stood up and approached the officer, at which point Officer Casanova shot twice, later saying he believed the suspect had a gun in his waistband. There was no gun. The gunshot went through the targeted man into Charles and killed him. A gun discovered elsewhere in the house was found to be unrelated to this event. A Bexar County Grand Jury found the shooting justified. The Roundtree family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the San Antonio Police Department. Two years later, the case is still pending. Charles leaves an infant son. *Charles’ name and incident were submitted by local native, Alvin Perry. *If you are a family member, friend, or were ever in community with Charles and have any additional information about his life or the incident that unjustly took Charles life, please email submissions@saytheirnamesmemorials.com. *Excerpts compiled by STNM biographer Linda Katz. Thank you, Linda. *The information above was summarized from: ksat12.com, 10/20/18; sacurrent.com, 5/30/19; mysanantonio.com, 7/25/19; kcentv.com, 9/25/20; kens5.com, 10/16/20.

Fifteen-year-old Abdiraham Salad was fatally shot six times after being confronted by two officers as he attempted to rob a CVS while armed with a gun in Columbus, Ohio. The officers were unharmed. Juvenile court documents state that in the months prior to his death, Abdiraham allegedly verbally threatened violence with a gun on two occasions. Because no physical gun was involved in these cases and he was not convicted of the charges, he was released rather than held in detention. Juvenile Court Magistrate Marla Holben noted that Abdiraham likely needed treatment that the detention center couldn’t provide. One of eleven children, Abdiraham was the oldest boy in his family. His parents, who are Somalian, speak no English, and his father is blind and has been unable to find employment. In a GoFundMe campaign organized by Abdiraham’s 17-year-old sister Fatuma to cover the family’s legal fees, she notes that her family has received no video footage of the shooting or evidence that a thorough investigation of the incident ever took place. Fatuma writes, “He was a great brother . . . I don’t know how to live my life and be normal without him. I need justice for my brother.” To contribute to the Salad family’s legal fund, visit Fatuma’s Go Fund Me campaign. *Abdiraham’s name and incident were found by the STNM team. If you are a family member, friend, or were ever in community with Abdiraham and have any additional information about his life or the incident that unjustly took his life, email submissions@saytheirnamesmemorials.com. *Biographer: STNM staff writer, Emily Dings. Thank you, Emily.

Aaron Salter Jr. (2022) Buffalo, NY The Buffalo Police Department has released its official list of victims in Saturday's shooting at Tops Friendly Markets.

Sanders, Tywanza , 26 (1989-June 27, 2015) Charleston, SC. Sanders was one of two people of the same family killed during bible study. Sanders was a musician, poet, and entrepreneur. The killer was an avowed white racist.

Antronie Scott Sr. loved to be around family and friends. Throughout his whole life, his family was a number one priority to him. Growing up he loved playing video games and following the highlights of his favorite sports team, the Dallas Cowboys. Entering into his professional career as an adult, Antronie received his welding certificate from South Texas Vocational Institute. Antronie was an only child to his mother and became a father to only one child himself, his son, A.J., Antronie Jr. Antronie Sr. is survived by his son, A.J., and his wife, Elena, who witnessed the shooting from their car on February 4, 2016, by the San Antonio Police. Antronie was 36 years old when he was killed. According to police reports, Antronie had two outstanding drug and weapons warrants. During a routine traffic stop, undercover officers called for backup. Officer John Lee responded to the Wood Hollow apartment complex parking lot. When Antronie got out of his car, he turned around quickly and Officer Lee shot him in the chest. Officer Lee later reported that he thought Antronie was holding a gun, which turned out to be a cellphone. There was no video. Officer Lee, an 11-year veteran of the SAPD, was suspended for “placing himself unnecessarily in a tactical situation where he felt compelled to use deadly force,” according to Police Chief William McManus. Sources were quoted saying that the shooting had a mental impact on Officer Lee that required emergency intervention. There was no grand jury. Former Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood said Lee did nothing criminal so he cleared him of any wrongdoing, and a friend started a GoFundMe campaign for Officer Lee and his family. Antronie’s mother and widow are suing Officer Lee and the City of San Antonio in a federal civil rights suit. On July 31, 2020, former Officer John Lee was found dead inside a house in San Antonio. The cause of death is reported as “pending.” *Antronie’s name was submitted by a childhood friend, Alvin Perry, who also verified the above account. *Biographer: STNM staff writer, Linda Katz. Thank you, Linda. *The above is summarized from: The San Antonio Express News, 2/5/16; usatoday.com, 2/6/16; msn.com, 7/31/20; mysanantonio.com, 7/31/20.

Marzeus Scott – (2019) Blythesville, AR

Walter Scott was born on February 9, 1965 in North Charleston, South Carolina. Walter was a Coast Guard veteran, a born-again devout Christian who sang in his church choir, and was studying massage therapy. Walter’s brother shared that Walter loved to tell jokes and dance, and when one of his favorite songs played, he’d get excited, jump and say “that’s my song” and dance like never before. His open casket at his wake was covered in an American flag and a Dallas Cowboys sign – his favorite team. At the time of his death, he was the father of four children, and faced challenges paying for two years of back child support, including court fees. On April 4, 2015, Walter was driving a 1991 Mercedes and, according to his brother, was headed to an auto parts store to fix a broken taillight. Upon arriving at the auto parts store parking lot, Officer Michael Slager stopped Walter, and per the patrol car’s dash cam, Slager approached Walter’s car, spoke to Walter, and then returned to his patrol car. Walter then exited his car and fled, upon which Officer Slager chased Walter on foot. Relatives say that Walter fled most likely because he was afraid he would be penalized for the missed child support payments. Officer Slager pursued Walter, and the two became involved in a physical altercation behind a pawn shop. At some point, Slager fired his taser at Walter, Walter fled, and then Slager drew his handgun and fired at Walter eight times from twenty feet away. The coroner’s report stated that Walter was struck five times, a fatal wound from a bullet that hit Scott’s back and struck his lungs and heart. During Slager’s testimony, he states that Walter grabbed his taser and he feared for his life. However, witnesses and videos shared in the aftermath detail that Walter never grabbed the taser and, instead, was trying to get away from it. Video recording confirmed that Officer Slager had control of the situation. Police reports share that officers performed CPR on Walter, however no such action was visible in videos, and only moments after Walter passed, Slager drops the taser next to Walter’s body. Officer Slager was immediately fired after the shooting, and in December 7, 2018 he was sentenced to twenty years in prison for second-degree murder. Slager began serving his sentence in Colorado’s Federal Correctional Institution in February 2018. An appeal for reduction of the sentence was denied in January 2019. *The above is summarized excerpts from NBC News, New York Times & Wikipedia.

On May 30, 2020, James was shot to death in Omaha, Nebraska during protests over the killing of George Floyd. He was 22 years old. The Saturday following the police killing of Mr. Floyd, thousands of demonstrators gathered downtown Omaha in the Old Market area. An altercation erupted between a group of people outside of Jacob Gardner’s bar. Gardner, armed, was tackled to the ground when he fired two warning shots. James jumped on his back. Gardner reached over his own shoulder firing twice, hitting James. Gardner was a Marine veteran with a history of racist views. He had an expired concealed carry permit and owned multiple firearms including a shotgun and three handguns. After being temporarily detained by police, he was released and the shooting was called self-defense. In June, several demonstrations took place on behalf of James, and later two murals were created with his likeness. James’ family successfully gathered enough signatures on a petition to demand a grand jury, as permitted under Nebraska law. On September 15, 2020 a grand jury announced four felony counts against Gardner, including manslaughter. On September 20, 2020, Gardner committed suicide. James Scurlock leaves an infant daughter. *James Scurlock’s name was submitted to Say Their Names Memorial by a local native of Omaha, NE, Spencer Wiliamson. *Excerpts and biography compiled by Linda Katz. Thank you, Linda. *The above information was summarized from: CNN, 6/4/20; nytimes.com, 9/15/20; washingtonpost.com, 9/16.20; buzzfeednews.com, 9/16/20; the Omaha World Herald, 10/28/20.

