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Austin-East Magnet High School shooting

From EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki


Austin-East Magnet High School shooting
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DateLua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 665: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
Deaths1 (Anthony J. Thompson Jr.)[1]
Non-fatal injuries
1

On April 12, 2021, at around 3:15 pm EDT, an officer-involved shooting occurred at Austin-East High School in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States. A 17-year-old African-American student, Anthony Thompson Jr, was shot and killed by the police during an armed struggle in the school's bathroom as the police were responding to a domestic violence call involving Thompson. Another police officer was wounded by a friendly fire shot, that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation originally incorrectly blamed on Thompson.[2][3] After a controversy surrounding the police body camera footage in the case, the DA Charme Allen released the footage and other video evidence on April 21 and announced that no officers involved in the incident would face any charges.[4] The event resulted in ongoing racial justice protests in the community.[5] Anthony Thompson's family is represented by Ben Crump, a prominent national civil rights lawyer representing the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Daunte Wright.[6][7]


Incident[edit]

On April 12, 2021 the Knoxville Police Department responded to an off-campus domestic violence 911 call involving Anthony Thompson Jr, a 17-year-old African-American student at the Austin-East Magnet High School. The call was placed by the mother of Thomson's girlfriend. After visiting the girlfriend's house, a group of KPD officers headed to the school to arrest Anthony Thompson.[8]

Although initial TBI information indicated the police were responding to a report of an armed subject at the school, it was later clarified that the police were unaware that Anthony Thompson was armed.[8]

At the school the police found Anthony Thompson hiding in the school bathroom and confronted him. During a physical struggle that ensued, one shot was fired from Anthony Thompson's gun that went into a trash can, and one of the police officers, officer Clabough, fired two shots, the first that killed Anthony Thompson and the second that wounded officer Willson [9][10] An unarmed student was present in the bathroom in an adjacent stall, and that student was handcuffed afterwards as he was creaming for the police to help the injured Anthony Thompson.[10] The police officer shot was an Austin-East school resource officer.[11] It took four minutes for the school nurse to arrive and administer medical aid to Anthony Thomson. According to the DA, Thompson's injuries were too severe and were not survivable, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.[8]

Officer Clabough subsequently stated that he could see the barrel of a gun pointing at him from inside Anthony Thompson's pocket. After the DA's investigation it remained unclear if Anthony Thompson's gun fired accidentally.[12]

Contrary to the TBI's initial statements, a subsequent TBI preliminary report, released on April 14, 2021, showed that the bullet that struck the responding officer did not come from the Anthony Thompson's gun.[2][3] This updated TBI report said during the struggle the student's gun was fired, which was followed by the police officers firing twice.[13]

The student was later identified by the TBI as Anthony J. Thompson, Jr, 17.[14][2]

Anthony Thomson is black, as are two of the responding police officers; the other two officers, including the officer who was shot, are white.[15]

The mother of Anthony Thomson's girlfriend stated that he and the girlfriend had a physical fight at her apartment the day of the shooting. The girlfriend's mother called the police about this fight afterwards, and she also texted Thompson and let him know that a police officer would be coming to the school.[16] However, she also stated that she never described Thompson to the police as a person armed with a gun.[6] She stated that the officer, who left her house at about 2:36pm, told her that he was going to the school to arrest Anthony Thompson. This officer was one of the four officers later named by the KPD as having responded to the incident and one of the three officers who called for the release of their bodycam footage to the public.[17] In a later interview to the Knoxville News Sentinel, the girlfriend's mother expressed regret for calling the police.[18]

At a news conference on April 21, 2021 the DA Charme Allen disclosed that the two bullets that struck Anthony Thompson and officer Willson both came from the gun of officer Clabough.[9] Officer Clabough was the only responding officer to fire his weapon. The single bullet fired from Anthony Thompson's gun went into a trash can in the bathroom.[4] Allen also clarified that the officers were responding to a domestic violence 911 call from the mother of Anthony Thompson's girlfriend and that when they confronted him in the bathroom they were not aware that he had a gun.[8]

Response[edit]

Knox County Schools announced that the school would be closed for the following two days.[19] The Austin-East Magnet High School cancelled three more day of classes in addition to that, with the first day of resumed classes, Tuesday, April 20, conducted remotely.[20] The McNabb Center recommended students do "walking, taking deep breaths, yoga," to overcome their "trauma."[21] The Austin-East Magnet High School announced that from April 21 it will begin searching all students upon daily arrival and using metal detector wands when the students pass through security. [22]

