Neighbors of a woman who was fatally shot by a Berkeley police officer outside her home Saturday night say he acted impulsively and irresponsibly, while police say the five-year veteran acted in defense of himself and another person.
Differing accounts surround the death of 51-year-old Anita Gay, a grandmother who was shot to death in the 1700 block of Ward Street, after police said an officer responded to a domestic dispute call.
Gay's neighbors, some of whom witnessed the shooting, described her as a loving mother and grandmother who was unarmed and not a threat when the officer approached her house.
"The police should be ashamed of themselves," said
55-year-old Channell King, who added she saw the shooting from the front porch of her house, directly across the street from Gay's apartment building.
"He could have tased her, used rubber bullets — anything than what he did," King said of the police officer, who's been described by neighbors as a young African-American male. Gay was also African-American.
Berkeley police — who do not carry tasers for patrol duties — are not releasing the name of the officer, who has been placed on administrative leave. But spokeswoman Sgt. Mary Kusmiss said that their preliminary investigation — including statements by family members and one witness — "supports the fact that the suspect had a large kitchen-style knife" in her possession at the time the officer shot her.
Police said the officer responded to Gay's apartment complex after a call about 6:40 p.m. that someone was breaking windows.
Finding a broken window at the apartment next door to Gay's, but no incident, he left and was called back to the location at approximately 8 p.m. after a call to 9-1-1, according to police.
Kusmiss said the officer found Gay outside on her front porch with a knife and proceeded to "challenge her at gunpoint." According to neighbors, Gay appeared intoxicated and may have been drinking or on some form of medication.
Then, Kusmiss said, two family members — who neighbors say were daughters who lived at the home — emerged from inside the apartment and Gay waved the knife at them.
"Given the proximity, the officer thought there was an imminent threat," Kusmiss said. She added the officer fired his weapon at least twice.
Neighbors and witnesses, however, said Gay had either dropped or released the knife by this time and had her hands against an outside wall, per the officer's request. They said she then turned to walk up her stairs, at which point the officer opened fire.
Gay was pronounced dead at the scene.
"He shot her where he knew she wasn't going to make it," said 26-year-old Lisa Jones, a neighbor who often referred to Gay as "Mom." "He shot her in the back."
Berkeley police do not yet have specifics on where on her body she was shot, according to Kusmiss, and are waiting on the coroner's report. Kusmiss confirmed the knife was recovered from the scene.
One of Gay's daughters, witnesses said, was grazed on her face by one of the officer's bullets.
"There was a superficial wound that paramedics attended to," said Kusmiss, adding that authorities weren't sure if it was a result of the officer's round or another incident.
Neighbors described Gay as a woman who had a drinking problem but who was known for taking care of the children in the community, including her two young granddaughters.
"She was the grandmother of the whole neighborhood," said Renee Wilkins, 45, who lived in the same apartment complex. "She was always barbecuing and buying Popsicles for the kids."
Wilkins said she was in her bedroom at the time of the shooting but that her daughter witnessed the incident.
"She yelled from the front of our apartment, 'Mama, the policeman shot Zaire's grandmama,'" Wilkins said.
Family members were at the apartment on Sunday but said they would not comment on the incident until they sought legal advice.
The shooting is under investigation, and authorities are urging witnesses to come forward and contact the Berkeley Police Department at 510-981-5900.
"We understand there will be community criticism surrounding this," Kusmiss said, "but we want to be thorough and clear on the details. We don't want voices to go unnoticed."
http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_8294624
Differing accounts surround the death of 51-year-old Anita Gay, a grandmother who was shot to death in the 1700 block of Ward Street, after police said an officer responded to a domestic dispute call.
Gay's neighbors, some of whom witnessed the shooting, described her as a loving mother and grandmother who was unarmed and not a threat when the officer approached her house.
"The police should be ashamed of themselves," said
55-year-old Channell King, who added she saw the shooting from the front porch of her house, directly across the street from Gay's apartment building.
"He could have tased her, used rubber bullets — anything than what he did," King said of the police officer, who's been described by neighbors as a young African-American male. Gay was also African-American.
Berkeley police — who do not carry tasers for patrol duties — are not releasing the name of the officer, who has been placed on administrative leave. But spokeswoman Sgt. Mary Kusmiss said that their preliminary investigation — including statements by family members and one witness — "supports the fact that the suspect had a large kitchen-style knife" in her possession at the time the officer shot her.
Police said the officer responded to Gay's apartment complex after a call about 6:40 p.m. that someone was breaking windows.
Finding a broken window at the apartment next door to Gay's, but no incident, he left and was called back to the location at approximately 8 p.m. after a call to 9-1-1, according to police.
Kusmiss said the officer found Gay outside on her front porch with a knife and proceeded to "challenge her at gunpoint." According to neighbors, Gay appeared intoxicated and may have been drinking or on some form of medication.
Then, Kusmiss said, two family members — who neighbors say were daughters who lived at the home — emerged from inside the apartment and Gay waved the knife at them.
"Given the proximity, the officer thought there was an imminent threat," Kusmiss said. She added the officer fired his weapon at least twice.
Neighbors and witnesses, however, said Gay had either dropped or released the knife by this time and had her hands against an outside wall, per the officer's request. They said she then turned to walk up her stairs, at which point the officer opened fire.
Gay was pronounced dead at the scene.
"He shot her where he knew she wasn't going to make it," said 26-year-old Lisa Jones, a neighbor who often referred to Gay as "Mom." "He shot her in the back."
Berkeley police do not yet have specifics on where on her body she was shot, according to Kusmiss, and are waiting on the coroner's report. Kusmiss confirmed the knife was recovered from the scene.
One of Gay's daughters, witnesses said, was grazed on her face by one of the officer's bullets.
"There was a superficial wound that paramedics attended to," said Kusmiss, adding that authorities weren't sure if it was a result of the officer's round or another incident.
Neighbors described Gay as a woman who had a drinking problem but who was known for taking care of the children in the community, including her two young granddaughters.
"She was the grandmother of the whole neighborhood," said Renee Wilkins, 45, who lived in the same apartment complex. "She was always barbecuing and buying Popsicles for the kids."
Wilkins said she was in her bedroom at the time of the shooting but that her daughter witnessed the incident.
"She yelled from the front of our apartment, 'Mama, the policeman shot Zaire's grandmama,'" Wilkins said.
Family members were at the apartment on Sunday but said they would not comment on the incident until they sought legal advice.
The shooting is under investigation, and authorities are urging witnesses to come forward and contact the Berkeley Police Department at 510-981-5900.
"We understand there will be community criticism surrounding this," Kusmiss said, "but we want to be thorough and clear on the details. We don't want voices to go unnoticed."
http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_8294624
