Wilimington Police Sued in Death of Mentally Ill Black Man - Shot 9 Times

 
The parents of a Bear man who was fatally shot after stealing a police cruiser last year filed a lawsuit in federal court Monday against Wilmington police, alleging officers used excessive force against their son.The city of Wilmington and the state Attorney General's Office cleared the three officers involved of any wrongdoing in separate investigations, and they have since returned to duty. The officers have not been identified. Charles Brittingham, state NAACP president, accompanied Smith's family to U.S. District Court in Wilmington. Attorneys for the Smiths said the police department will be served with the lawsuit today. [more ]

• Pictured above: Harry Smith Jr. and his son, far right.

• The incident began after Harry Smith Jr. drove his son to the hospital - his second visit in a week - for psychiatric treatment. While he was waiting to be seen by the doctor, Mr. Smith obtained a surgical scalpel and began to puncture himself with it. He left the emergency room of the hospital and commandeered a police cruiser. The police cruiser had been left attended with the motor operating. Afterwards the Wilmington Police Dept pursued Mr. Smith. As the officers were in pursuit they were shooting at him as they gave chase through the inner city residential neighborhood. When Mr. Smith was in a staged roadblock approximately ½ mile from the initial encounter, he stopped the police cruiser. However, witnesses claim that even though Mr. Smith stopped the cruiser the police kept shooting at him without giving him a chance to surrender. There were some 37 casings found at the scene. Mr. Smith didn't have a chance to give himself up after he stopped the police cruiser he commandeered. Mr. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene from nine fatal shots to the back of the head. [more ]