Born in Ferguson, MO, Darren Seals Jr. was a hard worker with deep roots in his community. A mentor to his younger brother, he dreamed of one day opening a youth center where kids could gain empowerment through sports and education. Darren worked long hours on the assembly line at General Motors and performed as a hip-hop artist with the group D.O.A. Known on social media as “King D Seals,” he was called “King” by his friends and “Man Man” by his family. Darren first voiced his commitment to fighting gun violence in his community in 2013, when he was hospitalized after being shot six times outside his cousin’s house. Following the shooting of Michael Brown Jr. in 2014, he became a frontline activist in the Ferguson protests against police brutality. Acquainted with Michael’s family since he was a child, Darren can be seen in a now-iconic photo holding Lezley McSpadden, Michael’s mother, as she weeps following the acquittal of Darren Wilson, the officer who killed her son. A pillar of support for Brown’s family, Darren was the co-founder of Hands Up United, an anti-violence organization founded in the wake of the shooting. Darren sometimes clashed with fellow activists due to his outspoken criticism of local Democratic politicians whom he felt had fallen short on their promises to curb police brutality and gun violence. He also criticized the Black Lives Matter movement, which he believed had detracted media attention and funding from local activists on the ground in Ferguson. But he was nevertheless widely respected across activist groups for his commitment to fighting white supremacy, police brutality, and gun violence in his community. On September 6, 2016, Darren’s body was found inside the charred remains of his Jeep Wrangler in the Riverview suburb of St. Louis. The police report stated that he had been shot in the head before being moved to the car, which had then been set on fire. Mourners who gathered at the site for a candlelight vigil later that night registered concern that the area had not been properly marked off as a crime scene. They were also unsettled by the similarities between his murder and that of Deandre Joshua, who was killed in a similar fashion amid unrest on the night of Officer Wilson’s acquittal. Darren’s memorial at Greater St. Marks Family Church was filled to overflowing with the hundreds who had been touched by his life and activism. Mourners spoke of his role as a big brother figure for many Ferguson youth, including the younger brother of Cary Ball, who was shot dead by St. Louis police in 2013. He was remembered as both an uncompromising firebrand and a gentle man who took young hip-hop artists under his wing and organized Thanksgiving dinners and Christmas toy drives for needy families. Recalled variously as “a rebel with a cause,” a “day-one activist,” and “a lion who knew when to roar,” Darren was 29 years old when his life was cut short by violence. Darren’s assailant is still unknown. *Demetrius’ name was submitted to STNM by a family friend in Ferguson. *Biographer: STNM staff writer, Emily Dings. Thank you, Emily. *The above information was summarized from The Washington Post, Wikipedia, stltoday.com, finalcall.com, and stlamerican.com.

Shirley, Michelle ( 1977- Nov 1, 2016) Phoenix, AZ. A graduate of UCSD Thurgood Marshall College, Loyola University Law School before bipolar disease disordered her life. Shirley was driving erratically and hit a police cruiser when 2 officers fired many gunshots at her car. She died.

Antwun, a 37-year-old father of five, was shot four times in the chest at close range after he ran from a traffic stop. The police officer and his police dog found Antwun hiding under a house. According to lawyers, Antwun was driving within the speed limit. However, an officer was following the car and noted that it did not properly use a turn signal and was missing a tail light. The officer was cleared of any wrongdoing. “My brother loved everybody,” Antwun’s sister said. “He was the youngest so he was spoiled. He was a mamma’s baby, even at thirty-seven. And he was trying to get ahead in life, trying to get up and get on his feet. Yes, he made some past mistakes in life, but he was really trying to get ahead.” *Antwun’s name and incident were found by the STNM team. If you are a family member, friend, or were ever in community with Antwun and have any additional information about his life or the incident that unjustly took Antwun’s life, please email submissions@saytheirnamesmemorials.com.

Simmons Sr, Daniel Lee, 74 (1941 - June 17, 2015) Charleston, SC Reverend Daniel Lee Simmons Sr., age 74, was on the ministerial staff of Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC. He was retired from the ministry, having been pastor at Friendship AME Church in Mt. Pleasant, SC. But he often traveled to serve as guest pastor for other congregations. He attended Sunday services and Wednesday Bible study every week at Emanuel. His family described Daniel as passionate about four things: his family, his church, the city of Charleston, and the Carolina Panthers. He made it a point to always attend the graduation ceremonies of his children and grandchildren. Rev. Simmons was one of the nine victims of the mass murder at Emanuel on June 17, 2015. He was the only one who survived the shooting but died shortly thereafter in the hospital. Rev. Simmons was a graduate of Allen University and a member of Phi Beta Sigma. The Rev. Al Sharpton was a fraternity brother. Alana Simmons, his granddaughter, a music teacher and realtor, attended the trial of the gunman. She expressed gratitude for the clarity of the verdict. She said, “I saw a radical truth. This was not caused by mental illness. It was a racist hate crime.” She has since formed a nonprofit called Hate Won’t Win Challenge, which President Barack Obama posted on his social media account. The organization asks people to perform three acts of kindness toward someone different from themself and then ask others to do the same. Rev. Simmons is survived by his wife, Annie Simmons, his son, Daniel Jr., his daughter Rose, and four grandchildren. *Daniel’s name and incident were found by the STNM team. If you are a family member, friend, or were ever in community with Daniel and have any additional information about his life or the incident that unjustly took his life, please email submissions@saytheirnamesmemorials.com. * Biographer: STNM staff writer, Linda Katz. Thank you, Linda. * The above information was summarized from: legacy.com; bustle.com, 6/19/15; buzzfeednews.com, 6/30/15; nbcnews.com, 1/13/17.

Sims, Toussaint, 27, (1990 -August 8, 2019) Moss Point, MS. Shot while fleeing police on foot, made no aggressive movement and was 30-50 feet away from the officer when shot.

Slater, Bee Love, 23, ( Sept 4, 2019 ) Clewiston, FL Slater was a transgender woman “with a really, really sweet heart” who “never harmed anyone according to her loved ones. She was tied up and shot before being burned in a car.

Henry was a 17-year-old handyman who was lynched in Paris, Texas. Smith allegedly confessed to murdering the three-year-old daughter of a law enforcement officer who had allegedly beaten him during an arrest. Smith fled, but was recaptured after a nationwide manhunt. He was then returned to Paris, where he was turned over to a mob and brutally tortured and burned at the stake. Henry’s lynching was covered by The New York Times and attracted national publicity. *Henry’s name and incident were found by the STNM team. If you are a family member, friend, or were ever in community with Henry and have any additional information about his life or the incident that unjustly took Henry’s life, please email submissions@saytheirnamesmemorials.com. *Extended biography is in process.

Smith, Ryan

Not much is known about Alberta other than what is detailed in the incident reports. She was a 57-year-old retired Harlem employee who was caught in the crosshairs of a police raid and subsequently died of a heart attack. Police believed Alberta’s apartment to be an off-scent holding cell for another tenant in the building, Melvin Boswell, a 35-year-old man who lived on the ninth floor. Certain Alberta’s home held her neighbor’s drug and gun stash, twelve police officers participated in breaking down her door, tossing in a “flash grenade,” storming inside her apartment, and apprehending her in handcuffs before coming to senses about their mistake. Boswell, Alberta’s neighbor who police believed to be using her apartment as a drug cache, had already been arrested earlier that week on drug charges. Police said they apologized to Alberta, who at the time told them she had a heart condition. Alberta went into cardiac arrest shortly after the early morning raid and died about an hour later. Alberta’s death was ruled a homicide. Following, police announced they would now keep a more centralized database of search warrants, giving investigators the opportunities to spot patterns and problems within the searches. The commander of the precinct who was in charge of the officers who raided Alberta’s apartment was transferred by the police commissioner for inadequately supervising the operation. No other official charges were placed. Mayor Bloomberg made an appearance at Alberta’s funeral, publicly apologizing for her wrongful death. *Alberta’s name and incident were found by the STNM team. If you are a family member, friend, or were ever in community with Alberta and have any additional information about her life or the incident that unjustly took her life, please email submissions@saytheirnamesmemorials.com. *Biographer: STNM Editor-in-Chief, Stacy Feder. Thank you, Stacy.

Alton Sterling was born on June 14, 1979. He was a son, a brother, and a father of five children. Alton had been living in a shelter at the Living Waters Outreach Ministries in Baton Rouge before his death. He was known by residents as someone who loved to cook for everyone at the shelter. Alton had a record that included violent offenses from earlier in his life, and he served five years in jail following a 2009 incident that stated he resisted arrest during a struggle with the arresting officer. On July 5, 2016, police officers were responding to a report that a man in a red shirt was selling CDs and used a gun to threaten a man outside a convenience store. The owner of the convenience store said Alton started carrying a gun a few days prior as other CD vendors had been robbed recently, but he also stated that Alton was not the one causing the trouble that led to the police being called. Upon police arrival, the officers attempted to apprehend Alton by grabbing his arms and in the struggle fatally shot him at close range. Alton was shot six times. He was proclaimed dead by the EMS from multiple gunshot wounds to his chest and back. According to witness videos, Alton never wielded a gun nor threatened the officers. In addition, the bodycam footage from the officer who shot Alton reveals that seconds after arriving to help the officer engaged in trying to detain Alton, he pulled his gun and threatened to shoot Alton if he moved. The U.S. Department of Justice opened a civil rights investigation on July 7, 2016, and on May 2, 2017, announced they would not file criminal charges against the police officers. Louisiana’s Attorney General, Jeff Landry, later announced in March 2018 after viewing the physical evidence that charges would not be brought against the officers, stating they acted in a “reasonable and justifiable manner.” On March 30, 2018, nearly two years after Alton’s death, Officer Blane Salamoni was fired for violating the use of force policies, and Officer Howie Lake was suspended for three days for losing his temper. *If you are family, a friend of the family, or were ever in community with Alton and would like to add more to his legacy, please contact submissions@saytheirnamesmemorials.com. *Contributing writer and artist, Radha Mehta submitted Alton’s name to the STNM memorial. Thank you, Radha. Please visit her tribute work here. *The above is summarized excerpts from Huffington Post, NYTimes, & Wikipedia.

