Louisville Metro Mayor Jerry Abramson met yesterday with the mother and stepfather of a man, 19, who was fatally shot by a police officer Jan. 3 during what police say was an undercover drug buy. The Louisville Courier-Journal says that the meeting did little to ease tensions over the death of Michael Newby.
“It’s still the same mumbo jumbo,” said Newby’s stepfather, Jerry Bouggess, who said he complained that the officer who shot Newby is on a paid suspension. The mayor said, “I have questions in this case, but we have a system. Unfortunately, they didn’t feel the system was sufficient.”
Police Chief Robert White has said officer McKenzie Mattingly and Newby were struggling over Mattingly’s service handgun when the weapon discharged. Police said Newby ran and that Mattingly fired four times, striking Newby three times in the back and killing him.
Abramson said the “decibel level” of the meeting was higher than earlier discussions he has had with people concerned about the shooting. Abramson would not comment on demands made by critics, except to say that White has considered having officers use stun guns.
Link: http://www.courier-journal.com/localnews/2004/01/28ky/met-front-march01280-6172.html