The Delaware Black Caucus is calling for an independent federal investigation into the shooting death of Jeremy McDole by police last month. McDole was in a wheelchair but police say he was armed and reaching for a weapon.
Caucus members, in a statement, wrote that an independent probe would show the incident is being handled fairly and transparently.
"Really, this will make sure to keep confidence in the community that everything was done in an open manner, and that justice was given to the incident," said Delaware Black Caucus chair and Wilmington City Councilwoman Hanifa Shabazz.
The state Department of Justice and Wilmington Police are both conducting their own investigations of the shooting.
AG’s office spokesman Carl Kanefsky told Delaware Public Media in an email that, “it is the responsibility of the Delaware Department of Justice to determine whether the police officers acted in compliance with Delaware law. That investigation by DOJ’s Office of Civil Rights and Public Trust continues and a determination on whether to file state criminal charges will be made by DOJ." The Wilmington Police Department said its investigation remains ongoing. As far as the DOJ's investigation, Kanefsky said "there is no timeline."
But Shabazz says she believes a third investigation is needed.
"We are trusting that they are doing a strong investigation and that they would see the importance of taking it one step further and including a federal investigator," she said.
Shabazz adds that current conflicts between the local community in Wilmington and the Police Department also motivated her group’s call for an independent review.