There were a few more names missing from Cosmopolitan’s fashion market director, Shiona Turini’s Pyer Moss and one of them is Dontre Hamilton.
Dontre Hamilton was shot 14 times by Milwaukee Police Officer, Chris Manney, on April 30, 2014.
The fateful day consisted of three different officers being called to a local Starbucks after baristas complained he was asleep outside of their store. The officers previous to Manney informed the employees that Dontre wasn’t doing anything illegal for them to enforce and they should stop calling. Officer Manney, unaware two other officers already handled the case, approached the victim and woke him up. A direct contradiction to Manney’s initial report of Dontre Hamilton waking up on his own.
Officer Manney believed Dontre Hamilton was under the influence of drugs and alcohol and appeared emotional disturbed which caused him to believe the victim posed a threat to his safety. After a brief pat down—a direct violation on the officer’s part—a physical confrontation ensued in which Hamilton allegedly struck the officer in the head. The end result from their scuffle resulted in Dontre being shot 14 times.
Milwaukee Police Department training doesn’t allow pat downs when a person appears to be emotionally disturbed and shows no immediate threat. Officer Manney has been terminated from the force for violating the department’s rule, not for killing an unarmed, emotionally distressed person that posed no threat. His is still walking freely and Hamilton’s family demands answers as to why.
Hamilton’s case is the first to be investigated under Wisconsin Assembly Bill 409. It was passed by Amelia Royko Maurer and Michael Bell Sr. with the help of Republican Bies and Democrat Taylor. The bill, signed by Governor Scott Walker, was said to open up an independent investigation with these types of crimes.
Walker states the bill, “removes the review of a shooting death by a law enforcement official from the agency.” Under the law, the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation and the District Attorney are to work side by side when reviewing cases.
Hamilton’s family is currently seeking help from DA John Chisholm and still waiting for a response to unanswered questions, seven months later.
Photo Credit: Fox 6