Family Questions Actions In Deadly Dade Police Involved Shooting
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Amid an investigation into a Miami Dade Police involved shooting, police radio transmissions reveal the moments after the deadly incident.
The officer opened fire, killing 22-year old Kentrill Carraway, after police say he took out a gun.
"Subject down...send me more units too...because we are about five more subjects here," an officer said over the radio.
Carraway's family says he was not armed.
"My baby brother. He meant everything to me. It was my baby. My heart," said Carraway's sister Teshara Carraway.
Miami-Dade Police say Kentrill brandished a gun and the detective in fear for his own safety drew his weapon and gave verbal commands. They say he shot Carraway after he ignored his instructions but Carraway's loved ones have questions about that.
"At the end of the day, I just want justice for my brother. That's it," said Teshara.
"Really don't have words to say right now, I am at a loss for words, taking my son like that," said Kentrill's father Terry Carraway.
Teshara says she is angry her brother was shot and killed by Miami-Dade Police detective George Eugene. Family members said Carraway had a son and two daughters including a 2-year old girl. They said he was known by the street name of 'Lil Elmo.
The mother of one of his children has questions.
"It shouldn't have happened. You don't shoot somebody from behind. Everything on the news right now is a life. He did not pull out a gun. He was sitting on the porch. They rushed him. He turned out and ran," said Makeda Moore.
"We're trying to get to the bottom of what happened. He was not a troubled kid," said Carraway's uncle Clarence Glover.
"I would like you to know he was a good person. He was not a thug. He was a Christian. We want justice," said Carraway's cousin Danyell.
Police say Carraway was hanging out with some of his friends when Miami-Dade Police detectives from the north gang unit including Eugene approached the group at northwest 76th Street and 21st Avenue.
"The officers were conducting a narcotics operation in the area," said Det. Marjorie Eloi with Miami-Dade Police. "The officer observed the male removing a firearm from a waist band at which point the officer did shoot at the male subject, striking him."
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), by policy, investigates all Miami-Dade Police officer involved shootings.
"I can confirm that a firearm was recovered," said Det. Eloi.
Carraway's family says there was no reason to shoot Carraway.
"It's devastating. This was my sister's only child. He was the heart of the family. We are trying to find out what made someone shoot him in the back," said Glover. "I never knew him to have a weapon or bring a weapon with him."
Carraway's loved ones have iPhone video of officers surrounding Kentrill after the shooting and say the video showed no gun on the ground.
"The person that Kentrill was that he would never pull a gun on a police officer," said Teshara. "I have a million questions, like the purpose of preventing the violence was the reason why they created teasers. If he is running and his back is turned why would the first option be a gun?"
"All I want to know is why they shot him in the back. If they shoot at him and he runs there is no need to shoot at him at all if he is on the ground," said Terry.
Carraway's brother says he was a witness.
"He didn't have no chance to pull out a gun. He had no chance to shoot a gun when he was laying flat on his back," said Dredne Spates.
Records also show that Carraway was on probation for a 2013 armed robbery in which he used a BB gun to rob someone of an iPhone. As a condition of his probation, he was not supposed to carry a weapon. He was sentenced as a youthful offender.
"What the officer did was wrong to our family. It was him today and could be you tomorrow and it hurts. This was a cover-up. This was not proper. I mean why not pull the Taser," said Danyell.
Miami-Dade Police said they could not respond to the family's claim that Carraway was shot in the back. They said FDLE would be looking into that and if a Taser should have been used instead.
CBS4's Peter D'Oench was told Detective Eugene is in his 30s and is a 9-year veteran.
