Race tensions rise as mother demands answers to questions over 'suicide' mystery

The death of a young black man who was shot in the head while handcuffed in the back of a police car has caused uproar among the black community in an American state with deep racial faultlines.

Hundreds have taken to the streets to protest against an official explanation of suicide in the death of Chavis Carter, 21, in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

Mr Carter was pulled over by police late last month and searched twice by officers who discovered a small $US10 bag of marijuana. He was also wanted for skipping probation on another drug charge.

Supporters of Chavis Carter and his family hold signs during the candlelight vigil held in his honour. Photo: AP
He had his hands cuffed behind his back and was put into a patrol car.

Michael Yates, the police chief, has conceded that a "very unusual" chain of events led to the later discovery of Mr Carter slumped in the back of the car with a bullet wound in his head. He later died in hospital. "Suspect shot himself in the head with a gun he had concealed on his person," the police report said.

Mr Carter's family are questioning how he could shoot himself in the head with his hands behind his back. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) released a statement calling for an "unbiased investigation" and added: "The public relies upon police to serve and protect all citizens, no matter their race or ethnicity."

Mr Yates admitted that the case was "definitely bizarre and defies logic at first glance".

But Mr Carter's mother, Teresa, has another explanation. "I think they killed him," she told a local television station. "I mean, my son was not suicidal."

Mrs Carter pointed to two pieces of evidence she believes show that her son did not shoot himself. She says the bullet hole was in her son's right temple - but he was left-handed, making it unlikely that he would have used his right hand to pull the trigger.

She also says that her son had phoned his girlfriend shortly after being pulled over, but before being handcuffed, and told her that he would call her later from jail - hardly indicative of a man who intended to take his own life.

There are two other possibilities; that Mr Carter shot himself by accident while perhaps trying to hide the weapon, or that he was shot by a third party. Police say there is no evidence for the latter theory, but have not ruled it out entirely.

The two white Jonesboro police officers involved in the incident are on administrative duties pending the outcome of an investigation being conducted by the FBI and the police department.

If Mr Carter is found to have killed himself, the officers will have to explain how they searched him twice yet failed to find a weapon before putting him into the car.

Sergeant Lyle Waterworth, of the Jonesboro Police Department, said: "Any given officer has missed something on a search, be it drugs, knife, razor blades. This instance it happened to be a gun."

Mr Yates addressed Mrs Carter's allegations that her son was shot by police in a conversation with The Daily Telegraph.

"I do not pretend to understand a mother's grief and I cannot understand but there is no indication and no factual basis for that as what transpired," he said.

The police have refused to release footage from a camera mounted on the dashboard of the patrol car, but Mr Yates said it corroborated the statements of the officers.

The police report states that the white pick-up truck in which Mr Carter was a passenger, was pulled over shortly before 10pm on July 29 after being spotted driving with its lights off.

After noting a strong smell of marijuana, Mr Carter and his two friends, who were both white, were patted down.

Officers discovered marijuana on Mr Carter and later discovered he was using a false name and had an outstanding warrant against him. He was searched again, handcuffed and put into the back of the car. Moments later the officers heard a "loud thump with a metallic sound". When they checked the car, Mr Carter was "slumped forward with his head in his lap" and covered in blood.

The issue spilled on to the streets on Monday when more than 300 people attended a vigil in his memory. Some carried signs which read: "Justice for Chavis. What really happened?"

Pastor Adrian Rodgers, who helped to organise the vigil, said: "There are certainly some racial concerns that a black man died after being handcuffed and put in a police car by two white officers. There are as many opinions about this as there are people in the city, but we all want the truth. If there were some illegal actions on the side of the officers then we want them held accountable. However, if it was a tragic accident we do not want them to suffer because they were the ones on the scene."

Mr Yates said that suggestions that Mr Carter's race played any part in the incident was not helpful. He said: "I think it is very reckless to make those types of comments without knowing what the facts will bear."

Original report here




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