According to reports, on November 6, Derrick Kittling, a black man, was shot to death during a traffic stop in Alexandria, Louisiana. The victim was reportedly pulled over by a white officer for having illegally tinted windows on his Chevrolet Silverado. During the stop, the officer allegedly shot Kittling multiple times, killing him. The Louisiana incident is currently under investigation, and it is unclear what exactly led to the shooting. However, this tragic incident highlights the ongoing problem of police violence against black men in the United States.
Kittling was then asked to step out of the car, and when he did, the officer shot him multiple times. Kittling’s family is now demanding answers from the police department, as they believe that the shooting was unjustified. His sister, Kimberly Kittling-Barnes, told Vice that her brother was “a good man” who “didn’t deserve this.”
The family has set up a GoFundMe page to help with funeral expenses. This Louisiana tragedy is yet another example of the unjustified violence that Black people face at the hands of police officers in the United States. In 2018 alone, there have been 275 reported cases of police shootings of unarmed Black people, according to Mapping Police Violence. This number is far too high, and something needs to be done to stop this cycle of violence.
