CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio — Community members and the family of Christian Thomas, who was fatally shot by members of the Cleveland Heights Police Department last month, gathered to speak Tuesday at Cleveland Heights City Hall.
“We are here standing with the family because, as you have heard and will continue to hear, we want to have transparency in how policing is done and how our communities are governed,” said Kayla Griffin, president of the Cleveland branch of NAACP.
During the press conference, community activists and neighbors all called for transparency in the investigation. They also called for more bodycam footage to be released from the shooting incident that happened on Aug. 29.
“Many of us in the community and including myself, have to go over this pain over and over again. I myself was abused by the police years ago, so when I hear of a case like what happened in Cleveland Heights, I suffer all over again as many of the other young black men and women suffer all over again. That is why we are so saddened that our dear brothers and sisters and family had to go through this same pain," said community activist Art McCoy.
The full press conference can be watched below:
Tuesday afternoon, Cleveland Heights Mayor Kahlil Seren held a press conference in response to the Thomas family one earlier in the day.
3News asked him about the family's frustration on not receiving all the body camera video, and he told us the city will be releasing the footage to Thomas’ family piece by piece, only after each section is approved by the city’s legal team.
“My goal is to get them all of the footage," he said. "That is my goal. My goal is to get them all of the footage and we will do that. Our goal is exactly what theirs is, to get to the truth and providing them with that footage is extremely important to me personally. I’m pushing to get that job done.”
Seren stressed that all body camera footage has been given to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, who is currently investigating the case.
CASE DETAILS
The incident happened on Thursday, Aug. 29, when Cleveland Heights police officers were called to a home in the 1300 block of Yellowstone Road.
Officers were dispatched to the area for a disturbance involving Thomas and his father at around 10 p.m. Police were told that Thomas was pointing a gun at his father and his finger was on the trigger. Voices could be heard on the 911 call, yelling, "Put the gun down!"
When they arrived at the scene, officers were met outside by two females who told them that a gunshot had been fired.
Cleveland Heights Police Chief Chris Britton previously told 3News that officers remained outside the home and heard Thomas's father repeatedly tell his son to take his finger off the trigger. Officers also reported seeing Thomas in the front doorway with a gun in his hand.
Officers then reported hearing a "loud crash," followed by at least one gunshot.
"Christian (Thomas) subsequently exited the home while still holding the gun encountered by CHP officers at the side of the house," Britton explained. "Three CHP officers discharged their weapons, injuring Christian."
Britton said officers "immediately" rendered first aid and CPR, but Thomas died at the scene.
No officers or bystanders were injured. A Cleveland Heights officer reported finding a handgun and shell casing at the scene.
The Ohio BCI is investigating the incident.
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