Chief Promises Investigation After Officer Fatally Shot Man

Inglewood cops indeed another example of shoot first ask questions later. Now this guy has killed two people he will get put on leave and get a full paid vacation for a while. We the public will forget and soon hell be back on the street looking for his third kill. If someone came to my door at that hour banging on the door I would answer it armed also. That's if I owned a gun and I felt my life was in danger which it seems this man did think just that. He was right evidently because he was murdered because of it.

wrong....
if someone comes to the door and they identify themselves as police (and don't think that they didn't), then don't answer the door with a gun in your hand (have it handy but not out in the open). If you doubt that it's a cop, don't answer the damn door. call 911 and verify (yes it's ok to call 911 if you think bad people are outside your door in the middle of the night and you think they are going to hurt you). also, in the video at the guys apartment, he had a peep hole. look out the peep hole and ask for ID. if they don't have one, don't open the door and call 911. don't be so hasty to blame the cop. i heard the 911 tape on tv and the cops did go to the right apartment.
one more thing. it's real hard, if your a cop, to ask questions later...if your dead.

Seriously.. if you feel the need to answer the door with a loaded gun in your hand, and you have been informed it is law enforcement at the door, expect to be shot!
Plus the guy "allegedly" started to raise the gun. I say allegedly because I wasn't there to see the event. ANYONE with two bits of brains should know that this will be percieved and dealt with as an aggressive behavior. I get the feeling this will be determined to be a justified shooting despite the family crying foul.

its doesn't matter any more...people are convinced that the police are evil. they would rather just see the police officer shot and the guy run away. what a sad society we live in.

frenchy wrote:

wrong....
if someone comes to the door and they identify themselves as police (and don't think that they didn't), then don't answer the door with a gun in your hand (have it handy but not out in the open). If you doubt that it's a cop, don't answer the damn door. call 911 and verify (yes it's ok to call 911 if you think bad people are outside your door in the middle of the night and you think they are going to hurt you). also, in the video at the guys apartment, he had a peep hole. look out the peep hole and ask for ID. if they don't have one, don't open the door and call 911. don't be so hasty to blame the cop. i heard the 911 tape on tv and the cops did go to the right apartment.
one more thing. it's real hard, if your a cop, to ask questions later...if your dead.

Have we as Black people ever really just LOOKED at the entire situation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch...

Cops is as CROOKED as the people they chasing!!!

Kevin had a chain lock on his door. he opened it with the lock on and after seeing who it was he closed the door to remove the chain, upon his closing the door and removing the chain the police shot through the door. The bullet struck Kevin, when he fell to the floor ALIVE the police were coming in and after they seen that they had shot him and that he was still alive and that there was no one there, they pummped two more rounds into Kevin, killing him.

Why?

Dead men tell no tales

someguy wrote:

its doesn't matter any more...people are convinced that the police are evil. they would rather just see the police officer shot and the guy run away. what a sad society we live in.

The police are evil.

Who is in a better position to take advantage than those with advantage?

Chief Seabrooks was the right decision for Inglewood when she was appointed and she is the right Chief now for the job..

Kevin's Friend.. I'm sorry.. but you are just speaking from what you believe what happen.. I am more than positive that Chief Seabrooks will handle the situation..

You and the others need to sit back (Najee Ali and other militants).. mourn the lost of our brother but still let due process take it's course.. If the Chief finds that the shooting was not justified, then I am more than positive she will deal with it.. But then again.. If I hear IPD knocking at my door at 12:30 am.. I am going to do one of two things.. Look through the peep hole and confirm.. or call 911 to verify IPD is at my door.. If either of the two exist.. then I will NOT answer the door with a gun in my hand..