After the DA's release of video evidence in Anthony Thompson Jr's death, the school district launched an investigation in the school response to the events preceding the shooting, including the domestic violence report by Anthony Thompson's girlfriend.[23]

Investigation[edit]

The investigation of the shooting is being led by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.[24]

David Rausch, director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, stated that the investigators are reviewing video evidence, including "video evidence from the officers' body-worn cameras," as well as "video evidence from the school itself."[25] All uniformed Knoxville police officers had been issued body cameras 11 days before the shooting. The authorities (the city of Knoxville, the TBI and the DA's office) said that they are not releasing the video evidence to the public at this time, citing legal concerns and the ongoing status of the investigation.[25]

On April 15, 2021 the Knoxville Police Department released the names of the four officers who were involved in the Austin-East Magnet High School incident. The officers have been placed on temporary administrative leave.[26]

On April 17, 2021 Ben Crump, a national civil rights lawyer representing the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Daunte Wright, announced that his office will be representing Anthony Thompson’s family. Crump released a statement denouncing the speed with which the police resorted to the use of force against a person of color in Anthony Thompson's case.[6][7]

At a news conference on April 21, the DA Charme Allen disclosed that the two bullets that struck Anthony Thompson and Officer Willson both cam from officer Clabough’s gun. The DA also announced that her investigation showed that officer Clabough’s actions were reasonable and justified. She announced that the police bodycam footage from the shortage has been shown to Anthony Thompson's family and would now be released to the public.[9] Allen stated that no officers will be charged as a result of the incident.[4] Later at the same news conference Allen released the police bodycam video, text messages, 911 call, and school security footage from the shooting.[4] Knoxville's mayor Indya Kincannon stated that, after viewing the evidence, she agrees with the DA's decision not to charge any of the officers involved.[27]

Lakenya Middlebrook, the executive director of Knoxville's Police Advisory and Review Committee (PARC) subsequently clarified that after the Knoxville Police Department completes its portion of the investigation of the incident, PARC will have the opportunity to review the findings of that investigation regarding whether the KPD policies and procedures were properly followed and whether any disciplinary actions against the officers involved should be recommended.[28] During the internal KPD review of the shooting the four officers involved remain on administrative leave. The subsequent PARC review would only have the power to make recommendations but not enforce any decisions.[29]

Body cam footage release controversy[edit]

In the evening of April 14 protesters gathered outside of the Knox County Board of Education meeting to demand the release of police body camera footage from the shooting as well adoption of other measures to address the gun violence, including installing metal detectors at the Austin-East school.[30] Anthony Thompson was the fifth Austin-East Magnet High School student to die from gun violence in 2021, although the other four students died away from the school grounds.[30] On April 14, 2021 Knoxville's mayor Indya Kincannon released a statement indicating that she supports making public the police body cam footage from the shooting and that she made the corresponding request to the Knox County DA Charme Allen but that that request was denied.[31]

On April 15 Knoxville Police Chief Eve Thomas joined the call for releasing the bodycam footage from the shooting to the public. The Knox County DA Charme Allen stated earlier the same day that she won't release the footage until the investigation is concluded and the video is shown to Anthony Thompson's family.[32]

On April 16 the law firm representing three of the four officers involved in the incident released a statement saying that these three officers also want the bodycam video footage released to the public.[33] On April 16 a group of more than 150 Black Lives Matter protesters,[34] marched through downtown Knoxville to the Knoxville Police Department headquarters for a rally demanding the release of body camera video from the Austin-East Magnet High School shooting.[35] Also on April 16, Charles Swanson, Knoxville's City Law Director, filed a petition in Knox County Criminal Court asking the court for permission to release redacted video footage from the shooting.[36][7]

During the Knox County Commission meeting on April 19, seven racial justice protesters calling for the release of the police bodycam video from the Austin-East shooting interrupted the meeting and were arrested.[37]

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation stated that it cannot legally release the video footage from the shooting until the "conclusion of the prosecutorial function,” as determined by the DA.[7]

On April 20 the Knoxville branch of NAACP held a news conference outside of the Austin-East Magnet High School calling for the release of body camera video from the shooting.[38] Also on April 20, several news media outlets filed a joint motion in Knox County Criminal Court asking for the release of the police body camera footage from the shooting.[39]