Lloyd D. “Tony” Stevenson served in the U.S. Marine Corps and, later, as an Army reservist. At the time of his death in 1985, Tony was a security supervisor for Fred Meyer, though he aspired to become a state trooper. Tony met the love of his life, Susanna Foster, when the two were students at Portland Community College. According to an article published in The Oregonian in October 2020, “The two young students were a study in contrasts. Tony was 6′4" while Susanna barely topped five feet. He was gregarious; she tended to keep to herself. But they had an immediate connection. The tall former Marine who loved kids and the petite single mother (Susanna had a daughter, Denise) quickly became inseparable.” Tony and Susanna married and had four more children, Maurice, Sarah, Mary and Lloyd. On April 20, 1985, the family was enjoying a quiet Saturday night playing board games, listening to music, and watching a martial arts movie on TV. (Tony was an avid martial arts enthusiast.) To top the evening off, Tony decided to head to the 7-Eleven at 310 NE Weidler Street and bring back some ice cream for his family. Denise, the eldest, was 11; baby Lloyd was not yet a year old. When Tony walked into the 7-Eleven, he found two white clerks trying to detain a Black man they suspected of attempting to steal a bottle of wine. The man forced his way out of the store and the clerks followed, wrestling him to the ground in the parking lot. Tony also went outside and, according to witnesses, tried to keep the crowd back, away from the skirmish. “I believe he was effectively discouraging people from getting involved in the fight,” one witness was quoted as saying. When police arrived, Tony and two white employees from the adjacent gas station were arguing. (It’s believed that Tony had prevented one of the station attendants from getting involved in the struggle between the 7-Eleven clerks and the suspected shoplifter.) Two white police officers, Gary Barbour and Bruce Pantley, ran toward Tony and the two gas station employees. More officers followed. According to a statement by Penny Harrington, the Portland Police Chief at the time, Tony pushed or struck Pantley in the chest when the officer stepped between him and the other men. In response, the officers threw themselves at Tony. Witnesses later reported that Tony asked the officers to let him show them his ID. They also reported that the crowd tried to tell the police that Tony was “the wrong guy,” and that he had been trying to keep things calm and de-escalate the situation. “Barbour, about six feet tall, had to jump up from behind to grab hold of Stevenson in the arm-hook position of the sleeper hold,” The Oregonian reported after the incident. “Stevenson and the officers fell to the ground together.” The sleeper hold Barbour used on Tony was legal in 1985; it has since been shown to be “potentially lethal under any circumstance.” Barbour maintained the hold until Tony lost consciousness. The officers then turned Tony over and handcuffed him. Seeing that he was unresponsive, they called for an ambulance, but they did not administer CPR. Less than an hour later, Tony was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Four days later, the social justice group Black United Front organized a march in downtown Portland to publicly grieve for Tony and protest the long history of Black Portlanders being harmed and killed at the hands of police. In response, Multnomah County District Attorney Michael Schrunk announced there would be a public inquest, and Chief Harrington suspended use of the sleeper hold. This angered some members of the police force, and on the day Tony was laid to rest at Willamette National Cemetery, two white officers, Paul Wickersham and Richard Montee, sold T-shirts depicting a smoking gun with the words "Don't Choke 'Em, Smoke 'Em." (Mayor Bud Clark fired Wickersham and Montee, but the two were later reinstated.) The public inquest established that Barbour had violated the department’s sleeper hold protocol by jumping off the ground to apply it, and that the officers likely could have saved Tony’s life if they had provided medical aid at the scene. The six-member jury rendered a verdict of criminally negligent homicide, the first such verdict ever delivered against Portland police officers. Shortly thereafter, however, a grand jury refused to bring indictments against any of the officers involved, stating it could not determine “criminal culpability.” In the months that followed, members of Tony’s family were reportedly targeted in numerous incidents of police harassment. His brother Jamal, then 12 years old, has said he was regularly followed by police on his way to and from school. Jamal was quoted in The Oregonian as saying, “I remember the cop saying to me, ‘We’re just waiting for you to mess up so we can get you.’” Later, Jamal's family would find a dead possum on their doorstep, harkening back to a well-publicized incident in 1981 in which two white Portland police officers threw dead possums at the door of a Black-owned restaurant in Northeast Portland. Jamal also reported that his older brother was regularly pulled over by the police in the months after Tony’s death, though he was never cited for any violation. Susanna, too, was targeted by police, according to accounts from her children. She was pulled over so often and so close to home, they noted, that it seemed as if police were parking outside her house waiting for her. It was likely because of this continual harassment that Susanna moved the family to Kansas City, Kansas, in 1990. She died in 2014 at the age of 58. *Lloyd’s name was found by the STNM team and his tribute is part of the Portland Memorial Project. *Biographer: STNM staff writer, Emily Puro. Thank you, Emily. *The above information was summarized from The Oregonian, 10/17/2020; Willamette Week, 04/19/2016; and The New York Times, 05/05/1985.

Stokes, Ryan (1989 -July 28, 2013) Kansas City, MO. Stokes and friends left a bar at closing time, a white patron of another bar falsely accused Stokes’ crowd of stealing an iphone. Police officers arrive, pursue the Black men, fire two bullets at Stokes hitting him in the back. Police officer Thompson never charged. This year US Court of Appeals affirms that the police officer has “qualified and official immunity” in the case Stokes, Ryan

Brayla Stone had a youthfully royal and striking presence, often dressing and dying her hair in her favorite colors purple and red. Her favorite way to spend time was experimenting with music and during her few years as a teenager, she frequently uploaded videos and clips on her personal YouTube channel. She was raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, with seven siblings. She was known as being a family-oriented person and loved her family deeply. She had an outgoing personality and loved life to the fullest. One friend comments that Brayla was the “light of my life. Just brought that spark, that get up.” On June 25, 2020, Brayla’s 17-year-old murdered body was found inside a van in the Little Rock suburb of Sherwood. Brayla’s killer was 19-year-old Trevone Miller. Trevone had boasted on social media that he’d been paid $5,000 for the murder due to Brayla’s identity as a trans woman. Trevone was arrested and charged with capital murder. Arkansas has no hate crime law. When Miller was 14, he was also charged with capital murder and aggravated robbery along with two older teens. In that case he agreed to testify against his friends and was tried as a juvenile; he was later released. For the murder of Brayla Stone he remains incarcerated without bail. According to The Human Rights Campaign, Brayla was the seventeenth trans woman killed thus far in 2020 and the eighth transgender person to be murdered within the week. One hundred people attended a candlelight vigil for Brayla in Boyle Park, Little Rock. During the service, a spokesperson for the Center for Artistic Revolution said “Brayla was someone who always held space for others to be themselves and express their identities. Despite the fact that institutions didn’t support Brayla, it is important that we uplift her memory and dedicate ourselves to seeking justice for her.” Tori Cooper, the Human Rights Campaign’s Director of Community Engagement said “Brayla was a child. A child just beginning her life. A young Black girl who had hopes and dreams, plans and community. As a nation we failed Brayla—as we have every transgender or gender non-conforming person in a country that embraces violence and upholds transphobia, racism and homophobia.” An Arkansas minister, Lucas Delaney, started a Crowdfunder account for her on Facebook which raised over $1,300. A Change.org petition, Justice for Brayla Stone, has accumulated over 635,000 signatures. *Brayla’s name and incident were found by the STNM team. If you are a family member, friend, or were ever in community with Brayla and have any additional information about her life or the incident that unjustly took Brayla’s life, please email submissions@saytheirnamesmemorials.com. *Excerpts compiled by STNM biographer Linda Katz. Thank you, Linda. *The above information was summarized from: Fox16.com, 6/29/20; Out.com, 6/29/20; HRC, 7/1/20; The Advocate, 7/6/20.

Strickland, Enosa ( 1993 – 2019) Auburn WA. Enosa “had a big heart and was kind, funny and loved to eat,” says his family. Strickland was shot in the back of the head by police officers.

Sweatt, Laronda (3/21/76- 4/6/16) Gallatin, TN When Laronda Sweatt died following an altercation with police in Gallatin Wednesday morning, Alainna Sweatt lost her mother and best friend. “She was the best mother,” Alainna, 22, said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better mother. And being a mother was her life. She told me if she could have me again, she would. She loved being a mother. The Lord was the light of her life as was I.” Laronda Sweatt, 40, suffered two fatal shots to her chest by Gallatin Police Officer James Spray. Members of the city's housing authority staff and Sumner County Sheriff's Office Deputy Gary Pickard went to Sweatts' home on Chaffin Court to serve an eviction notice, investigators said. Laronda Sweatt became combative and injured Pickard in the abdomen with an ax. Spray was called to the scene to assist and fired the fatal shots when Sweatt walked toward him with the weapon. Police: Gallatin woman fatally shot by cop was wielding ax Spray was placed on administrative leave as the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation reviews the incident. Pickard was taken to Skyline Medical Center for treatment and was later released. A 1994 graduate of Gallatin High School, Laronda Sweatt suffered from bipolar disorder and was on medication, her daughter said. She was unemployed and lived on disability payments. The elder Sweatt previously worked as a nurse for elders at Habilitation and Training Services Inc. (H.A.T.S.) in Gallatin. “She didn’t bother you unless you messed with her or her daughter,” Alainna said. “That’s the only time she got upset. Other than that, she stayed to herself.”

