Two neighbors of Ma’Khia Bryant insisted that as tragic as it was, the officer’s action definitely was justified as the teen was “in full attack mode.”
Donovan Brinson turned surveillance footage from his garage camera over to police adding that it showed a chaotic scene where responding cops had no other choice to save people’s lives.
“They were calling each other the B-word, so I figured it was just a girl fight,” he recalled. Moments later, however, the fight escalated. “It was violent and all just happened so fast.”
Brinson said that his footage caught no less than seven other people standing outside Bryant’s foster residence as she brandished a knife, trying to stab another girl in pink.
Neighbor Ira Graham II also witnessed the deadly confrontation on Tuesday afternoon and heard gunshots.
“I saw a bunch of cop cars coming down the street,” he said. “I believe in truth and facts. Video doesn’t lie. She was in full attack mode.”
He pointed that following the shooting; officers performed CPR on her and tended to her.
According to Graham, the 16-year-old “was literally aiming a knife at this young lady. She needed to be stopped at that point. That young lady’s life was at stake.”
Other neighbors believe the officer should have used a Taser or at least, warned Bryant before gunning her down.
“He should have told her to put down the knife,” neighbor Tommy Taylor said.
