CHILD WARNING Police Fatally Shoot A Black Teenager In Washington(CW)

A federal civil rights investigation is underway after U.S. Park Police fatally shot a Black teenager last month in Washington, D.C., and his family called on authorities Wednesday to charge the officers involved in the incident.

The probe, which was announced after police released videos showing the March 18 shooting that led to Dalaneo Martin's death, comes amid other high-profile cases across the country that have forced departments to re-evaluate their interactions with Black people.

“The loss of a life is always tragic but is especially heartbreaking when it involves a child,” the U.S. attorney’s office said in a statement. “On Saturday, March 18th, 17-year-old Dalaneo Martin tragically died after a shooting involving the U.S. Park Police, and we recognize that the body-worn camera footage just released of his death is extremely upsetting. We extend our condolences to Mr. Martin’s family and friends.”

The statement continued: “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. That investigation—which we are committed to conducting diligently and thoroughly—is ongoing. As this is an open matter, we are not able to provide additional comment or release further information at this time.”

At a news conference Wednesday, attorney Andrew O. Clarke, who is representing Martin's family, invoked the names of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others before he asked how long would the Black community have to endure disparate treatment from police.

"Dalaneo did not have to die," he said. "How long will they be able to hide behind their badge to justify taking a life? How long will we as a community have to continue to have the talk with our young Black children because they are treated differently by police? ... We will continue to pursue justice for Dalaneo with or without the help of the federal government or the District of Columbia."

Police released two body camera videos Tuesday from the vantage point of the officers involved and a 12-minute explainer video that included officers giving medical aid to the driver before emergency medical personnel arrived. One of the two body camera videos is about 37 minutes, and the other is about 29 minutes. Officers’ faces are concealed, and some of the audio is muted.

In the explainer video, Park Police said Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department responded to a suspicious vehicle. The SUV was running, and a driver was sleeping in it. Washington police learned the SUV was stolen, Park Police said.

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/federal-civil-rights-probe-opened-police-fatally-shoot-dalaneo-martin-rcna78341