A teen was killed at a protest. New video evidence upends the story : NPR
Key Points:
- In the early hours of June 29, 2020, during the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP) in Seattle, a stolen white Jeep drove erratically near protest tents, sparking panic and gunfire involving armed protesters and security volunteers.
- Antonio Mays Jr., 16, was fatally shot along with two other teenagers in the Jeep; no weapons or gunfire were found to have come from the Jeep, and the shooting was widely characterized by protesters as self-defense against an attack.
- Despite extensive video evidence and an 18-month joint investigation, no arrests or charges have been made in Antonio Mays Jr.'s killing, and the case remains unsolved with police urging witnesses from CHOP to come forward.
- The chaotic aftermath saw protesters and medics attempting to treat the wounded without police intervention, and the crime scene was disturbed before detectives could properly process it.
- The incident highlights the complexities and tensions within the CHOP zone, which existed for 23 days after Seattle police abandoned a precinct amid racial justice protests, and underscores ongoing challenges in addressing violence and accountability in such protest environments.