Darius Tarver, affectionately referred to as DJ, is remembered fondly as an avid ping pong and board game player and an off-key singer and rap artist. His family describes him as extremely social, yet always humble. His family and community will always remember him for his respectful, loving, and caring spirit, along with his million-dollar smile that continues to reach their hearts from beyond. Darius excelled in both academics and sports. He played basketball and football through high school, and his senior year he received his Police Emergency Dispatch Certification. Darius decided to go to college at University of North Texas-Denton where he majored in criminal justice. As a senior, Darius was on the Dean’s List and preparing for a life in law enforcement. Darius worked two jobs while earning his degree and was also a member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement (NOBLE). Darius received his college degree posthumously and NOBLE dedicated a scholarship in his honor. A week before his death, Darius was involved in a serious car accident in which his car was demolished and he received a traumatic head injury. He was hospitalized in the ICU for only one day, then released. His parents say that the injury caused him to be light-sensitive, so he began wearing sunglasses at all hours of the day. On January 21, 2020, Darius’ roommate called the police, asking for help, because Darius was acting erratically, barricading himself in his room, muttering about God and light. Neighbors observed him with a frying pan, smashing overhead light bulbs in the apartment complex. The police video shows Darius in an outside stairwell, holding a large knife and the frying pan. Darius was ordered to drop them by the officers who arrived, but he did not, so they tased him in an attempt to subdue him. As a result of the tasing, Darius stumbled forward toward the officers, cutting one of them on the shoulder. That officer fired a single shot and hit Darius in the forearm. Darius fell to the ground but got up, retrieved the frying pan and moved toward the officers. He was tased again, then shot twice and killed. Darius was 23 years old. Darius’ roommate said that Darius was not violent, but his behavior had become increasingly bizarre. Darius’ family, mother, Froncella Reece, and father, Kevin Tarver, strongly disagree with the police action, believing that their son was in acute mental distress and needed help. Police Chief Frank Dixon defended the actions of the officers, and they returned to duty. No one from Denton police will provide information to the grand jury. The Texas Rangers are leading the investigation. Darius’ father is a chaplain for the McKinney Police Department, and also serves on the McKinney Chief of Police Advisory Council. The family has been active in advocating for police reform on behalf of young black men like their son. They want police to have crisis intervention training, which was not available in Denton. The family is represented by civil rights attorney Lee Merritt. *Darius’ name and legacy was submitted to Say Their Names Memorial by a friend of the family, Tonya Glass. *Darius’ biography was written by STNM staff writer, Linda Katz. Thank you, Linda. *The above was summarized from: The Grassroots Law Project; The Dallas Morning News, 3/6/20; CBSDFW.com, 3/6/20; The Dallas Observer, 6/24/20.

Breonna resided in Louisville, Kentucky where she made a beautiful life for herself. She loved life and all it had to offer. She continued to find ways to better herself and the people around her. Breonna was an accomplished EMT for the city of Louisville and worked full time as ER technician.Shortly after midnight on March 13, 2020, Louisville police officers, executing a search warrant, used a battering ram to crash into her apartment, and after a brief confrontation of extreme confusion, they fired several shots. One of the police, Officer Hankinson, stepped outside and fired recklessly through the apartment windows. These are the bullets that are believed to have struck Breonna multiple times. These bullets also cascaded through walls into neighboring apartments, which housed sleeping children. Thankfully no one else was hurt. According to The Louisville Courier Journal, the police were investigating two men who they believed were selling drugs of which Breonna’s home was associated. A judge signed a warrant allowing the police to search Ms. Taylor’s residence since the police said they believed one of the two men had used her apartment to receive packages. The judge’s order was a so-called “no-knock warrant,” which allowed the police to enter without warning or without identifying themselves as law enforcement. However, in a New York Times article, it was later clarified that prior to the raid the judge changed the order to a “knock and announce,” meaning the officers were required to announce themselves. The police have testified that they did announce themselves, but neighbors and family members refute this, saying Kenny, Breonna’s boyfriend present at the scene, would not have acted in self-defense, shooting an officer in the leg once they broke through the door. Also, in Kenny’s testimony, he says Breonna called to the door several times, louder and louder, “Who is it?,” with no reply. By June of 2020, Louisville officials banned the use of “no-knock warrants,” an ordinance which passed in the metro council unanimously and is now referred to as “Breonna’s Law.” The Louisville police officer, Brett Hankinson, was fired in July of 2020 for “wantonly and blindly” firing ten rounds into Breonna’s apartment the night she died. Breonna’s death sparked nationwide and global protests, including numerous public statements in regards to police brutality and racial injustice from celebrities and athletes, joining forces with multitudes on social media and campaigning for further justice towards all officers involved. *The above is summarized excerpts from Spring Valley Funeral & NY Times.

Nineteen-year-old Christian Taylor tweeted on December 24, 2014, “Police taking black lives as easy as flippin a coin, with no consequences.” On July 30, 2015 he tweeted, “I don’t wanna die too younggggg.” That was one week before his life abruptly ended. Christian was a graduate of Summit High School in Mansfield, Texas, and a sophomore at Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas. At age 19 he was a popular football player, a defensive back. His coach described him as a “fun-loving prankster, a jokester, with a lot of personality, a little charmer.” Both his father, Adrian Taylor, and his great uncle, Clyde Fuller, expressed disbelief that Christian would do anything violent or destructive and were adamant that he had never had any mental illness or drug problems. On the night of August 7, 2015, video cameras outside an Arlington car dealership showed Christian jumping up and down on cars, smashing a windshield and driving his SUV through a glass wall into the lobby of the dealership. When police arrived, five officers remained outside the building. Rookie Officer Brad Miller and his training officer entered the lobby. Within 1.3 seconds Officer Miller shot Christian four times from roughly ten feet away, and his training officer fired his Taser once. Arlington police do not wear body cams and there were no security cameras in the lobby. Officer Miller later said that Christian was advancing toward him and had a bulge in his pants pocket that he thought might be a gun. It was Christian’s cell phone and wallet. Four days after the killing, Miller was fired for “poor judgment” in entering the facility on his own and firing his weapon without provocation. An autopsy later revealed marijuana and synthetic psychedelic drugs in Christian’s body, known to be associated with bizarre behavior. There are no reports of where these drugs came from or who might be responsible. An investigation was ordered by the Arlington Police Department and the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office. The Dallas office of the FBI offered to join the effort if civil rights violations were uncovered. Because of his college football career, this tragedy was noted on the NFL website, and tennis great Serena Williams posted, “Really???? Are we all sleeping and this is one gigantic bad nightmare? #Christian Taylor—how many hashtags now?” Christian’s father, Adrian Taylor said, “There are no winners in this situation. No matter what decision is made, it doesn’t bring my son back.”

First and foremost, Jamaal Taylor was a father to three girls and one boy. Though separated at the time of his passing, Marah O'Neal-Taylor, Jamaal’s partner of thirteen years and mother of their four children, recalls, “He would play many games of pretend with them like he was a monster and they had to run. He also was very encouraging with them, always making pictures of them and telling them they can be anything they want as long as they put their minds to it. Jamaal loved his children with a pure love that amazed me.” Jamaal was also a deeply religious and an intellectual scholar who cultivated a love for both the Bible and the Qur’an. Jamaal was a member of Division 172 of the Universal Negro Improvement Association-African Communities League (UNIA-ACL) in Baltimore. One local leader remembered Jamaal as a man who garnered respect and trust of the young people and elders he encountered during his time with the Pan-African organization. Among other activities, Jamaal led meditations and chaperoned summer experiences for youth with the Black Wolves Youth Scout Nation. He was passionate about the Red, Black and Green and the community of safety and belonging under its colors. Marah noted that Jamaal was “always thinking of ways to help people and protect women and children.” In spite of these accomplishments and community support, Jamaal had some struggles that led a judge to recommend mental health counseling in 2012. On Saturday, September 28, 2019, Jamaal appeared to be in a mental health crisis. The details of what happened earlier in the day are unclear, but Jamaal was at the Hunt Valley Towne Centre in a suburb about fifteen miles north of Baltimore, left the mall, then later returned with a knife. Though some initially reported that he had a hunting knife, investigators later confirmed it was a three-inch folding blade. He was agitated and injured several people at the shopping center. They received immediate medical attention and did not have life-threatening injuries. Jamaal was leaving the area as police arrived. The officers followed him off the grounds of the shopping center and reported that they tried to de-escalate the situation but resorted to lethal force when Jamaal would not drop the knife. Baltimore County police said their mobile crisis team was present with counselors and officers who responded to the scene together, but video footage does not indicate what role, if any, they played as Jamaal was followed and killed in a matter of minutes. A dashcam video shows Jamaal slowly walking away as they follow beside and behind him, shouting, then point their guns and shoot. Jamaal died at the scene. Officer Wise and Office Brocato of the Baltimore County Police Department were identified as having discharged their weapons. Both officers were placed on administrative leave following the shooting. Officer Brocato had one prior police-involved shooting at the time of Jamaal’s death and has since been involved in at least one additional shooting since after which he was again put on administrative leave. The community held a vigil for Jamaal in the days following his death, and his family and friends have been involved in ongoing marches and rallies for racial justice and police accountability in 2020. Marah says, “Jamaal Taylor was a warrior for his people and community whose absence placed a hole in many hearts. He will truly be missed and will continue to resonate in our hearts.” *Jamaal’s name was submitted to the STNM memorial by Marah O'Neal-Taylor, the mother of his four children. *Biographer: STNM staff writer, Leah Eads. Thank you, Leah. *The above is summarized excerpts from Washington Informer, Baltimore Sun, NY Post, Baltimore CBS Local, and wbaltv.com.

