Video of a Flint police officer breaking down into tears after shooting into a vehicle over the weekend has been making its rounds across social media. Officials later announced that the driver of the vehicle was taken to a local area hospital and later announced deceased.
According to ABC 12-WJRT, investigators identified the 19-year-old woman that was fatally shot as Briana Sykes of Flint. Michigan State Police claim that she allegedly drove up to an officer directing traffic during the city’s Juneteenth Parade, and shot at the officer. The unidentified officer returned fire, hitting Briana.
Witnesses at the scene say after the officer returned fire, he tumbled to the ground in tears after the shooting. The officer was not injured, and none of the witnesses to the shooting were injured.
I found a longer version of Saturday’s #Flint fatal police shooting bystander video. The 19-year-old woman who was killed has been identified as Briana Sykes. Sykes is accused of initiating gunfire with the officer. MI State Police are investigating. pic.twitter.com/y3NN7PVwiV
— 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 (@TCReporter) June 21, 2021
One of the witnesses said to the news outlet, “I saw an officer maybe ten feet to the left of me in front of a car with his gun out. I didn’t see if anybody shot out of the car but I did see the officer shoot into the car and I could tell that he, from his look, like he mortally wounded somebody. He instantly fell to the ground crying because I felt like he didn’t want to do whatever he had to do.”
The shooting took place after 2:00 pm on Saturday (June 19th) blocks away from the parade. Briana was taken to Hurley Medical Center for treatment but later passed away due to her injuries.
Michigan State Police are now investigating the shooting. Reports will be sent to the Genesee County Prosecutor’s Office, which will determine whether any criminal charges will be filed for the shooting.
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TSR STAFF: Jade Ashley @Jade_Ashley94