THE GUARDIAN
William Chapman’s family believes that his case is akin to that of Michael Brown.
However, unlike Brown’s death in Ferguson, Mo., in August, Chapman’s April 22 death barely made a wave among activists and the media, The Guardian reports.
“I feel alone,” Chapman’s mother, Sallie, told the news site. “Because my son is gone and because nobody is trying to help me understand why.”
The 18-year-old, who was unarmed, was suspected of shoplifting and was shot dead following an altercation with Portsmouth Police Officer Stephen Rankin, who in 2011 shot and killed another unarmed man, according to the site.
Virginia’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said that the cause of Chapman’s death was “gunshot wounds of face and chest.”
On April 22 of this year, Chapman was believed to have shoplifted in a Wal-Mart, prompting police response. Rankin fired his weapon twice after the teen allegedly resisted arrest in the superstore parking lot.
Construction workers near the area saw the altercation and told local reporters that the 18-year-old did break free from the officer during an attempted arrest. One worker claimed that the teen “took a couple steps toward the cop like he was ready to fight.”
Source: The Root | BREANNA EDWARDS
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