50% Off! Beat the market in 2025 with InvestingProCLAIM SALE

Civil rights lawyer Ben Crump to represent family of Black man killed by N. Carolina officer

Published 01/11/2022, 01:44 PM
Updated 01/11/2022, 06:55 PM
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Attorney Ben Crump speaks during a news conference outside the Glynn County Courthouse while Greg McMichael, his son Travis McMichael and William "Roddie" Bryan are tried over the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, in Brunswick, Georgia, U.S., November
HWKN
-
TWTR
-

By Rami Ayyub and Tyler Clifford

(Reuters) - Prominent U.S. civil rights attorney Ben Crump said on Tuesday he will represent the family of a Black man who was shot dead by an off-duty North Carolina deputy over the weekend in an incident that has drawn protests against police violence.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) said it is investigating the Saturday killing of Jason Walker, 37, in Fayetteville, a city about 100 miles (161 km) east of Charlotte. The deputy involved, Jeffrey Hash, was put on administrative leave, local media reported.

Police in Fayetteville say that Walker had run into traffic and jumped on a moving vehicle before being shot by the driver, who they said then called 911.

Fayetteville Police Chief Gina Hawkins (NASDAQ:HWKN) later said a black box taken from Hash's pickup truck showed no impact had happened, local media reported.

Announcing that he had been retained by Walker's family, Crump, who represented the family of George Floyd after he was killed by former Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin, disputed the Fayetteville Police account.

"At the crux of the matter, was Mr. Walker shot in the back as he tried to return home? His parents lived across the street, less than 100 yards away," Crump's firm said on Twitter (NYSE:TWTR).

"We stand committed, with the family and the young son that Jason Walker left behind, to find answers as to what happened to him when he was senselessly shot and killed by off-duty deputy Jeffrey Hash," Crump was quoted as saying.

Reuters was not immediately able to reach Hash or a lawyer representing him for comment.

At a protest outside the Fayetteville Police headquarters on Sunday, demonstrators chanted, "Say his name! Jason Walker!," and heard remarks from a woman who said she was an eyewitness to the incident. She disputed the police account.

"He was not acting crazy, he didn't jump on traffic. That officer - murderer - shot him, hit him with his car. How would Jason jump onto a big truck?," the eyewitness, identified on social media as Elizabeth Ricks, told demonstrators.

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Attorney Ben Crump speaks during a news conference outside the Glynn County Courthouse while Greg McMichael, his son Travis McMichael and William

Asked for comment, the FBI said it was aware of the shooting death investigation in Fayetteville and that it is in regular contact with local authorities in North Carolina.

"If, in the course of the North Carolina SBI investigation, information comes to light of a potential federal violation, the FBI is prepared to investigate," FBI spokesperson Shelley Lynch said.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.