On April 21, 2021 the DA Charme Allen released the bodycam footage to the public in a news conference after completing her investigation of the shooting and showing the video to Anthony Thompson's family.[40]

Anthony Thompson's family stated that they wanted the video footage released but not until after his funeral, and that they disagreed with the DA's conclusion that the officers' actions were justified.[41] A protest march by community activists followed the DA's announcement and release of evidence.[42]

Further community reaction[edit]

After the DA's release of video evidence in Anthony Thompson Jr's death and the announcement that no officers involved would be charged, escalating racial justice protests took place in Knoxville on April 21 and April 22. Both protests attracted hundreds of people and included calls for police reform and for justice in Thompson's name.[43][5] Local faith leaders called for peace while other community leaders and activists called for more marches and demonstrations.[44] More protests regarding Anthony Thompson's case were being planned for the upcoming weekend with the KPD and Knoxville city authorities making safety plans for the protests.[45] Additional racial justice protests regarding Anthony Thompson's death took place in Knoxville on April 24[46] and April 25.[47][48] The Sunday, April 25 protest, titled ‘Arrest The Cops That Killed Anthony Thompson Jr.’, proceeded from Mount Zion Baptist Church to what the organizers incorrectly believed was the home of DA Charme Allen.[47]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ "Officer wounded in Tennessee school wasn't shot by student's gun". abc11.com. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Bullet that injured Knoxville officer not from student's handgun, per TBI's preliminary findings". WRIC. 2021-04-14. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Rich Barak (2020-04-14). "Tennessee student involved in shooting at high school ID'd". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Caleb Wethington (2021-04-21). "DA Allen: No officers will be charged after fatal officer-involved shooting at Austin-East". WATE-TV. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Dom Calicchio (2021-04-23). "Knoxville sees second night of protest over Anthony Thompson Jr. shooting death: 'Enough is enough'". Fox News. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Nina Golgowski (2021-04-19). "A Tennessee Teen Was Killed By Police Inside His School. Here's What We Know". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Adrian Sainz (2021-04-19). "Pressure mounts for release of Knoxville shooting video". Associated Press. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Melanie Vásquez Russell (2021-04-21). "TIMELINE: What the district attorney says led to the officer-involved shooting at Austin-East". WATE-TV. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Lauren Meyers (2021-04-21). "Body cam footage of fatal Austin-East officer-involved shooting to be released, says DA Charme Allen". WVLT-TV. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Kimberlee Kruesi (2021-04-21). "DA: No charges against officer in Tennessee school shooting". Washington Post. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  11. ↑ Aaron Feis (2021-04-12). "1 teen killed, cop wounded in shooting at Knoxville, Tennessee high school: police". New York Post. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  12. ↑ Wilson Wong (2021-04-23). "No charges for officer who fatally shot Tennessee high school student". NBC News. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  13. ↑ "Bullet that struck Knoxville officer not from student's handgun per TBI's preliminary findings". WJHL. 2021-04-14. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
  14. ↑ Lauren Meyers and Alivia Harris (2021-04-12). "Student at Austin-East High School identified as suspect, killed in shooting". WVLT-TV. Retrieved 2021-04-12.CS1 maint: Uses authors parameter (link)
  15. ↑ "What happened in Knoxville school shooting? Was officer shot by police or student?". Al.com. 2021-04-16. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  16. ↑ "Tenn. student killed at Knoxville school fought with girlfriend before deadly police shooting, girl's mom says". ABC 7 Chicago. 2021-04-18. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  17. ↑ Kathering Fung (2021-04-19). "Regina Perkins, Mother of Anthony Thompson Jr.'s Girlfriend, Regrets Calling Police Who Shot 17-Year-Old". Newsweek. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  18. ↑ Rick Rojas (2021-04-23). "One High School, Five Students Fatally Shot". New York Times. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  19. ↑ Kay Jones (2021-04-12). "Austin-East Magnet High School will be closed for two days". Retrieved 2021-04-12.CS1 maint: Uses authors parameter (link)
  20. ↑ Isabel Lohman (2021-04-14). "Austin-East Magnet High School cancels three more days of classes after student's death". Knox News. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
  21. ↑ https://www.wbir.com/article/news/education/balancing-academics-and-trauma-as-students-prepare-to-return-to-austin-east-high-school/51-a89e5665-95bc-4444-bbf7-3189c46ddd18
