On Friday night, Trayford Pellerin, a 31 year-old Black man, was shot and killed by police officers while he was entering a convenience store in Lafayette, Louisiana.
According to a statement by Louisiana state police, officers arrived at the convenience store shortly after 8pm to respond to a “disturbance involving a person armed with a knife.”
Pellerin was found in the store’s parking lot holding the aforementioned knife. Once officers attempted to detain him, Pellerin left the parking lot, but officers followed him closely. Initially, they used tasers to immobilize him “but they were ineffective,” according to the Louisiana state police.
Meanwhile, in Lafayette, Louisiana, cops murder another Black man, shooting him 11 times in the back as he walks away
Say his name: #TrayfordPellerinpic.twitter.com/x25WVbBKTz
We at @TENDEMANDS demand #JusticeforTrayfordPellerin — and all victims of police violence
— Anti-Fascist AWK (@AWKWORDrap) August 23, 2020
Pellerin was shot as he attempted to enter the convenience store. He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead that night.
No officers were injured during the encounter, and an investigation of Pellerin’s death is underway.
“We refuse to let this case resolve like so many others: quietly and without answers and justice,” civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump said. “The family, and the people of Lafayette, deserve honesty and accountability from those who are sworn to protect them — the Lafayette police.”
if the cops feared for their lives they should’ve shot him in his leg. justice for #TrayfordPellerin
— loveleeᴴ what a feeling supremacy (@loveleeannie) August 22, 2020
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family of Trayford Pellerin.
