Delaware DOJ, police release body-worn camera video from shooting of Kadir Skinner
Body-worn camera video from three officers from the night 19-year-old Kadir Skinner was shot and killed by police in Wilmington, Delaware, was released by state and local officials Thursday.
The Delaware Department of Justice said the video is "being disclosed as a matter of public interest." Skinner's family has called for the footage to be publicly released for several weeks.
Videos from cameras worn by three different officers from the night of the shooting were posted on the Delaware Department of Justice's YouTube page. The officers have not yet been identified and are only being referred to as Officer 1, Officer 2, and Officer 3. Viewer discretion is advised.
The Delaware DOJ said the officers involved will be identified "as part of a fully detailed public report and legal analysis following the investigation's conclusion."
The shooting happened near 24th and Jessup streets in Wilmington just after 11 p.m. on June 24. Following the shooting, police said officers were monitoring a large group of people when they saw a young man exit a home with a handgun and point it toward the crowd.
Police said Skinner ran away when approached by officers, and at some point in the chase, an officer fired and hit Skinner. Investigators claimed they recovered a loaded gun from the 19-year-old at the scene.
Skinner's family has questioned the police account of what happened that night and claimed he was running away from a dog when he was shot. Earlier this week, attorneys for the family released cellphone video from the immediate aftermath of the shooting, which they said showed Wilmington Police handcuffing Skinner as he was lying on the ground.
Video from Officer 1's body-worn camera shows an officer handcuffing Skinner while he's facedown on the street. In the video, Skinner can be heard saying, "I can't breathe."
Police are heard calling for medics to treat a gunshot wound before officers pick Skinner up and carry him to a police cruiser.
In another video, an officer picks up a firearm that was found in the grass. An officer is heard yelling to "secure the gun" before the officer takes the firearm and places it in a police vehicle.
"From the video that we saw, we didn't see any weapon in Kadir's hand," attorney Harry Daniels said.
Attorneys for Skinner's family did not confirm nor deny whether he had a gun. Instead, they argued he was not a threat to officers while running away.
"What we saw and what we witnessed was an unjustified killing, an unconstitutional killing," Daniels said.
Delaware Mayor John Carney, Attorney General Kathy Jennings and Wilmington Police Chief Wilfredo Campos released a joint statement saying they're "committed to transparency during this process and to conducting a thorough investigation."
"While body cameras are an important and necessary tool for transparency between law enforcement and the community, they have limitations, and this footage does not capture the totality of the incident. We remain committed to a thorough and complete independent investigation by the DOJ and the internal investigation by WPD," the statement continued. "Our prayers remain with Kadir's loved ones, and all members of our community who have been affected by this tragedy."
Skinner's family says they want justice and accountability, and for the officer who shot Skinner to be charged and prosecuted. They're also seeking $25 million in damages from the city of Wilmington.
