New Orleans Police Kill Unarmed Man, Investigation Pending

Community group demands answers in killing

The police's war on unarmed black men continues.

Community groups in New Orleans are demanding and awaiting answers surrounding an incident where New Orleans Police officers shot and killed an unarmed man during a drug raid.

On March 7, 20-year old Wendell Allen was fatally shot in the chest by officer Joshua Colclough while he was serving a narcotics search warrant. Allen was unarmed, there have been no reports of Allen charging at the officer either. When found dead, officers say they found 4.5 ounces of marijuana on him.

An entire week has passed and Officer Colclough has yet to be interviewed in an internal investigation, nor has he released a statement. When Allen's family and other citizens queried about it, the NOPD essentially told them to keep holding their breath.

"Our investigators have contacted his attorney through the last several days. He has not made his client available to us," says NOPD spokesperson Remi Braden. She also noted that the officer does have the right to refuse a statement.

Raymond Burkart III, a spokesman for the local Fraternal Order of Police adds, "The public has to understand that you have everyone from the FBI, the police monitor, to the NOPD looking at this. It takes time. These investigations can be complex, they can't be rushed...People have to keep in mind that the officer here is greatly distressed. No officer wants to pull their trigger when they go to work."

According to family members, Allen recently graduated from high school and was a standout basketball player. According to police reports, Allen was also arrested in January 2011 for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. He made the $15,000 bond, but was arrested again three weeks later when he missed his court appearance. 

Community members are already on edge after NOPD officers killed another man, Justin Sipp, in a shootout that left two officers wounded and his brother dead.

Allen's also sounds familiar to that of Ramarley Graham who was shot and killed by NYPD officers who illegally broke into his home attempting to question him over weed possession.

Moral of the story, crack still kills, but so does weed apparently. 

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