SAN FRANCISCO—On Friday, December 11, new allegations surfaced against the San Francisco Police Department, prompting students across the city to walk out of class and protest in front of City Hall to stand against police brutality.
Civil rights attorney John Burris is filing a wrongful death and federal civil rights lawsuit on behalf of 26-year-old Mario Woods, who was killed after being shot an estimated 20 times for allegedly reaching out his arm to stab one of the officers on December 2.
New reports have indicated that Woods did not reach out his arm as indicated by the SFPD. In a press conference held on Friday, Burris stated that SFPD Police Chief Greg Suhr’s statement was false, and is calling Woods’ death “unnecessary and tragic at the hands of the San Francisco Police Department.”
Woods is said to be a known gang member by SFPD, and he had allegedly been suspected of stabbing a victim on December 2, and was still armed with a kitchen knife at the time of the shooting. During the press conference, Woods’ mother spoke on behalf of her son, stating he was “redeeming himself, he was the best of me.”
According to Burris, the cell phone footage played frame-by-frame shows that Woods had his hands near his sides as the first shot was fired at him. “That person was not committing any crimes, whether he was a suspect or not, that doesn’t give you a basis to unload and use that kind of ammunition as if you’re in a shooting gallery… If you look at the videotape and see it closely, you will see that whatever was happening, he did not raise his hands in any kind of threatening manner before a barrage of shots were reached against him.”
Burris is calling for Suhr to submit his resignation as the police chief continues to defend the SFPD’s use of force. According to Burris, Suhr’s credibility is being called into question, Burris stated “the community deserves better… You should resign.”
The names of the five officers involved in the shooting have been identified as: Antonio Santos, Charles August, Nicholas Cuevas, Scott Phillips, and Winson Seto. All officers are on administrative leave as the investigation continues.
