Dramatic images from the body camera show police shooting a Tennessee teenager in the high school bathroom while grabbing a gun while resisting arrest, as officials announced that none of the officers will be charged. .
Anthony J. Thompson Jr., 17, was sitting in a bathroom at Knoxville’s Austin-East Magnet High School when officers entered to arrest him on April 12 after the mother of his ex -xicota filed a formal complaint for domestic abuse.
When told to put his hands on his back to be handcuffed, the teenager suddenly struggled as he looked for a handgun in his hooded sweatshirt, which he fired during the fight.
Officer Jonathon Clabough saw the gun “with Anthony Thompson’s hand” in his ass and “thinks, ‘I’m about to die,'” Knox County District Attorney Charme Allen said. published the images during a two-hour press conference on Wednesday.
Clabough can be seen pulling out his gun and shooting Thompson in the shoulder, firing again as Thompson fell to the ground with the officers surrounding him.
The teen’s gun fell to the ground during the fight, but all officers said they did not know at the time, and assumed he had it in his hand ready to fire.
Clabough’s second shot accidentally hit police officer Adam Wilson in the leg, a wound that officers initially thought was from Thompson’s shot, Allen said.
The images showed another student in the bathroom also with his fist held on the floor, where he can be heard screaming in anguish when he sees the blood coming out of his classmate’s body.
At least three more Austin-East students have died during gun violence this year, officials said.
A forensic doctor report showed that because of the way Clabough shot Thompson, there was nothing the school agents or nurse could have done to save his life.
“This is a self-defense case,” Allen insisted when announcing that no charges would be filed.
“It was not an easy case; it was not cut clean, “he said, adding that” at the end of the day, we found Agent Clabough’s shooting justified. “
Knoxville police chief Eve Thomas said in a statement that she was grateful that the investigation determined that the actions of her officers were justified and that they were “free from any harm.”
Thompson’s family spent four hours with Allen that same day before reviewing all the details of the images, he said.
Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon said she had contacted Thompson’s family to express their sympathy, but they did not want to meet with her.
“My heart goes out to the family of Anthony Thompson Jr. and also to the other families of children who have lost their lives in other circumstances, all in such a short time, all from the same school. It’s heartbreaking, ”he said.
The family is represented by Ben Crump, the civil rights lawyer who also helped George Floyd’s family.
“Again, when a black person is killed, in this case a black child, the police quickly shape a story to justify the death,” Crump had said that on Monday, before the images were released
After stopping face-to-face classes due to the most recent filming, students will return on Thursday.
With publishing cables