Hannah Westall
Hannah Westall, 26, was shot and killed by a San Antonio police sergeant.
In March 2019, police were responding a call about an armed woman who was acting erratically. At the scene officers encountered Westall. According to police, she pointed her gun at officers, so one of them fired 5 shots and fatally injured her.
However, body cam video contradicts the police version because at the video Westall is not seen threatening officers with the gun. It was later revealed that she had non-functional replica Uzi BB gun.
In March 2021 Westall’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city and the officer. The lawsuit claims the city makes false statements about fatal shootings to conceal constitutional violations. In July 2021 the shooting investigation was reopened.
MASS MEDIA ABOUT THE CASE:
“The city is directly responsible for this tragedy because of its failure to train its officers like Sgt. Perry in the proper use of deadly force. The city is also directly responsible because it wholly failed to train its officers like Sgt. Perry on proper practices and procedures in responding to calls for persons experiencing mental health issues,” an attorney representing Westall’s family said.
“For two years, the family and I was told that there was no body cam by even SAPD Internal Affairs who was — who they did speak to — that there was no body cam,” an attorney representing Westall’s family said.
CASE STATUS:
The initiative group has requested the clarification from US President Joseph Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland. The initiative group believes it is important to fight against police brutality and, if necessary, will provide legal and financial assistance to the family of the victim.
Letter to Garland
Letter to Biden
