DC police release bodycam video of deadly shooting involving Violence Interrupter Justin Robinson
WASHINGTON - Body camera footage released by D.C. police Monday shows the moment officers shot and killed Justin Robinson, a Violence Interrupter for the city, during an incident at a Southeast McDonald’s last week.
LATEST: Protest at site of deadly police shooting after body cam footage released
The footage was made public following community pressure for its release. While a statement from the Mayor’s Office initially indicated that Robinson’s next of kin did not want it shown, the family reversed their decision over the weekend.
At a vigil held on Friday, some of Robinson’s family members called for the "full release" of all body camera footage from officers on the scene.
Family calls for release of body cam footage after man fatally shot by DC police
Sunday marked exactly a week after an officer-involved shooting in D.C. left a man dead. The community is now coming together calling for justice, asking for the full police body-worn camera footage to be released.
The incident began when police responded to a call about a car crash at the McDonald’s on Marion Barry Avenue.
Upon arrival, officers found Robinson unconscious in his car in the drive-thru, with a gun on his lap. Backup was called, and officers say that as Robinson started to wake up, they repeatedly asked him to put down the weapon.
'Shots fired, shots fired:' Video shows moment of fatal officer-involved shooting in DC
FOX 5 DC has obtained video of the moments when D.C. police fired on a white Mercedes that had a minor crash Sunday morning in the drive-thru of a McDonalds in Southeast D.C.
Police claim that Robinson attempted to grab an officer’s gun, leading two officers to open fire. Robinson was pronounced dead at the scene.
Robinson's sister is demanding justice and the release of the full, unredacted body camera footage.
"I watched the video over and over and over again," she told FOX 5. "There is a reason why we chose not to release the video because we want you guys to see the whole video. We want you to hear my story first."
In response, the Metropolitan Police Department confirmed that, in all fatal officer-involved shootings, the entire footage is posted online, though parts may be redacted to protect the identities of witnesses and bystanders.
The community has rallied around the Robinson family, with nearly a thousand people signing a Change.org petition calling for "Justice for Justin."
The two officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave.
Watch the bodycam videos below. Please be advised that the footage may contain sensitive material.
FOX 5's Nana-Sentuo Bonsu contributed to this report.