The mother of 22-year-old Darrien Hunt said she believes that her son was fatally shot by police because he was black. Hunt was killed by Saratoga Springs police officers on Wednesday after being confronted in the parking lot of a Panda Express. At the time of the shooting, Hunt had been in possession of a samurai sword.
In an official statement given by the police department, officers said they arrived at the scene of the incident after receiving reports of a suspicious individual walking around with a samurai-type sword. According to the statement, police found Hunt in possession of the sword and fired their weapons after he lunged at the officers. Police claim that nothing else was a factor in the incident. “There is currently no indication that race played any role in the confrontation between Mr. Hunt and the police officers,” according to the statement.
An attorney for the Hunt family released an independent autopsy on Saturday that allegedly shows Mr. Hunt was shot multiple times in the back. According to the attorney, the autopsy corroborates statements by witnesses who claim that Hunt was shot while running away from police.
The two officers involved in the incident have been placed on paid administrative leave.