O’Shae’s mother, Sherley Woods, describes O’Shae as someone that was “full of life and full of energy.” A curious and talkative child, O’Shae earned a reputation early on in his life for keeping his family giggling with his constant chatter that is so indicative of buoyant children of that age. As O’Shae grew up, he continued to demonstrate his love for people close to him, wanting to make everyone happy and feel included by engaging a whole room of family members with his silly antics to get the group in a celebratory mood. From early on, O’Shae would watch with curiosity as his grandfather worked on cars. Inspired by the time spent bonding with his grandfather, O’Shae aspired to start his own auto business someday and own his own shop. O’Shae Marquis Terry was 24-years-old at the time of his death. His jovial spirit was taken too soon and the family and loved ones he warmed with his effervescent spirit never got to see him open his own auto shop, get married, or have children of his own. “No mother, no family should have to go through anything like this concerning their child,” O’Shae’s mother said. On September 1, 2018, O’Shae Marquis Terry was shot to death by Arlington police officer, Bau Tran, after being pulled over for expired registration. Initially, Terry cooperated with police officers, but after several minutes, he rolled up his windows and attempted to drive away from the scene. It was at this point that Officer Tran reached inside a partially opened window, yelled for O’Shae to stop, and then shot him four times. O’Shae’s close friend Terrence Harmon was in the passenger seat when O’Shae was shot, but was not physically injured. However, the experience left an indelible mark on Terrence, and he still grieves the tragic loss of his best friend. So much so, that he named his son after O’Shae in tribute. “Before making the decision to pull the trigger, they need to consider that this is someone’s life,” O’Shae’s mother, Sherley, said. “We all love our kids. We all should be treated equally.” In 2019, eight months following the event, Officer Tran was indicted for criminally negligent homicide and was subsequently fired from the Arlington Police Department. At this time, multiple news outlets reported that Tran had a history of problematic behavior, both on and off duty, including an incident where he violently threatened an individual with a knife. The family of O’Shae Terry has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Tran and the Arlington PD. O’Shae’s case is represented by Lee Merritt. “We need for the ways they got the laws set up to change. We’re going to have to come together and let our voices be heard,” stated Sherley. A PSA featuring O’Shae’s mother, Sherley, and best friend, Terrence, who was in the car at the time of his murder, was showcased during a Monday Night Football game as part of the Inspire Change Initiative, which is a “collaboration of the NFL and players to reduce barriers to opportunity and combat social injustice.” Watch the video here. *O’Shae’s name was submitted to STNM as a client of Lee Merritt for a private vigil held in Rockwall, Texas in 2020. *STNM staff writer, Joseph Berman, and Editor-in-Cheif, Stacy Feder, collected and compiled O’Shae’s story. *The above information was summarized from: CBSNews, Dallas News, Star Telegram, CBS Local, NBCDFW, NFL.com

Myra Thompson – (2015) Shelby, NC Myra Thompson, age 59, one of nine African-American parishioners killed in a mass shooting during Bible study at Mother Emanuel on June 17, 2015. During Wednesday night Bible study on June 17, 2015 a white stranger showed up. They welcomed him and he sat there and listened to the whole Bible study. And when they were in a circle holding hands in prayer he took out his Glock 45 and commenced shooting. The morning after the attack, police arrested Dylann Roof in Shelby, North Carolina; a 21-year-old white supremacist who had attended the Bible study before he committed the shooting. He was found to have targeted members of this church because of its history and status. Roof was found competent to stand trial in federal court. The morning after the attack, police arrested Dylann Roof in Shelby, North Carolina; a 21-year-old white supremacist who had attended the Bible study before he committed the shooting. He was found to have targeted members of this church because of its history and status. Roof was found competent to stand trial in federal court. In December 2016, Roof was convicted of 33 federal hate crime and murder charges. On January 10, 2017, he was sentenced to death for those crimes.[2][3] Roof was separately charged with nine counts of murder in the South Carolina state courts. In April 2017, Roof pleaded guilty to all nine state charges in order to avoid receiving a second death sentence.

Emmett Till was born on July 25, 1941, in Chicago. He was a funny and sarcastic boy who loved pranks and playing baseball. He sometimes had a stutter that seemed to be brought on by nervousness, and his mom suggested in those nervous moments that he try whistling softly to himself before trying to speak. While visiting relatives in Mississippi one summer when he was 14, Emmett went to a grocery store with some friends. The actual interaction is disputed, but Carolyn Bryant alleged that Emmett made lewd comments, grabbed her waist, and whistled at her. Emmett's friends, who were not interviewed until much later, said the allegations were overblown and that Emmett was nervous about ordering bubble gum from a white woman in the south, where stricter codes of conduct meant harsh repercussions for even seemingly innocuous behavior. Sensing trouble, the boys left the store and went home. Several days later, Carolyn's husband Roy and his half brother went to Till's great-uncle's house and kidnapped Emmett. They beat him, shot him in the head, and dumped his body in a river. Three days after that, the body was found by some fishermen. It was almost unrecognizable. The case became nationally known and is generally regarded as the spark that ignited the entire civil rights movement. Rosa Parks said that when she was asked to move to the back of a bus in Birmingham later that year, "I thought of Emmett Till and I just couldn't go back." Emmett's mother Mamie insisted that the coffin be left open so that people could see the grotesque figure of her son's mutilated body. Photos from the funeral carried around the world, waking up people to the injustice of racial segregation, sparking a decades-long movement for equality.*Biographer: STNM staff writer, Nick Jaina. Thank you, Nick. *The above is summarized from New York Times, NPR, and Look Magazine.

Geraldine, for almost the entirety of her life, could be considered a traditional, family lady. She eventually found a deep faith that restored not only her love and respect for her Lord, but for others as well, deepening her affection for her family and hometown. Geraldine was born in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Her family was established in Bartlesville, as well as a career working at the Mutual Girls Club as an Arts Director. Later in life she moved around middle America--Kansas, Missouri--but eventually came back to Bartlesville, where she said she loved it most. Towards the end of her life, her family described her as happy. She loved going to church and in her leisure time playing Bingo. Geraldine was survived by several children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Geraldine suffered gun shots issued toward her after six police officers arrived at her home to serve an illegal drug sales warrant to her 50-year-old son for selling marijuana. The officers broke through the door, almost immediately yelling “shots fired.” In defense of her home and family, 72-year-old Geraldine came out of her bedroom, wielding a BB gun and fired at the officers, hitting the officers in the leg and face with BB pellets. Released video footage from the incident captures her son’s pleas to let him be by the side of his dying mother. Geraldine’s death was ultimately ruled justified and no charges were placed. *The above is summarized excerpts from Stumpff, CBS News, News on 6 & The African American Policy Forum.

Truxillo, Mary (1944– April 12, 2016) Marrero, LA. A 72-year-old woman was killed when police crashed into her car while responding to a report of a burglary in progress.

Pamela is remembered kindly as being family-oriented and having a loving soul. She gave what she could to her children and grandchildren and never denied being a “proud momma.” She is also remembered for her love of animals, especially her endeared dog, Chi-Chi. Pamela was born and raised in Mississippi, but sometime after graduation she decided to relocate to Baytown, Texas. While in Baytown, she worked for twenty years as a unit coordinator at a local hospital. Her work at the hospital allowed her the ability to give back to her community and help those in need, as she was want to do. Although at some point, it became evident that Pamela suffered from mental illness, paranoid schizophrenia, friends say Pamela rose above her condition in many ways, one being helping others. She was known for being joyful and always putting a smile on people’s faces. On May 13, 2019, Officer Juan Delacruz, who lived in the same apartment complex as Pamela, said that when he saw her the evening he shot her, he thought he should make an attempt to arrest her, because he knew she had an outstanding warrant. It was during his attempt to complete the arrest, when Delacruz fired his taser at Pamela, and she fell to the ground. After Pamela was on the ground, Officer Delacruz backed away from her and fired five gunshots into her body. Pamela was pronounced dead at the scene. Pamela’s shooting was video recorded by a nearby civilian who posted the incident on Snapchat that evening. The recording went viral in a heartbeat and outrage came over social media. In the video, Delacruz is shown attempting to arrest Pamela, who protests, shouting, “I’m walking! I’m actually walking to my house!” Defending herself, Pamela starts to yell, “You’re actually harassing me!” Once Pamela is on the ground, struggling with Delacruz, you can hear her say, “Stop, I’m pregnant!” Delacruz retreats several paces, then fires five rounds in rapid succession. Although the police department tried to justify the encounter by claiming Pamela went after the officer’s taser, this allegation is not evident from the video. According to police, this was not the first encounter between Delacruz and Pamela. Delacruz attempted to arrest her a previous evening. The police department also confirmed that it had prior knowledge of Pamela’s mental illness. After the shooting Delacruz received a paid three-day leave. During the investigation of the murder, he was placed on administration duty. Delacruz continued to work within the department and received no charges. * Pamela’s story was compiled by STNM Editor-in-Cheif, Stacy Feder. Thank you, Stacy. *The above is summarized excerpts from The Houston Chronicle, The Baytown Sun, World Socialist Website & CBS DFW Local.