Due Process wrote:

Chief Seabrooks was the right decision for Inglewood when she was appointed and she is the right Chief now for the job..
Kevin's Friend.. I'm sorry.. but you are just speaking from what you believe what happen.. I am more than positive that Chief Seabrooks will handle the situation..
You and the others need to sit back (Najee Ali and other militants).. mourn the lost of our brother but still let due process take it's course.. If the Chief finds that the shooting was not justified, then I am more than positive she will deal with it.. But then again.. If I hear IPD knocking at my door at 12:30 am.. I am going to do one of two things.. Look through the peep hole and confirm.. or call 911 to verify IPD is at my door.. If either of the two exist.. then I will NOT answer the door with a gun in my hand..

When has there ever been a incident where a Black police officer has fatally shot a white person?

In the history of America?

In the history of California?

In the history of Los Angeles County?

In the history of the City of Los Angeles?

In the history of the City of Inglewood?

The autopsy has revealed that Kevin was shot three (3) times and that he was in a kneeling/ crouched position when he was shot.

A private investigator has challenged the Inglewood police department with LYING.

And there has been NO COMMENT that has come forth from the Imglewood police department concerning the charges that they are LYING.

It is like déjà vu for the Inglewood Police Department and community as there is yet another officer involved shooting leaving another black male dead. A crowd of approximately 200,(concerned citizens and media) showed up at the Inglewood City Council meeting seeking answers and understanding. Most of the citizens were visibly outraged demanding change within the Inglewood Police Department.

Kevin Wicks The outrage of the public from most of the citizens and family members of the victim stems from the identity of the officer that did the shooting. Officer Brian Ragan, who has been with the Inglewood Police Department about five years, was placed back on administrative leave after the fatal shooting of 38-year-old Kevin Wicks early Monday. Ragan is still under investigation for the death of 19-year-old Michael Byoune on May 11, 2008.

According to the IPD, on July 21, 2008, at approximately 12:20 a.m., uniformed Inglewood Police Officers responded to 124 N. Hillcrest Blvd, apartment #10, pursuant to a radio call of a family disturbance. Upon arrival, the officers knocked on the front door of the apartment and verbally identified themselves as the police.

A male subject, later identified as Wicks, opened the front door. At one point while the door was ajar, the officers observed that Wicks was holding a handgun. Wicks then suddenly raised the handgun at the officers, which resulted in one officer firing his service weapon in self-defense.

Wicks was injured pursuant to the shooting and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. At approximately 1:35 a.m., Wicks was pronounced deceased by hospital staff.

No other occupants were determined to have been inside the apartment during this incident. A loaded semi-automatic handgun was recovered at the shooting scene.

"We are clear about your level of concern and you have every right to be concerned," stated Inglewood Police Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks as she addressed the emotional crowd at the Tuesday night council meeting. "I want you, the community, to know that we are conducting a series of layered investigations," Seabrooks continued. " I ask that you enable us to be transparent and withhold judgement I was open previously and will report back in the near future. told the City Hall audience. Seabrooks 46, came back from vacation to attend the city council meeting, however, she provided no additional information pertinent to the case. She stated it would be "inappropriate to make commentary" at this time.

The Inglewood Police Department is conducting a separate criminal and administrative investigation of the shooting incident. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office was contacted and they are also conducting an independent investigation of the incident.

However, these investigations are not sufficient enough to quell the anxiety of the general public. Mitchell Williams, president of the Inglewood branch of the NAACP stated that the national and local branches of the organization will monitor the process. Several activists indicated that they will also conduct independent investigations.

Numerous times public speakers addressed Seabrooks asking for her resignation. If anyone was keeping tabs on who was in favor of the Chief Seabrooks versus those that asked for her resignation, it resembled a tennis match. One person would say "you should resign" and the next person would offer her support and praise. By the end of the meeting the scales were leaning slightly more towards the resignation side. Although, Chief Seabrooks has been operating under scrutiny because of previous departmental scandals she is now squarely seated on the hot seat. She will have to contemplate every move with priority focus on community safety and relations. Seabrooks will eventually have to address concerns over why Ragan was allowed to return to duty after only 45 days of killing Bourne.

