POMPANO BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - Members of the Pompano Beach community are voicing their concerns after two recent deputy-involved shootings in the city.
Hundreds of community members and police officials met Monday after two recent Broward Sheriff’s Office deputy-involved shootings took place within the span of several days.
“I never knew my father would become a part of this pattern of a horrible trend across this country to shoot first and ask questions later,” said Xavier Frazier, the son of Gregory Frazier, as he spoke to a crowd at Greater Bethel AME Baptist Church.
Gregory Frazier was killed Friday, when officials responded to a report of a domestic disturbance.
The Frazier family attorney, Benjamin Crump, released a photo of a lawn chair where he said Gregory was sitting when he was shot as he ate dinner.
“Even when you’re convicted on death row, they ask you what you want for your last meal,” said Crump. “I don’t think Greg Frazier knew this was his last meal.”
Friday’s shooting was followed by another deputy-involved shooting, Monday morning, in which a 17-year-old named Dalvin Williams was shot in the shoulder.
According to deputies, Williams attempted to flee from police after trying to hit a deputy with a suspected stolen car. “The driver of the vehicle backed his vehicle in to strike our deputy. Our deputy, fearing for his life, actually dove back into his marked unit,” said Broward Sheriff Scott Israel. “Another deputy fired at least one round at the subject. The subject put his car in drive and eventually bailed out of his vehicle.”
Williams was transported to a juvenile facility after he was treated for the bullet wound. “The subject was taken to the hospital,” said Israel. “He was treated. He was released, and he will be charged accordingly.”
Williams has been booked, Tuesday, into jail and faces charges of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer. Broward County Judge Michael Orlando said Williams’ similar pending charge from 2015 is the reason he will remain detained until Oct. 3.
Williams’ next court date is scheduled for Sept. 20.
At Monday’s meeting, Israel defended his department. However, he also promised transparency. “I’m not here today to tell you that the deputies did anything right or anything wrong. That’s what this investigation is all about,” Israel said. “We are on the same team. We want the same thing you want: truth and justice.”
Israel also said that BSO will no longer investigate shootings involving their own employees. Instead, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will take over those responsibilities.
Crump said the next thing he wants to do for Frazier’s case is get crime scene photos and autopsy results to figure out where he was in relation to the deputies when the shots were fired.
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