Zachary Hammond
Via Eric Bland
After he was shot and killed by police, a Seneca, South Carolina, police officer took Zachary Hammond's lifeless hand and high-fived it, according to a witness to the deadly shooting.
The allegations of police apparently celebrating the fatal incident by disturbing the 19-year-old's dead body were included in a letter sent by attorney Eric Bland to Attorney General Loretta Lynch and FBI director James Comey earlier this week, Bland confirmed to BuzzFeed News.
A civil rights investigation of Hammond's death was opened a day after the letter was sent to federal authorities.
Via Via Eric Bland
Seneca Police said Lt. Mark Tiller fired his weapon twice at Hammond because the teen drove his car toward him, and because Tiller feared for his life.
But Hammond's family are challenging the department's account, pointing to a second autopsy that showed bullets entered Hammond's car through the driver's-side window, suggesting Tiller was not in the car's path.
A female passenger who was in Hammond's car during the shooting was arrested on suspicion of being in possession of a small amount of marijuana.
Bland told BuzzFeed News in an email that the allegation of a Seneca Police officer high-fiving Hammond's dead body has been reported to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, which is heading the investigation into the officer's shooting.
Anthony Woo, an officer who arrived at the scene of the shooting about 40 seconds after shots were fired, resigned from the department earlier this week, Bland said. A second officer, who has not been identified, also resigned Friday.
Seneca Police Chief John Covington — who had initially refused to identify Tiller because the officer was considered a "victim of attempted murder" — said last week the department had released all the information it could and would not comment further because of possible litigation.
According to a statement released by Tiller's attorney, John Mussetto, the 10-year law enforcement veteran jumped out of the way of the car and fired because he feared for his life.
Mussetto's statement also alleged a "white powdery substance consistent with powder cocaine" was found on Hammond's person.
An image of Bland's letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch.
Fox Carolina / Via foxcarolina.com
According Bland's letter to the Attorney General's office, a witness to the shooting also saw an unnamed officer grab something from the trunk of his patrol car. The officer was seen walking back to Hammond's body, lifting it, putting something on the ground and lowering Hammond's body back to the ground, according to Fox Carolina, which obtained a copy of the letter.
Bland told BuzzFeed News the information has been reported to state investigators.
LINK: Fatal Police Shooting Of Unarmed White Teen Has Family Asking Where The Rage Is
from BuzzFeed - USNews http://ift.tt/1heyzQ8
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