LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Lawyers for the Blackshire family and Officer Charles Starks are at odds after a video was released of the fatal shooting of Bradley Blackshire.
The Little Rock Police Department released video of a Feb. 22 officer-involved shooting that killed Blackshire on March 7. Starks is the man who shot Blackshire. His attorney commented on the video after it was released.
Blackshire's attorney, Omavi Shukur from Loevy & Loevy of Chigaco, has requested that Arkansas State Police take over the investigation. He has also accused Officer Starks of murder, saying Blackshire's death was an "unacceptable and unnecessary use of deadly force."
The details of the law firm's investigation and findings have not been released.
Mayor Frank Scott spoke at a press conference to update the public on the investigation.
“The family did ask me to include the Arkansas State Police in the investigative process,” Mayor Scott said. “Many know of part of the law enforcement mentality. If there are any other law enforcement that are outside of a particular agency they normally have to be a part of the process the day-of, within actually minutes to an hour or two to be part of that process."
Scott said that since this is not the case, Arkansas State Police will not be able to investigate the shooting.
Little Rock attorney Robert Newcomb is representing Officer Starks. He calls the shooting a “tragic situation.”
“Not in my opinion,” Newcomb said when asked if he believed Starks committed a crime. “A car can kill you. And the law is very clear that you can use deadly force to protect yourself. It was unfortunate for everybody involved that it had to end that way.”
Blackshire's family watched the video ahead of its release and did not comment Thursday.
Shukur said he looks forward to seeing if the prosecuting attorney brings charges against Starks.
"We think the videos confirm that Officer Starks used unreasonable and excessive force by repeatedly firing into a slowly moving car,” Shukur said.