MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Hours after police released an autopsy report that ruled the shooting death of a young man in the back of a patrol car was a suicide, dozens of the man’s supporters and relatives gathered Monday night in Memphis for a candlelight vigil.
The report from the Arkansas state crime lab says Chavis Carter, 21, tested positive for methamphetamine, anti-anxiety medication and other drugs. It ruled his death a suicide and says the muzzle of a handgun he apparently concealed from arresting officers was placed against his right temple when it was fired.
Instead of focusing on the newly released report, some supporters at the vigil were asking more questions.
“How (did) he shoot himself in his right temple and he (was) left-handed? In handcuffs?” one of his friends, Bianca Tipton, asked.
The state crime lab report, released to The Associated Press and other news organizations under a public records request, didn’t answer that question.
Instead, the report says Carter’s death was ruled a suicide based on autopsy findings and investigative conclusions from the Jonesboro Police Department, which has faced questions from Carter’s family and community members about the circumstances surrounding the July 28 death.
“He was cuffed and placed into a police car, where apparently he produced a weapon, and despite being handcuffed, shot himself in the head,” the report says.
The report also says Carter’s blood tested positive for at least trace amounts of the anti-anxiety medication diazepam and the painkiller oxycodone. His urine test returned a positive result for marijuana.
Benjamin Irwin, a Memphis-based lawyer representing Carter’s family, declined to comment Monday afternoon on the specifics of the toxicology report, calling instead for police to release details of any gunpowder residue or other such tests.
“If those tests were taken … what were the results?” Irwin asked.
On Monday night dozens of Carter family supporters gathered outside the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tenn., for a candlelight vigil.
Carter’s mother, Teresa Carter, wiped her eyes as people spoke about her late son.
“My heart is so heavy,” she said.
She didn’t talk about the autopsy results as she addressed the small crowd, but others did. One man read part of the autopsy report as he stood at the podium and some continued to demand answers about how Chavis Carter died.
Police have said officers frisked Carter, 21, twice after a traffic stop without finding a gun before he was fatally shot, but the department’s internal investigation continues. The FBI also is monitoring the case, and the local branch of the NAACP has called for a thorough investigation into the death of Carter, who was black. Two other men who were in a truck with him during the stop and the two officers who were on the scene are white, according to police.
The autopsy report comes days after police released dashboard camera video recorded the night Carter was shot in Jonesboro, about 130 miles northeast of Little Rock. Part of the video shows Carter being patted down and ends before officers found Carter slumped over and bleeding in the back of a patrol car, as was described in a police report. Police later released additional video they said was recorded after Carter was found.
Source: Associated Press
August 21, 2012 at 7:32 am
This does not make any sense, how can you shoot yourself and you hands behind your back cuffed, the Police did that. God please revile the truth. Bless the family and friends
August 24, 2012 at 3:56 am
I find this extremely hard to understand. There has to be more details about this situation that they (Police department) are not releasing. I know it is probably to protect their department. I know the truth will come out sooner or later. I just cannot understand how they can say this young man shot himself while sitting in the back of a crusier. I know they do not think the public is stupid and no one will challenge this. I can understand in the heat of effecting a search warrant you handcuff suspects without really searching them. When it come time to transport an officer always conducts a search prior to placing a supect in his or her unit. That is police 101. I hope justice is given to this young mans family and soon!
August 25, 2012 at 6:46 am
Nothing hard to understand here really..
The message being sent by ALL police departments accross the nation and the world is that they have the right to kill you, period. What we have to remember is that our rights under the constituton are all but gone. These are scare tatics designed to instill fear and compliance of the masses(you and I).
If something doesn’t make sense then it’s usually not true. The young man was just on the phone with his girlfriend telling her he’ll call from the police station. He was searched and cuffed. Any nigga thats been frisked and arressted knows how thorough the faggot ass cops rub you down and grope you in their search for weapons or drugs so we don’t buy that these cops missed the gun on this young man’s person.
Black america.. It’s truly time to wake up..