Fatal shooting of black man by El Cajon police sparks outrage, protests

SAN DIEGO — El Cajon police said Tuesday evening that officers shot and killed a black man earlier in the day after he raised both hands clasping an object in a manner that looked as if he was holding a gun. “The subject has passed away as a result of his injuries,” El Cajon police said…

3 thoughts on “Fatal shooting of black man by El Cajon police sparks outrage, protests”

  1. The San Diego regional office of the Anti-Defamation League issued this comment:

    The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today expressed its profound concern and deep sadness regarding the shooting death of an African-American man by El Cajon police on Tuesday afternoon. The victim has been identified by relatives and protesters as 30-year old Alfred Olango.

    Tammy Gillies, the Regional Director of the San Diego office made the following statement:

    “Our hearts go out to Mr. Olango’s family and friends. We share in the community’s sorrow and join calls for an open and thorough investigation. Any death at the hands of law enforcement must be carefully reviewed. We urge the San Diego County District Attorney’s office and the El Cajon Police Department (ECPD) to not only conduct an expeditious investigation but also to ensure transparency with regard to the findings. We also hope this tragedy galvanizes ECPD to supply all of its officers with body cameras.

    Investigations after the fact, however, are not enough. ADL supports larger reforms to prevent tragedies like this in the future, including increasing anti-bias training for law enforcement, building police departments that mirror the racial and ethnic makeup of the communities they serve, and promoting dialogue between law enforcement and the diversity of communities in San Diego.

    We will work tirelessly, both with the community and with law enforcement, to enact meaningful reforms that safeguard the lives of and improve trust between law enforcement and the communities they have sworn to serve and protect.

  2. United States Attorney Laura Duffy issued the following comment:

    “We are aware of the incident involving the death of Alfred Olango and are in regular contact with local authorities. If in the course of the local investigation, information comes to light of a potential federal civil rights violation, the Justice Department is prepared to review.”

  3. Mara Elliott, chief deputy city attorney of San Diego, and a candidate for city attorney, issued this statement:

    SAN DIEGO – Mara Elliott today issued the following statement in response to the officer involved shooting in El Cajon that resulted in the death of Alfred Olango:

    “As we’ve seen in other communities, San Diego is now searching for answers to the tragedy in El Cajon. Our communities are struggling to understand the events that led to Alfred Olango’s death.

    “I have full faith that our law enforcement agencies will investigate this tragedy fully and as swiftly as possible.

    “I also believe that this tragic shooting underscores the importance of building trust between police and the community. We need greater understanding on both sides.

    “Investigators should release the video of the Olango shooting without delay so that concerned citizens can understand what happened. Prompt release of the video will send a message that San Diego law enforcement is committed to transparency, accountability and justice for every community.”

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