Colorado officer who killed Black man holding cellphone mistaken for gun won’t be prosecuted

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October 31, 2024

From The Grio

The victim’s family recognize the injustice of the police officer not facing prosecution (Adobe Stock Images)

DENVER (AP) — A Colorado police officer who fatally shot a Black man holding what turned out to be a cell phone as police tried to arrest him will not be prosecuted, the district attorney announced Friday.

Officer Michael Dieck told investigators that he believed Kilyn Lewis, who was wanted in connection with a shooting in Denver, was holding a gun in his right hand and was about to fire at the officers in neighboring Aurora on May 23, District Attorney John Kellner said in a letter explaining his decision. […]

In a statement posted on social media, members of Lewis’ family said they were “deeply disappointed and outraged” by Kellner’s decision. They said they were not given any notice of it and have not had enough time to fully review his 20-page letter yet.

“This decision is not only a failure of justice but a message that the life of an unarmed Black man like Kilyn means nothing to the very system that is supposed to protect us,” they said.

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