Family of Black gay teen killed by Baltimore Police demanding answers

Donnell Rochester. (Photo from Instagram)

The family of Donnell Rochester, an 18-year-old gay Black man who was shot and killed by Baltimore Police in February, are demanding that Mayor Brandon Scott and the City’s Police Commissioner Michael Harrison investigate the teenager’s shooting death and also meet with the family.

Tensions are running high over Rochester’s death which occurred on Feb. 19 in northeast Baltimore. According to NBC News affiliate WBAL TV 11 News, BPD officers were on patrol when they found a car registered to Rochester. Officers got out of their vehicle to try and stop the car Rochester was driving because of an open warrant out against him related to an armed carjacking case.

While police body camera video showed officers firing on the car, it’s unclear whether Rochester drove toward officers, as police said he did, or what led up to the officers firing their weapons.

One of the major points of contention for the family is, they allege, that in the aftermath of the shooting, Rochester was left cuffed and bleeding in the street before officers transported him to a local hospital where he died as a result of the gunshot injuries.

In the bodycam footage, released by BPD on Feb. 25 from the four officers involved in the incident, shows that two of the officers fired at Rochester’s vehicle.

Officers are seen getting out of their vehicles and approaching on either side of Rochester’s car. Another officer was also in front of the car. Police claim that Rochester drove forward toward an officer, and that’s when they opened fire.

In the portions of video showing the aftermath of the shooting, one officer asks “Where are you hit at?” He then repeats the question as the other officers try to find the wound. Rochester has trouble responding to the officer. “Are you OK?” another officer asks. “No,” Rochester seems to say.

Last month, Morgan State University students organized a rally with nearly a hundred demonstrators outside Baltimore’s City Hall demanding that they come out and speak with family members who have called for the arrest of the officers involved in the shooting.

Markia Jackson, Rochester’s aunt, told local media that the family is disputing the police’s version of events. In an interview with WBAL TV11, Jackson said she watched the video and found her nephew made no attempt to drive at the officers, saying it was the officers who put themselves in front of the car and then fired.

“He was not trying to hit anyone. That officer tried to place himself in front of that car,” Jackson said.

Jackson said the officers failed to save Rochester and take him to a hospital immediately after the shooting.

“Donnell is still supposed to be here, probably just recuperating. They let him bleed out on that ground, telling him to ‘just breathe, bro, breathe, bro.’ How can you say that when he’s on the ground scared for his life?” Jackson said.

Jackson also said the video shows how scared Rochester was and that he did not deserve to die.

“I’m angry. I’m frustrated. I’m sad because Donnell was just so full of life, and for him to no longer be here is truly, truly depressing for me. It’s truly depressing for me, it is,” Jackson said.

Jackson said they have not heard anything from the city on where the case stands since February.

11 News reported that 2 officers have been placed on administrative leave.