Jayland Walker – (2022) Akron, Ohio On June 27, 2022, at approximately 12:30 a.m., Akron, Ohio, police officers killed Jayland Walker, a 25-year-old American black man from Akron. Following a traffic stop and car chase, officers pursued on foot and fired more than 90 times at Walker. Autopsy results showed that Walker's body was hit by 46 bullets. Wikipedia

Walter had a history of bi-polar disorder and was reportedly on lithium. On the day Walter’s life was taken, his family, including his sister and brother, and a neighbor, made multiple calls to 911, asking for an ambulance because Walter was having a mental health crisis. Instead, two police officers arrived. Officer Thomas Munoz, age 26, on the police force for three years, and Officer Sean Matarazza, age 25, on the force for two years. Despite many shouted instructions by the officers after they arrived, Walter refused to put down the knife he was holding. This confrontation took place in the street outside the family’s row house in their neighborhood. Onlookers included Walter’s wife and mother who shouted to the police regarding Walter’s distraught mental status. His mother put herself between her son and the officers, trying to prevent violence. Continuing to hold the knife, Walter walked toward the officers, and although he was some distance apart from them, they fired fourteen shots in his direction. Walter later died at a hospital. The death of Walter Wallace took place just six blocks from the site of the MOVE bombing 35 years ago, in which police detonated a bomb in a rowhouse killing eleven people inside. Walter’s killing led to demonstrations which brought the National Guard and a citywide curfew. For the first time, the Philadelphia police department released body cam footage of the event. Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw has pledged reforms, including de-escalation training for officers and increased mental health specialists for the department. Two separate investigations have begun, one by the District Attorneys’ Office and one by the police force’s internal affairs unit. The family’s attorney, Shaka Johnson, is a former police officer. Another attorney, Paul Hetznecher, has sued the city several times in police brutality cases. Hetznecher said, “The paramilitary culture of policing, where officers are trained to kill but not adequately trained to de-escalate, leads to these tragic consequences.” The Wallace family has taken a stand for forgiveness, noting that the police are poorly trained and did not have Tasers. In Philadelphia, only approximately one-half of officers have Tasers.*Excerpts compiled by biographer Linda Katz. Thank you, Linda. *The above was summarized from CNN, 11/1/20; The New York Times, 11/4/20; NPR, 11/4/20; and The Philadelphia Inquirer, 11/7/20.

Latasha Walton – (2019) Miami, FL According to the Florida Highway Patrol, trooper Ronald Melendez-Bonilla was conducting a traffic stop with 32-year-old Latasha Walton, who was driving a white BMW, when the situation escalated and the trooper opened fire. Troopers claim Walton was shot several times as she tried to flee the scene. Cbsmiami.com

Washington, Jason. ( - June 29, 2018 ) Portland, OR. Navy veteran, postal worker, husband. Following a drunken brawl with his friends, Jason walks away from the fight. Washington was shot by a police officer in the knee, back, chest, neck, and cheek for having a permitted, holstered gun that the officer saw. Portland State University agreed to pay $1 million to Jason Washington’s family.

Lawrence Virgil Watson was born in Chicago and lived on the South Side all his life. He attended John Hope Elementary and C.V.S. High School. He went on to graduate with an Associate’s degree from Olive-Harvey City College and then enrolled in DeVry University where he was soon to receive his Bachelor’s degree. While studying for his college degree, Lawrence ran a trucking business. He was the father of two young children, Destiny and Sencere Watson. On April 2, 2004, Lawrence was killed at the age of 29 after he ran into the street and was struck by a Chicago PD squad car. Reports of how this happened differ widely. Earlier that day, Lawrence’s car crashed into a tree while he was driving, his cousin as his passenger. According to police, Lawrence and his cousin were talking with the tow truck driver when they arrived, but both men took off running upon their arrival. Thus a chase ensued, one officer on foot and another in the squad car. The police report stated that Lawrence suddenly ran between two parked cars into the street in the 7100 block of South Harvard Avenue and was accidentally hit by the police vehicle. Lawrence’s cousin said that the police car was chasing them and deliberately ran into Lawrence. Lawrence’s injuries were catastrophic and he never regained consciousness, dying in the hospital on April 12, 2004. Five hundred mourners attended Lawrence’s funeral at a Baptist church on Chicago’s South Side. His sister, Latonya Watson, described him as “bright and with a joking personality, the life of the party.” His daughter Destiny, now grown, says he was a loving father, son, brother, and friend. The family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city, calling the death “a willful and wanton act.” Their lawyer said, “At the very most, [Watson] was leaving the scene of an accident. That certainly doesn’t justify somebody running you over with a squad car.” The Police Department found the death accidental. There was no trial or settlement for the family. Lawrence left his two children to cherish and live out his legacy. *Lawrence’s name was submitted to STNM by his daughter, Destiny Watson. *Biographer: STNM staff writer, Linda Katz. Thank you, Linda. *The above is summarized excerpts from The Chicago Tribune, 4/18/04 and 7/22/04, and conversations with Destiny.

Brandon Lovell Webster, age 28, of Shallotte, North Carolina was killed on 1/1/19, during a traffic stop. Brandon and his girlfriend were on their way to a mini-mart at about 8:00 p.m. when Trooper S.A. Collins pulled over Brandon’s truck on Holden Beach Road, in Brunswick County. Brandon was not a suspect in any crime when his truck was stopped by Trooper Collins, a one-year veteran of the State Highway Patrol. Accounts differ but it seems that Brandon may have tried to drive away. A blurry store video shows that the trooper stood in front of Brandon’s truck with his gun drawn. The truck lurched forward and Collins fired his weapon twice, striking Brandon, who later died at Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center. There is no indication that Brandon was armed. There was no dash cam and the troopers do not wear body cams. No charges were filed against Trooper Collins. A peaceful protest demonstration of about 75 people was held on January 11, 2019 in Mulberry Park, featuring prayer, poetry and speeches. A Go Fund Me account was set up, titled Justice for Brandon Webster. Mourners include Brandon’s mother, Mary Towanda Webster Reed, his aunt, Ruby Stanley, and his lifelong friend, Jaquan Brooks. He also leaves a daughter, age 10 and a son, age 2. Friends described Brandon as “a lovable, funny, kind hearted man and father.” The family’s attorney is Ira Braswell.*The above information was summarized from: The Port City Daily, 1/2/19; The Charlotte Observer, 1/7/19; WECT News 6, 4/15/19; WWAY News, 7/28/20. *Biography compiled by Linda Katz. Thank you, Linda.

Cynthia Wesley attended Ullman High School in Birmingham, Alabama, where she excelled in math, reading and band. Cynthia was described as a free-spirited child. She was born to a single mother with a family of eight children but stayed with the Wesleys, informal adoptive parents, so she could attend a better school. She was the first child to be raised by Claude and Gertrude Wesley, both teachers. They had an arrangement with her birth mother that she would return to her home on weekends. Her birth name was Cynthia Morris. On September 15, 1963, Cynthia, age 14, walked from the Wesley home to the 16th Street Baptist Church. She and her friends were preparing to take part in the morning sermon, titled, “Love That Forgives.” The church was well known in Birmingham as a meeting place for civil rights activists, including Martin Luther King, Jr., Fred Shuttlesworth, and Ralph Abernathy. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the Congress of Racial Equality worked with the church on voter registration drives. In May 1963, James Bevel led the nonviolent Children’s Crusade from the church. Over one thousand students marched daily for a week to protest segregation. They were hit with water fire hoses and many were jailed. On September 15, 1963, at 10:22 AM, nineteen sticks of dynamite that had been placed under a stairwell of the church and attached to a timing device, exploded. Cynthia and three of her friends were killed. Twenty others at the church were injured. When police arrived, the girls could only be identified by their shoes. Four white supremacist members of the Ku Klux Klan were identified by the FBI within a week of the bombing. None were prosecuted until 1977 through 2002, because FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover did not believe an all-white jury would ever convict them. Birmingham became known as “Bombingham.” Thousands of people, including outraged whites, attended the funeral. Dr. King gave the eulogy. He said, “These children—unoffending, innocent, beautiful—were the victims of one of the most vicious and tragic crimes ever perpetrated against humanity.” All four girls killed in the bombing were posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, which is displayed in the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Their names have been inscribed on the circular black granite table of the Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery, Alabama. The 16th Street Baptist Church now bears a plaque naming it as a National Historic Landmark. In 1964, Joan Baez gained fame for her song, “Birmingham Sunday.” In 1997, Spike Lee produced the film, “4 Little Girls.”*Biographer: STNM staff writer, Linda Katz. Thank you, Linda. *The above information was summarized from: findagrave.com; healgrief.org, 9/15/63; abc3340.com, 6/28/13; cnn.com. 9/14/13.

