Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors alleged that the Los Angeles Police Department was responsible for the death of her cousin during a traffic check. Let’s take a closer look at it.
Did LAPD cops kill Keenan Anderson?
According to body-camera evidence, the cousin of Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors was killed by Los Angeles police after being involved in a car accident. He was repeatedly Tased by the responding police and held down in the middle of the street. His family also confirmed this claim.
The video from the altercation on January 3 was released to the public on Wednesday. It showed Keenan Anderson, a 31-year-old father and high school teacher, crying for help as three officers held him down.
When Anderson eventually started running, the cops pursued him on his motorcycle, screaming, “Get down to the ground immediately,” and “Turn over on your stomach.”
Anderson repeatedly cried, “Please assist me,” As many police officers arrived and started to detain him, he said, “They’re trying to kill me.” One of them pushed his weight and elbow on Anderson’s neck as he was on the ground, resting on his back. At that point, the cop shouted over him, “Turn over, or I’m going to Tase you.” While being Tased, Anderson kept pleading for assistance even though the officer told him to stop fumbling.
Keenan Anderson Cause of death
After being Tased by Los Angeles police during a traffic stop, the cousin of Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors lost tragically. In an Instagram homage to her cousin, she asserted that her cousin was one of three people killed by the LAPD this year and that his death was due to police violence.
On January 3, Keenan Anderson, age 31, caused a car collision in the middle of Venice Boulevard. The police sought to conduct a DUI investigation as he was “behaving erratically,” according to the officials. He also tried to escape their hold.
When Anderson refused to cooperate, the police were physically forced to restrain him with their Tasers aid. His ankles were connected, and he was tied with handcuffs.
During the altercation, he experienced a heart attack, leading to his hospital death.
About Keenan Anderson
Cullors claims that Anderson, who leaves behind a young child, was working as an English teacher at the Digital Pioneers Academy in Washington, DC, a city with a high concentration of Black students, while on a trip to Los Angeles. He has previously worked at several other institutions, including a charter school in Watts, Los Angeles.
Following George Zimmerman’s acquittal for killing Trayvon Martin in Florida, three women are credited with starting the Black Lives Matter movement in 2013. One of them is Cullors, a lifetime activist who has spoken out against her brother’s abuse in the LA jail.
Cullors and Advocates question his death
Activists like Cullors and others have questioned whether sending armed police to an accident is necessary. It happened during a car accident.
Instead of treating him like a potential criminal, the police should have called the ambulance, according to Cullors. “My cousin wouldn’t have died if there had been a policy addressing traffic stops by unarmed specialists who arrive on the spot to assist with whatever issue has arisen. And there wouldn’t have been as many other fatalities.
LAPD statement
During a news conference, LAPD Chief Michel Moore asserted that Anderson was being “erratic” and had a “medical emergency” and that a preliminary blood test revealed cocaine and cannabis in his system.
However, no legal reason for their death has been identified, and activists have criticised the government for revealing that information and indicating that drug use contributed to his passing.
Moore, who asserted Anderson was in an “altered mental state,” said it’s unknown what part Anderson’s physical altercation with the officers and the deployment of the Taser played in his tragic death. Moore said that Anderson was the target of ten Taser “activations,” though not all were “effective.” He continued, I will closely monitor how the Taser was used as the investigation goes forward.