The Coroner’s Inquest into the 2007 shooting death of Denver Thompson, involving a police officer, outside the Rand Memorial Hospital has been ruled an accident.
The hearing opened in May of 2010 before Magistrate Debbye Ferguson and the five-woman, two-man jury heard evidence from more than 20 prosecution witnesses, including the partner of Sergeant Trevor Miller whose gun went off that fateful day.
Thompson, 32, was shot in the neck and pronounced dead a short time later.
He had been taken to the hospital by his father and brother on November 27, 2007 and left there for treatment after he suffered an epileptic seizure.
However, hospital officials had maintained Thompson became disorderly and had to be physically restrained and the police were called in.
Thompson’s father Locksley Thompson, Sr., and brother, Arlington, both told the court of how they met security and police officers kicking him as they drove up to the hospital.
Attorney Olivia Blatch represented the Attorney-General’s Office and the Public Hospitals Authority, while Attorney Pleasant Bridgewater represented the Thompson family.
Attorney Carlson Shurland acted on behalf of Sergeant Miller.
Arlington Thompson told the court he remembered being between Officer Ward and Sergeant Miller, who was at his right when he heard a loud sound.
Arlington said he saw when Denver held his neck and said he got shot.
He testified that he then held his brother, laid him on the ground and tried to stop the blood from flowing, while everyone was just standing around watching.
Arlington said he remembers asking if anyone was going to help him, before his father went inside the emergency area to call the doctor.
Soon afterwards, he said, Denver was placed into the wheelchair and rushed into the hospital. Not long afterwards, he was pronounced dead.
Friday’s decision that the shooting was an accidental death could lead to a possible civil suit by the Thompson family.
Freeport News