White III, Victor, 22 (1992- March 3, 2014 ) New Iberia, CA. Shot while handcuffed in the back of a police car. The death has officially ruled a suicide.

WHITFIELD - Ruth E. 86, ( - May 14, 2022) Buffalo, NY Mrs. Ruth E. Whitfield (86), eldest victim of the Buffalo Massacre on May 14, 2022. She is survived by her soulmate of 68 years, Garnell W. Whitfield, Sr.; her children, Robin Harris (Philip), Garnell Whitfield, Jr. (Cassietta), Angela Crawley (Melvin) and Raymond A. Whitfield; nine grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren; seven siblings, and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.

Jessica Williams – (2016) San Francisco, CA Jessica Williams was shot and killed by San Francisco Police Sergeant Justin Erb in the Bayview in 2016

Williams, Malik (2000 - July 9, 2022) Brooklyn NY. After being pulled over in a car with multiple passengers, Williams fled and officers chased. Williams turned toward police, displays his firearm and fires multiple shots at the officer, who returned fire killing Williams.

Williams, Michael

Hashim lost his life in Tacoma, Washington, during a routine traffic stop. Police say Hashim got out of his vehicle with a rifle and pointed it at an officer who pulled him over that morning. The officer reportedly told Wilson to drop the weapon and shot and killed him when he did not. Further details on why he was pulled over and what ensued afterwards are not available. Hashim was a supervisor for the packing department of a seafood company. He enjoyed hiking, long drives and rapping. He loved gardening, eating healthy, hanging out with family and friends, but most of all he loved being with his daughter, Dalila. *Hashim’s name and incident were found by the STNM team.

Janet Wilson was a 31-year-old woman whom friends described as joyous and happy. Although she suffered from mental issues, including paranoid schizophrenia, she was completely capable to live on her own and hold a job, and prior to her death Janet recently earned her chauffeur’s license. She was known to set goals for herself and act on them until they were completed. Preceding the incident that led to her death, relatives said that Janet was still coping with the deaths of both her father and boyfriend, whom she lost in 2015. “She was mourning,” a family member said. “There were so many circumstances against her at the time.” Janet Wilson had no criminal record. On the night Janet was shot by police, she was reported to have entered the mall in a highly agitated state. A Solstice Sunglasses employee reported to have witnessed her in a very disheveled appearance with possibly a wound on her face. Her hair was unkempt, she wore tattered clothing duct-taped together, and was "yelling angrily about her being a 'light skin' woman."After a brief encounter where Janet threw a pair of Gucci sunglass frames on the ground and told the employee to stay out of her business, the employee contacted mall security. Mall security put pressure on Janet to leave the mall. Witnesses reported that Janet continued to berate security, yelling obscenities at them as well as other mall customers. Security did their best to usher her out of the mall into the parking lot. Police were notified. One security guard gave a statement that as he approached her vehicle to get a record of her license plate, Janet noticed him and accelerated her SUV in his direction. It was about this time that local police pulled into the mall parking lot, and when Janet noticed the cops, she made a beeline for the exit. As Janet pulled into heavy traffic on the city street, police pursued her. Multiple witnesses attest that Janet refused to adhere to repeated commands to exit her vehicle after it was stopped, and instead she drove in the directions of the officers, who then opened fire. Another witness at the scene claims to have seen the whole incident. "I remember one officer at her right front fender, the other at her back left door," said the witness, "the officer on her side was trying to open her door, but it was locked. She starts to flee the scene in her vehicle and then I see the officer at her front right fire three shots at her. I do not feel like either officer was in danger," the witness told Michigan State Police. "It did not seem like the officer who shot was in front of her car or its path." Conflicting accounts arose from other witnesses at the scene who attested to the fact that the officers did seem to be in danger.According to the autopsy, Janet was the recipient of five gunshot wounds, three to her upper-right chest and two to her right arm.The city prosecutor determined that officers acted in lawful self-defense, defense of others and apprehension of a fleeing felon. No charges to police were issued. *The above is summarized excerpts from Black Girl Tragic & The Detroit News.

Gabriel Winzer – (2013) Kaufman County, TX Gabe, a young man with mental disabilities, was riding his bike on a spring day in 2013. Police had received multiple calls about a Black man wearing a brown shirt and blue jeans. Gabe, sporting a blue jacket and carrying a bright orange toy gun, was riding his bike 100 yards away. Within six seconds of seeing him, the police fired at Gabe over 17 times — hitting him four times in the chest. He fled to his family’s backyard where his father tried to save him, but Gabe’s wounds were too severe. Matthew Hinds, who shot and killed Gabe, has escaped punishment because of qualified immunity. Source: https://campaigntoendqualifiedimmunity.org/stories/

Alteria Mona Woods was a young woman with tremendous promise and drive. Born February 2, 1996, in Vero Beach, Indian River County, Florida, Alteria always lived with a love for life, and a vitality surrounding her. She was always on the go, and she found a way to make others feel good with her kindness and energy. From a young age, she was devoted to school, devoted to her church, and deeply committed to her family. From the beginning, Alteria actively pursued excellence in herself, and by high school Alteria was inducted into the National Honor Society of High School Scholars and graduated with full honors from Sebastian River High School in 2014, where she was not only a successful scholar-athlete, playing basketball, but an accomplished member of the varsity cheerleading team. She was not a young woman involved in trouble, if anything, she was committed to improving the lives of other people, as well as animals. For several years, Alteria was part of PUGLife Animal Rescue, caretaking, and protecting pugs throughout her community. Alteria was also a member of Staten Temple Church of God by Faith where she served in the Youth Department Ministry and Anchors of Hope Outreach Food Pantry. In short, Alteria was fueled by a life of faith and education, pursuing a calling of service and helping others in need. An honors student at Indian River State College in Vero Beach, Alteria earned her pharmacist technician’s license and had been working at Publix pharmacy while she went to school. Although she was serious about her education and her plan to become a pharmacist, her family and friends also remember that she loved to laugh and joke around. Family, friends, and teachers remember her as a very hard worker with a wonderful smile and a way with people. “Alteria was a beautiful, bright shining light to all who know her. She was intelligent, courageous, kind-hearted, ambitious, and beautiful, inside and out. She wasn't afraid to dream big. She touched the lives of many, creating a lasting impact,” shared her mother. All of those dreams, all of that hope for her future, tragically ended on the 4500 block of 35th Avenue in Indian River. Alteria just 21 years old a month earlier. Some in the community called it ‘wrong place, wrong time’ and often the news spoke of the killing as part of an overreach of force on the part of law enforcement. The coroner, state and local officials, and law enforcement have continued to swap stories that have all lent to confusing, and suspicious details. The SWAT raid on her boyfriend and his father, and the true facts surrounding the ten rounds that violently took the life of this phenomenal, young woman have yet to make complete sense to any who hear the story. On the evening of March 18, 2017, Alteria and her mother, Yolanda Woods, went to see the movie Get Out. Afterward, Alteria spent some time at the Firefighters’ Indian River County Fair before going to see her boyfriend, Andrew Coffee IV, in Gifford for the night. Alteria and Andrew planned to attend church with Alteria’s mother the next morning. At around 5:30 a.m. on the morning of the 19th, twenty officers raided the home that Andrew shared with his father and grandmother following a tip that Andrew’s father, Andrew Coffee III, was in possession of fourteen grams of cocaine. Statements produced by family witnesses report that Andrew Coffee III, the subject of the search warrant, was apprehended at the front entrance by police before the two flashbangs were thrown through windows into the home. Anyone at home was asleep at the time, including Andrew Coffee IV, and had no idea it was law enforcement causing the scene, believing the commotion to be a robbery. Accounts of what happened next vary significantly. Police reports state that Sheriff’s deputies Christopher Reeve and Patrick White and Indian River Shores Officer Richard Sarcinello fired into the house in response to fire from Andrew Coffee IV. However, family members claim that the officers fired first, an unnecessary escalation since Andrew Coffee III, the target of the raid, had already been apprehended. It was also unclear that Andrew Coffee IV knew who was entering his house, meaning that the Florida “Stand Your Ground” law would protect his right to shoot. One officer was wounded, and an exchange of handgun fire took place between Andrew Coffee IV and Indian River Shores County Sheriff’s Deputy, Christopher Reeve. At that time Officer Richard Sarcinello, who was carrying an assault rifle, “began firing indiscriminately” according to a witness report, toward the bedroom. Alteria, who was lying on a bed, was shot ten times, including a fatal shot through the heart. The lawsuit states that the amount of firing, and the indiscriminate nature of the firing pattern, also caused two other Indian River Shores officers to be grazed by Sarcinello’s gunfire. Deputy Patrick White, upon seeing Sarcinello’s weapon jam, moved to the window and discharged several rounds into the bedroom as well. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the body that investigates the use of force by police officers, was not contacted to review the deadly shooting, and many initial claims about the shooting were later revealed to be false, including that the 21-year-old Alteria was pregnant, a fact disproved by the autopsy report. Police reports also stated that Andrew Coffee IV used Alteria as a “human shield.” Daryl Loar, then Indian River County Sheriff, later conducted an investigation revealing that she was in a different room than her boyfriend when she was shot. The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Deryl Loar conducted his own independent investigation within his department. The lawsuit states that it was eleven days before the three officers were investigated for the shooting. The three officers were put on paid administrative leave but returned to duty after they were exonerated by a grand jury. There was no body camera footage of the incident, as this department only used car dash cameras. In July of 2017, Andrew Coffee IV was charged with the murder of Alteria Woods, as well as First Degree Attempted Murder of a Law Enforcement Officer. At this time, he is being held at the Indian River County Jail on a $440,000 bond. In early 2021, Alteria’s mother, Yolanda, filed a lawsuit in federal court against the three officers involved in her daughter's unnecessary and tragic death. “We not only seek justice for the death of Alteria Woods for her family. We also seek to end the abusive police practices by the defendants in this case,” stated the family attorney, Mary Sherris.

