- Police Brutality Watch

The head of the NAACP Chapter in Kalamazoo is asking for another look at a police shooting in the city. John Gill was shot to death by Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Officer Stacey Geik in September. A little more than a month ago, a police investigation ruled the shooting justifiable and that Geik would not face charges. Jerry McNeely released a letter Tuesday, a copy of which was sent to the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor's Office and Public Safety Chief Dan Weston, asking for authorities to take a closer look at Gill's death. McNeely is not sure the truth is being told. Authorities were called to the Madeira Apartment complex on September 30 to put out a fire. Sergeant Stacy Geik returned to the scene later in the day to follow up on the fire investigation. He was then confronted by 51-year-old Gill who lived in the apartment where the fire took place. Investigators believe Gill started the fire. Gill had a gun and the transcript describes what happened when Geik tried to get Gill out of his apartment. "Will you please close the door and let me go to sleep?" Gill asked Geik. "What kind of gun is that?" responded Geik. "Would you please?" Gill asked again. "No sir, I can't do that," said Geik. "Now don't come up to me...John stop, stop right there...step back, don't raise it John, don't raise it." Two gunshots were fired and Geik told dispatch the subject was down. But McNeely doesn't believe it happened that way and wonders if Gill was actually shot in the back. But according to the medical examiner the autopsy report says there were two bullet wounds. One of them hit Gill in his chest and killed him, according to the autopsy report. The other bullet hit Gill in the top of his left shoulder, and believed to have happened when Gill fell after being shot the first time. [more]

Recording indicates man shot dead refused orders to drop gun [more]