Police
Cjavar Galmon : Unarmed Louisiana Teen Shot & Killed By Off Duty Officer
The family and friends of a teenager who was shot and killed by an off duty deputy, says he was not armed and was just trying to help a friend.
The family and friends of Cjavar Galmon, who was shot and killed by an off duty deputy, says he was not armed and was just trying to help a friend.
18-year-old Cjavar Galmon was shot at a local club in Tangipahoa Parish, La, when a deputy responded to a fight.
As Glamon reached over to help up a friend, he stood with his hands up letting the officer know that he was unarmed.
He was then shot in the face and fell to the ground dead with his hands still in the air.
The family of Cjavar Galmon is questioning the actions of the officer and whether the shooting was justified.
“It’s so hard. They could have sprayed him, mace him or do something besides shoot,” said Galmon’s mother, Willene Briggs.
“I just had got off work and somebody had called, and I jumped and answered the phone and she said, ‘DJ had been shot,’ and I just dropped the phone,” said Briggs.
Briggs says Friday night was the last time she saw her son. She says she went to the popular night club that night to give him money. Neighbors say it’s been a problem spot for quite some time.
“I said I love you, he said ‘I love you too mom,’ and we hugged each other and I went on, and that’s the last time I saw my baby,” said Briggs.
“After the doubt, was the questions, what happened, and after the questions, there was anger. What was said to have lead to what allegedly happened,” said Carlton Galmon, a minister at St. James AME Church in Hammond and the victim’s brother.
“First it was surreal… are you referring to the person that I know as DJ, or is this someone else you’re talking about?” said Galmon.
“I’m hearing more that he reached down to help this child, help him up, and that’s when he turned around, with his hands up, and they got him,” said Briggs.
State police have been called in as a third party witness in the shooting death.
“Our detectives are still looking into it, they are conducting an autopsy today.
The coroner’s office is conducting an autopsy while our detectives are interviewing our witnesses, interviewing the other deputies that were there,” said State Trooper Nick Manale.
According to state police, there were two off duty deputies working security detail the night of the shooting.
A fight began outside the club, and they called for back-up. The officer involved in the shooting was the deputy who arrived on the scene.
“I want justice, I want that done, because they didn’t have to shoot him like that. His hand were up, surrendered — I surrender,” said Briggs.
“And I seen him, I walked over there, and I looked up at him and his hands were still up. His hands were still up,” said the victim’s sister, Kim Brumfield.
The deputy involved is on administrative leave until the investigation is completed. The deputy’s name has not been released.
The results of Galmons’ autopsy are expected to be turned over to state police and included in their investigation.