Raheim Brown
Raheim Brown was a 20 year old African American male who was shot and killed by an Oakland Unified School District police officer, on January 22, 2011 near Skyline high school, during the school dance. Many claim that Brown's car was parked and his hazard lights were on. Sergeant Barhin Bhatt and partner Jonathan Bellusa approached the car, although Brown did not seem like a threat to the school. Bhatt claims that he witnessed his partner getting stabbed at by a screwdriver, Brown was accused of using to hot wire the vehicle but investigations show that the screwdriver never left the ignition. Bhatt then shot Brown 5 times ( 1 to the arm, 1 to the chest and 2 to the head ) killing Brown, after accusations claim Bhatt beat Brown and his friend,Tamisha Stewart, who was sitting in the passenger seat of the vehicle at the time.
Bhatt was not indicated for murder. Bellusa admitted his partner shot the last rounds after he had been incapacitated executing him. Bellusa did not shoot, due to the fact that he did not see a threat. Stewart claimed that Brown's actions did not have to lead to his death. Stewart was beaten badly and sent to jail for week, after Brown died. OUSD agreed to pay $995,000 to settle 2 lawsuits filed in connection with a fatal police shooting outside the school dance, which was questioned by one of the two officers present at the scene.
On August 24, protesters gathered at OUSD headquarters to demand Bhatt and Bellusa be fired and charged with Brown's killing. The protesters goal was to remove all armed police officers from Oakland schools. Anger was even more intensive after the superintendent and school board ignored the murder and promoted Bhatt to interim chief at school police due to the previous chiefs sudden retirement. Cat Brooks, a rally organizer and a member of coalition for Justice for Oscar Grant, says that they will be at every board meeting until all demands are met; Bhatt is fired. Bhatt still remains with his job and justice has not been made. Brown's death was also apart of the 2011 Occupy Oakland protest. He was 1 of 3 people killed by police in a week in Oakland. Brown's family asked for financial support to claim his death certificate from the coroner and pay for funeral cost which added up to $4500.
Bhatt was not indicated for murder. Bellusa admitted his partner shot the last rounds after he had been incapacitated executing him. Bellusa did not shoot, due to the fact that he did not see a threat. Stewart claimed that Brown's actions did not have to lead to his death. Stewart was beaten badly and sent to jail for week, after Brown died. OUSD agreed to pay $995,000 to settle 2 lawsuits filed in connection with a fatal police shooting outside the school dance, which was questioned by one of the two officers present at the scene.
On August 24, protesters gathered at OUSD headquarters to demand Bhatt and Bellusa be fired and charged with Brown's killing. The protesters goal was to remove all armed police officers from Oakland schools. Anger was even more intensive after the superintendent and school board ignored the murder and promoted Bhatt to interim chief at school police due to the previous chiefs sudden retirement. Cat Brooks, a rally organizer and a member of coalition for Justice for Oscar Grant, says that they will be at every board meeting until all demands are met; Bhatt is fired. Bhatt still remains with his job and justice has not been made. Brown's death was also apart of the 2011 Occupy Oakland protest. He was 1 of 3 people killed by police in a week in Oakland. Brown's family asked for financial support to claim his death certificate from the coroner and pay for funeral cost which added up to $4500.
Sources :
i. www.mercurynews.com/ci_23537656/lawsuit-claims-oakland-school-district-leaders-interfered-police
ii. sfbayview.com/2011/03/the-oakland-school-police-killing-of-raheim-brown-jr/
iii. https://occupyoakland.org/2013/10/raheim-brown-the995000-murder