Photos: YouTube
The family of Donovan Lewis, who was shot and killed by Columbus Police (while he was in his bed) in the early hours of Tuesday, August 30, have retained legal help from the Cooper Elliott Law Firm, in Columbus. Wednesday, attorney Rex Elliott released the following statement after the death of Donovan Lewis:
“The bodycam footage released yesterday afternoon says it all. In literally the blink of an eye, a Columbus Police Officer shot and killed Donovan Lewis, an unarmed young Black man who was alone in his bed in the middle of the night. As a result of this entirely reckless behavior by a Columbus Police Officer, a family is left to grieve the loss of such a young soul.
“There have been three police-involved shootings in Columbus in the last eight days, with the last killing Donovan. Frame by frame, the video reveals the truth—three white officers accompanied by an aggressive K9 dog shot an unarmed 20-year-old in cold blood as he sat up in his bed in compliance with police commands. This excessive and completely unnecessary force has become all too common in Columbus.
“Rest assured, we will get justice for Donovan and do everything in our power to stop these senseless killings. There cannot be one more young Black life taken this way. Donovan’s family asks for peaceful support and doesn’t want anyone to repeat the violence CPD showed two nights ago when they killed a son, grandson, brother and friend.”
NAACP President Derrick Johnson also released the following statement regarding the August 30th shooting of Donovan Lewis:
“No one should live in fear of waking up to guns pointed at their face. No one should be murdered while asleep in their own bed. Today, the NAACP mourns the horrifying and heartbreaking loss of Donovan Lewis, another Black life taken far too soon at the hands of those who are tasked with the responsibility to ‘serve and protect’ us.
“Just three short months following the signing of President Biden’s Police Reform Executive Order, another Black life is frustratingly taken at the hands of law enforcement. It becomes more and more apparent to Black America that the systems in place were never intended to ‘serve and protect’ us as our community is constantly failed by them.
“We demand that the Columbus Police Department launch a full scale investigation, and take swift, necessary actions to bring Donovan’s murderers to justice — his family deserves nothing less. Our hearts and minds are with the Lewis family today. We will not rest until the involved officers are held accountable and justice is served.”
