Tyrell  Wilson

Police shot Tyrell Wilson, 33, on March 11 in Danville, California while being detained and died of his wounds 6 days later. Wilson’s assassination sparked public protests in the city. Wilson’s family members have already hired a lawyer for a future lawsuit against the police.

According to the investigation, Wilson approached a law enforcement officer with a knife, so the police actions should be considered self-defense and fit into the framework of the law. However, according to the lawyer of the family of the deceased, neither the video nor the testimony of witnesses confirm that Tyrell was armed with a knife.

The video evidence also doesn’t make clear whether Wilson tried to pounce on the police officer or not. “Even if (the knife) was still in Mr. Wilson’s possession at the time of the shooting, the video shows clearly that Mr. Wilson took no aggressive action whatsoever in that time frame.” the victim’s family lawyer stated to the press.

Tyrell’s relatives are convinced that the police officer could well settle the conflict without using his gun, but deliberately chose to shoot. The law enforcement officer who shot Wilson was suspended from service pending investigation and sent on paid administrative leave. In 2018, he also shot a man while detaining him.

At June 2021 Danville police officer pleaded not guilty to charges of voluntary manslaughter and assault with a semi-automatic weapon for a 2018 on-duty fatal shooting.