On the night of Saturday, July 8th, 45 year old Antwan Lindsey was killed in the stairwell of an east Columbus apartment complex.

Authorities released body cam footage that following Thursday, depicting the events that led up to Antwan’s preventable murder. Shortly after 8 PM, a Sheriff’s deputy who was working a special assignment at the Walgreens on the 3015 E. Livingston Ave., was confronted after a man came into the store panicking. He said that Antwan was furious about his car being towed, and had began to fire at him. At this time, his story cannot be confirmed. However, as his daughter, my father has never senselessly fired a gun. He knows the dangers of them all too well. Despite this, the body cam footage shows Antwan’s clear cooperation, as well as the absence of the gun. He had dropped it during or prior the confrontation with the sheriff. As backup was called, an officer can be heard yelling that Antwan has a gun, while another officer asks “Is that a gun? I can’t tell.” 

Antwan was cornered by officers in the basement hallway, and officers in the upper staircase. He had been receiving orders from both of the units. Logically, it’s impossible for them to say they were unaware of each other’s presence. In addition, taser’s make a loud crackling noise.  After being tased in the chest, Antwan’s body jerked. This caused the officers in the bottom hallway to fire at him rapidly.

Police have not confirmed whether or not the officers on the lower floor were aware of the usage of the taser, but it would be futile to make that claim. These are “TRAINED” officers and deputies. I am sure they can decipher the sound a taser makes when it is being utilized. Franklin County Sheriff Office as well as the Columbus Police have been extremely mystified in this process. They failed to notify the family of a press conference they held following his murder. They are also failing to release the full footage, as it is still under review. Though there is more to be revealed, the events up to his murder reveal that their actions were unjust. They had reason to detain him, but not the validation to fire at him. The two units showed clear lack of communication throughout such a tedious operation. This fault extends to the dispatchers as well, who apparently failed to notify them.

Under Marsy’s Law, the officers and deputies involved will not be revealed to the public.