A police officer from Flint, Michigan fatally shot a 19-year-old woman near a Juneteeth Parade.
According to Michigan State Police, Sykes drove up to the officer who was on traffic duty at the Juneteeth Parade. Sykes then fires at the officer. The unidentified officer is seen in bystander footage to be yelling for Sykes to drop the weapon. He is then seen firing his weapon into the car.
Officers later tried to revive Sykes at the scene. She was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead. The officer involved was not physically injured. Eyewitnesses confirmed that Sykes fired first and ignored the officer’s commands.
In the video taken by eyewitnesses, the officer is seen falling to the ground in anguish after shooting Sykes. Michigan State Police are investigating the shooting and the officer involved has since been placed on paid leave. Footage of the incident has amassed over 800,000 views and 33,000 shares on Facebook Live.
“I kind of feel like him dropping, it was the devastation of the whole situation,” one eyewitness said. “I feel like the police was doing his job. He had a life to protect. Not only his, but we had a parade full of kids.”
Sykes’s sister commented that she does not blame the officer. “I do feel horrible for the officer who did it and I’m not upset at him or anyone else,” Nala McCracklin said. “As well as the bystanders. Nobody deserves to see or experience that.”
“She wasn’t a bad person, nor violent.”
According to McCracklin, her sister’s boyfriend was killed in a shooting three days prior – but said it did not involve the police.
Related Links
Michigan police fatally shoot 19-year-old woman near Juneteenth parade, claim she fired first
Cop breaks down in tears after killing woman, 19, who shot at him at Michigan Juneteenth parade
Moment woman, 19, killed by cop near Juneteenth parade after shooting at officer
