Witness gives account of fatal police shooting
A makeshift memorial now sits where Javario Eagle, 24 was shot to death by Chattanooga police Saturday morning in in the Emma Wheeler housing projects.
During a press Saturday afternoon press conference, Police Chief Fred Fletcher told reporters that his officers were called to an Emma Wheeler apartment to investigate unusual behavior and statements made by Eagle.
"Incoming information revealed that a party at that address may be armed and endangering a small child," Fletcher said.
According to police reports, Eagle exited the apartment multiple times with a handgun and knife. Police said at one point, he walked out with both weapons and a small child. It was during that time, the child reportedly ran away from Eagle toward an officer.
"The armed suspect who had the firearm and knife moved aggressively toward the officer and this child," Fletcher said.
Afterwards cell phone video captures police opening fire on Eagle.
Since the cell phone video was posted to social media, questions have been raised about how police handled the situation. Most neighbors who saw what happened would not comment. But one witness did agree to talk as along as News 12 didn’t show his face.
"I could see the officers aiming down at him and telling him to put his gun down. A couple of minutes after that, we see a little girl run out the way. As soon as the little girl goes out the way, they just opened fire," he said.
The witness also talked about what happened after Eagle was shot multiple times.
"They had dude on the ground handcuffed and holding all these patches on his face and on his body where they just shot him. It’s like, this man is dying and they had to handcuff him," he said.
Many people are upset by how the confrontation ended. The man who agreed to talk to us is one of them.
"Someone’s family member died on Saturday for what reason. Anything could have been done differently to change the way that man’s life had to end," he said.
The incident remains under investigation.
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