In a decision drawing outrage from the Filipino American community, a police officer has been cleared of wrong doing in last May’s shooting death of a food worker at a Costco in Loudoun County, Virginia.
ABS CBN reports authorities there have ruled the officer’s were justified in shooting the 38-year old Filipina who had a history of mental illness.
Witnesses say De Leon Scott began acting strangely. Police were called and, according to police, Scott reacted by waving a pizza knife and then charged at them. Officers fired a taser, but they say it failed to subdue Scott so five shots were fired, fatally killing her.
Some media reports have questioned the police account of what happened.
“Law enforcement authorities must be held accountable for negligence and failure to exercise prudence in cases where other options would have saved the life of innocent victims,” Ed Navarra, national chairman of the umbrella National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), said.
You can read more reaction to the ruling in ABS CBN.
from @theedutainer via Twitter: RE: Police officer cleared in shooting death of Filipino American at Costco: Not cool
from @mayashope via Twitter: RE:Police officer cleared in shooting death of Filipino American at Costco: this is just terrible!