SALINAS LATINO COMMUNITY OUTRAGED BY KILLING
AN UNARMED SALVADORAN IMMIGRANT IS UNJUSTIFIABLY SHOT IN THE BACK AND KILLED BY SALINAS POLICE
SALINAS, CA - Violence has again erupted in the already tension-filled streets of Salinas, CA on late Wednesday afternoon. This newest series of violence and public demonstrations is the result of a highly questionable fatal shooting of an unarmed Salvadorean immigrant in the area of Del Monte Avenue and Sanborn Road which occured on Tuesday afternoon.
There shortly after 9pm, the Salinas police encountered a large crowd of angry Latinos residents with some throwing bottles and rocks at more approaching officers responding to the scene.
Salinas police Deputy Chief Terry Gerhardstein said an officer was struck in the head with a bottle while performing CPR on the dying victim. Since the killing, Salinas officials have urged residents to stay calm saying they'll provide more details about the shooting later today. The community, however, remains on edge as this is the third officer involved shooting by the Salinas police this year. While Latino leadership is also urging for cool heads to prevail, there is an adamant desire for accountability of the police and answers to this continuing problem.
YouTube Video Goes Viral Showing A Much Different Version Than That Of The Police
This latest shooting of an unarmed Latino was recorded by one of dozens of witnesses and subsequently posted on YouTube. Whereas the police have stated that they shot and killed the man because he was allegedly swinging a pair of garden shears toward them. The video footage which has been posted on YouTube shows a much different story. No where in the captured video footage obtained does the unarmed man threaten the police in any way. Rather, what is seen is a man silently walking away who is then shot in the back from behind leading to his death. Police also said the officers tried to use a Taser on the man. Whereas, witnesses are heard screaming in the video including one woman who yelled, “Why the f--- didn’t you guys just taser him? You guys didn’t even try.”
