Crime & Safety
Gaines Shooting Witness Contradicts Police
A witness told attorney John Burris that a gun fell out of Derrick Gaines's pocket when he tripped in a footrace with the police officer.
The Daily Journal reports today that John Burris, attorney for the family of , told the newspaper that "a new witness has emerged that contradicts the department’s account of the incident" -- in refernece to Gaines being shot dead by a South San Francisco police officer June 5.
The Journal reports: "The witness told civil rights attorney John Burris that the 15-year-old teen did not pull out a gun but rather that the boy was tripped by the officer in a foot chase. As he was falling, the gun fell out of Gaines’ jacket pocket onto the ground of the parking lot of an Arco gas station on Westborough and Gellert boulevards before being shot dead by the police officer, the witness told Burris."
The officer remains unamed and on administrative leave.
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Burris also told the Journal of the witness's statements: “The account confirmed our view that Derrick did not point the gun or try to retrieve the gun. There was a gun but it looks like Gaines’ civil rights were violated and that he was shot unnecessarily.”
Check back for updates on this story.
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