An African American man who was said to be eating chicken wings in the backyard of his home while holding a pocket knife was shot and killed by policeman in southern Florida. The incident occurred at around 10:00 p.m. on Friday.
Gregory Frazier, 55, was reportedly using a small pocket knife to eat near his home in Pompano Beach when he was confronted by two men from the Broward Country Sheriff’s Office.
According to the Broward Palm Beach New Times, the officers were called to the home by Frazier’s sister who had witnessed a verbal altercation between Frazier and her daughter.
The argument between Frazier and his niece ended when the officers arrived. Still, they told Frazier to get down on the ground knowing that he had a knife.
‘Leave me alone,’ Frazier is reported to have replied. Soon after, both of the deputies opened fire and killed him, according to Local 10 News.
Neighbors say that the officers shot him six times in the back, though this has yet to be confirmed.
Both of the deputies have been placed on administrative leave pending the results of an investigation.
‘I never would have called the cops if I’d known this was going to happen,’ Deborah Frazier, the victim’s sister, says. ‘They just came in and started shooting right away.’
