On April 3, at 1:59, Lee Deante Brown, an African-American man was shot to death by Riverside Police Department officer Terry Ellefson. Ellefson shot Brown twice in the chest while he was down on the ground, according to civilian eye witnesses.
The department's press release states that Ellefson and Officer Michael Stucker had responded to a call regarding a man, either mentally ill or incapacitated, who was yelling and jumping on cars. Stucker arrived at Welcome Inn of America on the corner of Ottawa and University Avenue. Stucker was trying to place handcuffs on Brown when Ellefson arrived. Both officers tased Brown, and one officer(Stucker) hit him in the legs with a baton. The department alleges that Brown grabbed Ellefson's taser away from him and Ellefson shot Brown because he feared it would be used against him. However, several civilian witnesses gave accounts which contradicted the police's version. At least three to four said that they did not see the taser(or anything) in Brown's hand and that they did not believe Ellefson should have shot Brown.
The case is under investigation and the Community Police Review in Riverside, CA is launching its own investigation. On April 12, representatives from the RPD will brief the commission on its own investigation.
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