Franklin County Deputy Cleared in Shooting Death Of Somali Man: Witnesses Claim Abdi was Unarmed

Franklin County grand jury announced Friday that a sheriff's deputy would not face criminal charges for killing a mentally ill man.Nasir Abdi was shot and killed by Deputy Jason Evans in December 2005 at an apartment complex after deputies had a court order to take Abdi to Netcare. Law enforcement said Abdi had a knife and attempted to use it."He did not have a knife in his hand," said Abdi family attorney Fred Gittes. "Neither witness saw him make any move in any way to attack an officer."Two civilian witnesses told the grand jury that Abdi had no weapon and that Evans shot him after deputies Maced Abdi and Abdi moved to cover his eyes."If you are Deputy Evans and a subject was attempting to stab a fellow officer, what do they expect us to do -- throw jelly beans at the person?" asked Ohio Fraternal of Police vice president Keith Fangman. Attorneys for Abdi's family said that they would consider filing a federal civil rights case."What can you do? This is the system, and we will work with the system and we feel, ultimately, we will prevail," said Somali community elder Abdi Karim Omar. [MORE] and [MORE]