Seabrooks had not appeared in public or responded to the incident until the meeting. "Seabrooks I believe you should be more accountable," said Najee Ali of Project Islamic H.O.P.E. "You spit in the face of every resident of Inglewood by not speaking up sooner." Friends, neighbors and co-workers cannot believe the police version of how the shooting occurred. Although the gun was registered to Wicks, he was described by those who knew him as being very kind. Pointing a weapon at police is not characteristic behavior for Wicks

There appears to be a single bullet hole higher than waist level is visible in the door of his apartment. The hole and small police measuring tapes affixed nearby are the only signs of the violent altercation in the apartment building.

Lonnell Williams, who lives across the hall, said he heard a loud knocking followed by about three shots, and then a police officer telling Wicks he was going to be OK. Williams said Wicks was a friendly man who worked hard and was always very quiet.

"Officers got the wrong apartment and the wrong man," Nadia B. told the media. "My brother was a good man."

Wicks a 19-year employee of the U.S. Postal Service leaves behind two beautiful daughters. He was also a member of the Masons.

Kenya Carter is the mother of 20-month-old Kori Wicks. The visibly shaken Kenya spoke at the council meeting stating, "I would like to see justice served. We need the truth. We need to know what happened. He was a family man. I would like to see justice for the girls' father.

The grandfather of Kori, Fred Carter, Sr. called for Chief Seabrooks resignation. "We're hurting and it's because of you," he said looking directly at her.

Kevin Wicks’ 11-year old daughter, Milan."He lived a good life. It was an accident and you can't do anything about that," said 11-year old Milan Wicks who will miss her dad.

Milan's mom LaShawn Brown, echoed her daughter's sentiments, "He was a great man. What saddens me the most is for Milan to grow up without a father, especially for those big moments, her graduations, wedding, etc. We'll get through this. Kevin will definitely be missed." LaShawn and Milan arrived in Los Angeles on Wednesday they reside in Las Vegas.

Larry Dozier, a spokesman for the Postal Service, said Wicks was a counter sales associate and a distribution clerk who worked afternoons at the West Los Angeles branch, where his mostly female co-workers called him their "teddy bear."

There were many times when emotions were tangible in the chambers. Wicks grandmother, Dorothy Nelson spoke through tears saying, "My daughter is too distraught to be here and that is the reason I'm standing here for her, because she can't come. This was too devastating to her. And the only thing that I'm asking is for justice. I want justice to be done. I'm not against anybody in any kind of way, shape, form, nor fashion."

Wicks, like Byoune, had no problems with police. Ragan was placed on leave after the death of Byoune, who was shot shortly after getting into a car outside an Inglewood fast food restaurant. Officials said at the time the car was driving toward the officers and they believed gunfire was coming from within. The driver was wounded in the leg.

Ragan, who was driving a patrol car, fired four rounds through his own windshield then got out the car and continued firing from behind a wall. Ragan's partner Roman Fernandez also fired several shots.

This is the third officer involved shooting in less than 60 days. On July 1, an Inglewood officer fatally shot a suspect in a confrontation after a radio call about gang members trespassing led to a foot pursuit down an alley. A police statement said money and narcotics fell from the person, and the shooting occurred in an alcove as the officer tried to take the suspect into custody.

http://www.inglewoodtoday.com/index.php...

Where is my post on this story?

Kevins Friend wrote:

<quoted text>
The police are evil.
Who is in a better position to take advantage than those with advantage?

what a view point. says a lot about your character.

talking about yourself, i gather.

Inglewood policemen who are friends of murdered Kevin Wicks, you need to do what is right...You are working alongside the shooter...So make something up...ooo...What the police investigation does not and will not reveal is that that Mr Wicks already had his weapon up and pointed at the "thugs." He did not raise the weapon and point it...Four policemen responding to a disturbance call is way out of line...Does not happen even in Compton or Watts...