  22. ↑ Lauren Meyers (2021-04-19). "Austin-East Magnet High School will search students and use metal detector wands beginning on Wednesday". WVLT-TV. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  23. ↑ Summer Dashe (2021-04-22). "Questions arise after Anthony Thompson Jr. seen roaming campus prior to Austin-East shooting; school launches internal investigation". WATE-TV. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  24. ↑ Cole Sullivan (2021-04-14). "What we know — and don't know — about high school shooting that killed 17 year-old". WBIR-TV. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Travis Dorman (2021-04-13). "Knoxville police body cams record first high-profile case, and authorities sit on video". Knox News. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
  26. ↑ Dalisa Robles (2021-04-15). "KPD releases names of officers involved in Austin-East Magnet HS shooting; placed on temporary administrative leave". WBIR. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  27. ↑ Caleb Wethington (2021-04-21). "Mayor Kincannon says decision to not charge officers is 'fair'". WATE-TV. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  28. ↑ Jordan Brown (2021-04-22). "Police Advisory and Review Committee offers insight into what's next upon completion of Anthony Thompson Jr. Investigation". WATE-TV. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  29. ↑ Jamie Satterfield (2021-04-23). "KPD will conduct internal investigation into policies surrounding teen's shooting death". Knox News. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Isabel Lohman and Monica Kast (2021-04-14). "Protesters demand body camera footage, ask for metal detectors after Anthony Thompson shooting". Knox News. Retrieved 2021-04-15.CS1 maint: Uses authors parameter (link)
  31. ↑ Caleb Wethington (2021-04-14). "DA Allen denies Mayor Kincannon's request to release Austin-East bodycam footage". WATE. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
  32. ↑ Travis Dorman and Sarah Riley (2021-04-15). "Knoxville Police Chief Eve Thomas calls for release of bodycam video from teen's shooting". Knox News. Retrieved 2021-04-15.CS1 maint: Uses authors parameter (link)
  33. ↑ John North (2021-04-16). "KPD officers: Release bodycam video from our confrontation with A-E student". WBIR. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  34. ↑ Saul Young (2021-04-16). "Black Lives Matter protest in Downtown Knoxville". Knox News. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
  35. ↑ "Demonstrators gather in downtown Knoxville to demand release of Austin-East body camera video". WBIR. 2021-04-16. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  36. ↑ "There's no reason Austin-East bodycam video can't be released, top media lawyers say". Knox News. 2021-04-17. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
  37. ↑ "Seven arrested during Knox Co. Commission meeting after rally called for release of Austin-East shooting bodycam video". WBIR. 2021-04-19. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  38. ↑ Dalisa Robles (2021-04-20). "'We are heartbroken'. NAACP joins the call for release of bodycam video in Austin-East shooting". WBIR. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
  39. ↑ Amanda Hara (2021-04-20). "WVLT, Knoxville news outlets, request release of police body camera video from deadly officer-involved shooting at Austin-East High School". WVLT-TV. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
  40. ↑ Jamie Satterfield (2021-04-21). "No charges for Tennessee officer who fatally shot Black student in high school bathroom". USA Today. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  41. ↑ Amelia Young (2021-04-21). "Family of Anthony Thompson Jr. demands justice after District Attorney says shooting was justified". WBIR-TV. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
  42. ↑ Caleb Wethington (2021-04-21). "Community marches following release of bodycam video of officer-involved shooting at Austin-East". WATE-TV. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
  43. ↑ Ryan Wilusz and Aaron Torres (2021-04-22). "On second night of protests over police shooting, community says 'enough is enough'". Knox News. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  44. ↑ Amelia Young (2021-04-22). "Faith leaders call for peace as demonstrators march after DA announces no charges for officers in Austin-East shooting". WBIR-TV. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  45. ↑ Katie Inman (2021-04-23). "Knoxville police and city leaders outline safety plan for protests". WBIR-TV. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
  46. ↑ Curtis Carden and Austin Martin (2021-04-24). "Protests continue over the weekend in Knoxville following the death of Anthony Thompson Jr". WATE-TV.
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 "Multiple agencies respond to protest in Knox Co. community". WVLT-TV. 2021-04-25. Retrieved 2021-04-25.
  48. ↑ "Protesters call for justice in death of Anthony Thompson Jr., end of violence in community". WBIR-TV. 2021-04-25. Retrieved 2021-04-25.


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