Relatives of a man shot by Tacoma police are publicly demanding answers, saying they are deep in grief and frustrated by the lack of information about what led up to the gunfire.
Family members spoke on camera Thursday, describing the encounter as devastating for their household and urging investigators to explain why the shooting happened. They said they want a clear accounting from authorities and access to any available video, as the incident stirs up long‑running local tension over police use of force.
Video of the family’s plea published by KIRO 7 shows relatives questioning officers’ actions and calling on officials to release body‑worn or surveillance footage. The station’s coverage includes interviews with family and bystanders, along with raw footage of emergency crews and law‑enforcement vehicles at the scene. Relatives told the outlet they intend to keep pressing for transparency as the investigation moves forward.
Tacoma’s fraught history with police use of force
The case lands in a city already on edge over officer‑involved incidents. Tacoma has endured several high‑profile confrontations in recent years, including the death of Manuel Ellis, which led to criminal charges against officers and a prolonged public debate over accountability. As reported by ABC News, Ellis’s death intensified calls for reform and greater transparency in how force is used and investigated.
Those concerns have been amplified by multimillion‑dollar settlements in other use‑of‑force lawsuits. The News Tribune has documented recent payouts, which help explain why many neighbors and advocates say they are in no mood to simply take officials at their word when new shootings occur.
What the video shows
The raw scene footage shared in the KIRO 7 coverage appears to capture moments surrounding the encounter rather than the shooting itself. In the clip, family members speak with reporters while police and emergency personnel work in the background, and bystanders describe what they saw in the aftermath.
Producers and local reporters caution that the footage alone does not provide full context for what happened before shots were fired. According to the station’s reporting, investigators are in the process of collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses as part of the formal probe.
Who investigates officer‑involved shootings
In Pierce County, serious officer‑involved incidents are typically handled by the Pierce County Force Investigation Team, a multi‑agency unit tasked with processing evidence, interviewing witnesses and forwarding findings to prosecutors when warranted.
County materials say those reviews often take weeks as officials work through video, forensic results and statements from everyone involved. That formal sequence of evidence collection, administrative review and possible referral to prosecutors is the standard path for complex use‑of‑force investigations in the region.
As that process plays out, the man’s relatives say they will keep pushing in public for answers, pointing to the city’s track record and urging officials to release as much information as possible. City and county authorities have not released additional details beyond initial statements, and community advocates say they plan to watch the review closely.
