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Dalaneo Martin shooting: Outrage as video shows US Park Police killing Black boy, 17 in stolen car

The video shows the officer firing shots multiple times from the back seat after Dalaneo Martin fails to stop the car

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers' discretion advised.

WASHINGTON, DC: Police have released bodycam footage showing the moment Black teen Dalaneo Martin was shot dead by a US Park Police officer inside a stolen car in Washington, DC. On March 18, US Park Police joined the Washington Metro Police to confront the driver of a car that appeared suspicious and was parked outside a residential area.

The video shows the cops discussing how to arrest Martin, noting that he could drive away if they are not careful enough. “If he does take off, just let him go,” one of the officers is heard saying before the attempted arrest. Four officers on the scene believed the car was stolen because the ignition was "punched out". 

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What does the bodycam video show?

In the bodycam video, the cops can be seen entering the vehicle to wake up Martin, 17, as he slept. Martin wakes up and and begins to panic as the officers try to arrest him, eventually attempting to drive away. "Get off of me," he can be heard yelling.

One of the cops is thrown from the car as another officer yells at Martin to stop. The suspect is heard shouting back. “Stop, man, just let me out,” the officer yells, pulling out his firearm. “Let me go!” Pointing the gun at Martin, he says, "Stop! Stop or I’ll shoot you!”

The officer shoots multiple times after Martin fails to comply, htitting him in the back. The white Hyundai Tucson crashes into a nearby home. Martin is later seen lying on the grass with two officers trying to aid him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

None of the officers suffered any life-threatening injuries. An internal investigation is now being conducted by the Metro Police Department. The officers involved, who have not been publicly identified,  have been put on administrative leave.

A civil rights investigation into the incident has been opened by the FBI and federal prosecutors. “The loss of a life is always tragic but is especially heartbreaking when it involves a child,” the US Attorney’s Office in Washington said in a statement, according to New York Post. “In coordination with the FBI Washington Field Office, the United States Attorney’s Office has opened a civil rights investigation into the circumstances leading to Mr Martin’s death.”

What is Dalaneo Martin's family saying?

An attorney for Martin's family noted that instruction was blatantly ignored. "The MPD officer specifically told all the officers not to get in the vehicle and if the driver takes off, let him go and do not chase him," Attorney Mathis wrote in a statement. "As a result of this officer's reckless disregard for the advisement from a 20-year police veteran, Mr Martin was murdered. We are now asking for an independent DOJ investigation and for this officer to be held accountable."

Martin was a father of a five-month-old. After watching the video, Martin's mother, Terra Martin, said, according to Fox News, "He murdered my son. I want the name of the officer released to the public and for the officer to be terminated and prosecuted."

His sister, Rahketa Steele said, according to the Daily Mail, "He was the life of the party, my man. My brother deserves justice. My brother deserves to be here." This incident comes soon after the death of Tyre Nichols, a Black man who was beaten to death by five Memphis cops. The incident also follows the murder of Allan Chase, a Utah man gunned down by police in Farmington, Utah, during a traffic stop on March 1.

'The police are here to protect and serve'

The Dalaneo Martin bodycam footage angered social media users, with one of them saying on Facebook, "The officer was told not to enter the car, to let him go if he started to drive, and sneaking up in a sleeping person is a set up to begin with." "Why did a young man need to be killed over an apparently stolen car?" one user questioned, while another said, "13 seconds!!!! The police are here to protect and serve and not to kill and maim". 

"Wow never thought they will take it this far..never," one user wrote, while another said, "So many police officers who should not be police officers. There should be more investigations to dig out the bad apples." One wrote, "Was the car a stolen car? Wonder how each of those officers would react if they were woken up in the same manner."

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