Connecticut prosecutors have released videos showing the police fatal shooting of an 18-year-old man, and just hours later protesters gathered outside the police department.
People who came out Friday demanding “Justice for Chulo” said now that they’ve seen that video, they’re further convinced that the shooting wasn’t justified, and that the officer who fired on the teen needs to be fired and convicted.
“You see him pulling off, going this way and the cop is running, coming to his car with his gun out. I would be scared too. You fire two shots straight into the windshield,” said Hartford resident Indriannied Rosado.
Friends of Anthony “Chulo” Vega said what they see in the just-released dash camera footage from the deadly police shooting wasn’t a justified use of a force, but instead, a murder.
“This cop that shot him meant to kill him. That cop meant to kill him,” Rosado said.
That feeling prompted dozens of people to gather for another night of protest in Wethersfield, calling for the firing of Officer Layau Eulizier for the April 20 shooting.
Demonstrators began with a rally in front of the police department, before heading inside to demand town leaders answer their questions.
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A lieutenant from the department told the protesters that while he understands their anger, he couldn’t speak about the investigation.
“From the bottom of my heart, I am truly sorry for the loss of this individual, and I mean that from my heart,” Lt. Michael Connolly told the demonstrators. “It’s really not difficult to stand up here and not comment on something like this. And it is. It’s a truly tragic event. But from the State’s Attorney’s office we are not allowed to comment on the case whatsoever.”
Later, the demonstration moved to the street, marching down Silas Deane Highway, the same road where Vega’s life ended, to the home of Wethersfield Mayor Amy Morrin Bello.
Despite repeated demands, the group received no response from the mayor and it is unclear if she was home.
But the group said what they’ve seen in the dash cam video is not right, and that they’ll keep speaking out.
"You can be here today, gone tomorrow. Bullets have no name. What if they didn’t hit Chulo and they hit an innocent bystander, then what?” asked one Hartford resident named Jasmine.
Leaders of tonight’s protest said that they’re reconvening to discuss how they’ll move forward. They said there will be more public actions until they get the answers they’re seeking.
