Brandon Webber: Memphis Neighborhoods Reckoning With Several Officer-involved Shootings
Phillip Jackson, Memphis Commercial Appeal
11:13 p.m. CT June 13, 2019
Quintasia Turner, a friend of Brandon Webber, reacts to Wednesday's shooting. Phillip Jackson, The Commercial Appeal
Casio Montez and Frank Gottie were standing outside of a home on the 2000 block of Durham Avenue the day after 20-year-old Brandon Webber was shot and killed by a U.S. Marshal Wednesday night.
Close to 100 people gathered outside of the home in the Frayser neighborhood on Thursday. Many were playing music out of their cars, mothers were embracing young children and other family and friends hugged each other for emotional support.
Montez led a circle speaking to people gathered at the home.
This was not Montez or Gottie's first time witnessing family and friends mourn over loved ones killed or critically injured by officers in their own community over the last 10 months.
After witnessing reaction of the community following Webber's killing, Gotti and Montez don't think the local law agencies are absolved from the situation.
"At the end of the day, all of them are law enforcement and they are supposed to protect and serve, but they are out here killing us and getting away with it. People are hurt, man. These are their loved ones," Gottie said.
'Stuff is being swept under the rug'
Over the last year and a half, several recent officer-involved shootings have caused strife in Memphis neighborhoods city-wide with law enforcement.
Montez recalled when Martavious Banks, 26, was shot by Memphis Police Officer Jamarcus Jeames, 26, in the back twice during a traffic stop on Sept. 17 in South Memphis, according to Banks' lawyers. Banks survived the shooting but was critically injured.
Jeames, and other officers at the scene, did not have body cameras operating during the shooting. He later resigned from the department while two others were reprimanded, and Banks was indicted on several charges May 10.
Gottie had spoken personally with the family of D'Mario Perkins, 29, who was shot and killed by MPD officers David Reinke and Brandon Barnes on July 25 during a traffic stop.
Reinke later resigned from the department on May 5, and Perkins' investigation was completed the same month by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations.
On Jan. 2, 20-year-old Abdoulaye Thiam was shot and killed in Whitehaven by three MPD officers.
In 2016, 148 complaints were filed against Memphis police officers, according to police records. In 2018, records showed a small increase with 151 complaints filed.
Last year, the Commercial Appeal found that 53 Memphis Police Officers had violated the department's body camera policy since its inception.
"At the end of the day, we know it is stuff being swept under the rug. We know they are covering stuff up," Montez said in an interview. "How many times do we have to keep look at these situations right here?"
Reginald Johnson, 60, a resident who has lived in the Frayser neighborhood for over 30 years, believes that officers showed restraint Wednesday night as rocks were being thrown at cop cars. However, he remembered facing tension from police in Memphis in his life.
Memphis Police officers monitor the scene of unrest following shooting that involved U.S. Marshals that resulted in the death of Brandon Webber in Frayser on June 12, 2019.Buy Photo
Memphis Police officers monitor the scene of unrest following shooting that involved U.S. Marshals that resulted in the death of Brandon Webber in Frayser on June 12, 2019. (Photo: Brad Vest / The Commercial Appeal)
Johnson said the young people in Memphis no longer tolerate killings from police or other officers. The trend of officer-involved shootings has manifested the strain in community relationships the nation saw Wednesday night, Johnson said.
"People are tired. I talk to young folks every day and that is the only thing they talk about is getting even with the police," Johnson said.
11:13 p.m. CT June 13, 2019
Quintasia Turner, a friend of Brandon Webber, reacts to Wednesday's shooting. Phillip Jackson, The Commercial Appeal
Casio Montez and Frank Gottie were standing outside of a home on the 2000 block of Durham Avenue the day after 20-year-old Brandon Webber was shot and killed by a U.S. Marshal Wednesday night.
Close to 100 people gathered outside of the home in the Frayser neighborhood on Thursday. Many were playing music out of their cars, mothers were embracing young children and other family and friends hugged each other for emotional support.
Montez led a circle speaking to people gathered at the home.
This was not Montez or Gottie's first time witnessing family and friends mourn over loved ones killed or critically injured by officers in their own community over the last 10 months.
After witnessing reaction of the community following Webber's killing, Gotti and Montez don't think the local law agencies are absolved from the situation.
"At the end of the day, all of them are law enforcement and they are supposed to protect and serve, but they are out here killing us and getting away with it. People are hurt, man. These are their loved ones," Gottie said.
'Stuff is being swept under the rug'
Over the last year and a half, several recent officer-involved shootings have caused strife in Memphis neighborhoods city-wide with law enforcement.
Montez recalled when Martavious Banks, 26, was shot by Memphis Police Officer Jamarcus Jeames, 26, in the back twice during a traffic stop on Sept. 17 in South Memphis, according to Banks' lawyers. Banks survived the shooting but was critically injured.
Jeames, and other officers at the scene, did not have body cameras operating during the shooting. He later resigned from the department while two others were reprimanded, and Banks was indicted on several charges May 10.
Gottie had spoken personally with the family of D'Mario Perkins, 29, who was shot and killed by MPD officers David Reinke and Brandon Barnes on July 25 during a traffic stop.
Reinke later resigned from the department on May 5, and Perkins' investigation was completed the same month by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations.
On Jan. 2, 20-year-old Abdoulaye Thiam was shot and killed in Whitehaven by three MPD officers.
In 2016, 148 complaints were filed against Memphis police officers, according to police records. In 2018, records showed a small increase with 151 complaints filed.
Last year, the Commercial Appeal found that 53 Memphis Police Officers had violated the department's body camera policy since its inception.
"At the end of the day, we know it is stuff being swept under the rug. We know they are covering stuff up," Montez said in an interview. "How many times do we have to keep look at these situations right here?"
Reginald Johnson, 60, a resident who has lived in the Frayser neighborhood for over 30 years, believes that officers showed restraint Wednesday night as rocks were being thrown at cop cars. However, he remembered facing tension from police in Memphis in his life.
Memphis Police officers monitor the scene of unrest following shooting that involved U.S. Marshals that resulted in the death of Brandon Webber in Frayser on June 12, 2019.Buy Photo
Memphis Police officers monitor the scene of unrest following shooting that involved U.S. Marshals that resulted in the death of Brandon Webber in Frayser on June 12, 2019. (Photo: Brad Vest / The Commercial Appeal)
Johnson said the young people in Memphis no longer tolerate killings from police or other officers. The trend of officer-involved shootings has manifested the strain in community relationships the nation saw Wednesday night, Johnson said.
"People are tired. I talk to young folks every day and that is the only thing they talk about is getting even with the police," Johnson said.
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