Wright, Brandon, ( - 2019) Fairfax County, VA Kidnapped, shot and stabbed to death by gang members because Wright had testified against a gang member who had beat him up. Three men were convicted of the murder.

There could not possibly be any right number of words to paint the story and legacy of Malcolm Little, known historically as Malcolm X, self-named El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. Books, films, plays, paintings, legislation, poetry, and movements have been forged from the fires of his life and work. Born Malcolm Little, in Omaha, Nebraska, on May 19, 1925, Malcolm was one of seven children, and the story of his early years is fraught with the lasting scars of a childhood marred by tragedy, crime, and violence. Yet, Malcolm’s continuous narrative rose above these tenuous conditions to carve out his own world, and to pursue a greater version of himself against all odds. To understand Malcolm’s shattered childhood is to understand his journey to becoming one of the greatest civil rights leaders the world has ever known. In 1926, Malcolm’s family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and soon after, in 1928, to Lansing, Michigan, where they lived the best they could in an all-white neighborhood. The family battled significant prejudice during their time in Lansing, often on a daily basis. In November of 1928, the Little’s family home was mysteriously burned to the ground. Coming to the conclusion it was a white supremacist attack on the home, Earl decidedly moved the family across town to East Lansing. Early on, Malcolm’s life began grounded in the church, as his father, Earl Little, was a Baptist Reverend and a ‘Garveyite’: a follower of the Black Nationalist and Pan-African movements and leader, Marcus Garvey. Garvey’s teachings advocated for a Black political and economic state separate from white society. Malcolm’s father raised him with these views from a young age. In September of 1931, when Malcolm was just six, Earl was struck and killed by a streetcar in what was considered to be a hate crime perpetrated by the white supremacist organization in Michigan, The Black Legion. This claim was never corroborated by the coroner or local law enforcement, although the entire case was considered extremely suspicious. “My father was killed by the Klu Klux Klan,” Malcolm stated later in life in a 1965 CBS interview. After his father’s tragic death, the family struggled with extreme poverty. The toll tore the family apart. In 1939, under the weight and trauma of her husband’s death and the family’s economic state, Louise Little, Malcolm’s mother, was admitted to the Kalamazoo State Mental Hospital where she would remain for twenty-six years until her death. After Louise’s institutionalization, Malcolm’s siblings were split apart by the state. Malcolm slipped into a world of petty crime, moving every which way through the juvenile justice system of Michigan until he moved to Boston to live with his half-sister where he continued to hone his street persona as ‘Detroit Red.’ Eventually, the time came and in February of 1946, Malcolm was arrested and imprisoned for firearms possession, grand larceny, and breaking and entering. Again, his name would change, and according to the state of Massachusetts, he was known as Prisoner 22843. Malcolm was twenty years old. Malcolm remained in prison from 1946-1952. During this time, he devoted himself extensively to reading and studying, engaging in public oration and practicing with the prison debate team. A life-changing, spiritual conversion also took place while in prison as Malcolm pursued Islamic faith and traditions, eventually joining the Nation of Islam and taking the new name of Malcolm X—a custom among Nation of Islam followers who considered their family names to have originated with white slaveholders. “My alma mater was books, a good library. I could spend the rest of my life reading, just satisfying my curiosity.” Malcolm was very well-loved by the Nation of Islam’s leader, Elijah Muhammad, and after his parole in 1952, Malcolm rose to become one of the Nation of Islam's (NOI) most influential leaders. He was promoted throughout the ranks, garnering national attention for his charisma and profound oratory skills. Malcolm assisted in amplifying NOI’s message and membership swelled causing widespread scrutiny from law enforcement, especially the FBI, who elevated their surveillance and harassment of Malcolm and those closest to him. The more Malcolm appeared publicly, the larger membership grew, as did his reputation for promoting a unified Black state. “The common goal of 22 million Afro-Americans is respect as human beings. ... We can never get civil rights in America until our human rights are first restored. We will never be recognized as citizens there until we are first recognized as humans.” During this time, Malcolm helped to change the terms used to refer to African Americans from “Negro” and “coloured” to “Black” and “Afro-American,” and he consistently advocated for action-change through action, by force as necessary. His purposeful, articulate, and impassioned vision for Blacks to rise up and take their lives into their own hands inspired the Black Power movement, the Era of Black Consciousness, and the Black Panther Party. By 1961, Malcolm was the most public face of the Nation of Islam, and this drew both praise and deep condemnation from its members. “There can be no black-white unity until there is first some black unity. We cannot think of uniting with others, until after we have first united among ourselves. We cannot think of being acceptable to others until we have first proven acceptable to ourselves.” Police brutality, attacks on NOI members by Los Angeles Police, different approaches to the work of the Nation, and the scandals of Elijah Muhammad strained ties between Malcolm and Elijah. As their messaging drifted further apart about the direction of the Nation, Malcolm’s very public opinions caused the Nation to attempt to place a gag order on him; threats towards Malcolm and his family followed, and yet he persevered. Apologies, letters, meetings, and attempts did little to smooth tensions. Malcolm worked to found a new Muslim organization, and in April of 1964, disillusioned with the position of NOI and his own frustrations with the movement, he made his Hajj to Mecca, transitioning into an Orthodox Sunni Muslim, taking the name El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. Tragedy caught up again with Malcolm, his wife Betty, and their children on February 21, 1965. At 3:10 p.m. that afternoon, Malcolm was speaking to his followers at the Audobon Ballroom, in Harlem, NYC, when he was gunned down at point-blank range by three followers of the Nation of Islam: Thomas 15X Johnson, Norman 3X Butler, and Talmadge Hayer. He was 39 years old. His assassination, the role Elijah Muhammad and the FBI allegedly played, and the overall circumstances surrounding the killing, have remained cloaked in mystery and secrecy to this very day. “We declare our right on this earth to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary.” As salamu alaykum Malcolm—you live on in the work, hearts, and minds of the millions who carry your message forward. *Malcolm’s name and incident were submitted by the STNM team. nd have any additional information about his life or the incident that unjustly took his life, please email submissions@saytheirnamesmemorials.com. *Biographer: STNM Family Liaison Chair, Matthew Bowerman. Thank you, Matthew. *The above is summarized excerpts from “Ballot or the Bullet” Speech, The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley, The End of White World Supremacy by Malcolm X, By Any Means Necessary by Malcolm X, PBS: Timeline of Malcolm’s Life, Britannica: Malcolm X, Theshabazzcenter.org, and YouTube: CBS 1965 Interview.

Pearl Young – (2022) Buffalo, NY On May 14, 2022, a mass shooting occurred in Buffalo, New York, United States, at a Tops Friendly Markets supermarket in the East Side neighborhood. The shooter livestreamed part of the attack on Twitch, but the livestream was shut down by the service in under two minutes. The accused, identified as 18-year-old Payton S. Gendron, was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder. He formally entered a plea of "not guilty" on May 19, 2022. Thirteen people—eleven of them Black and two white—were shot, ten fatally.

OUR HISTORY

In 1992, the late Shirley Day Williams a long time San Diego resident and patron of the arts established the San Diego African American Museum of Fine Art. A decade following her passing, the museum’s activities became dormant. In 2013, Gaidi Finnie convinced a small group of individuals that a need remains for an African American Museum in San Diego. The inaugural exhibit for the reestablished museum was installed in February 2014 entitled“In Our Lifetime…”The photographic exhibition featured images of some of the individuals who were participated in the events of the Civil Rights movement that culminated with President Lyndon B. Johnson signing the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The purpose of this museum is to present and preserve the art of African Americans globally. The museum’s programing is curated with the goal of educating those who are interested in learning and impress even the most seasoned art enthusiast.

It is clear that great art is simply that, great art. Where there is a difference is in the stories that are told through art; the lifestyles, the pain, the joy, the love, the struggles as told through the perspective of an African American Artist. These experiences translate into art, which is varied, unique, and undeniably the source of great pride for people of the African Diaspora.

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