Dallas

Dozens Demonstrate in Protest of Arlington Police Shooting

A crowd of about 50 people gathered Monday evening outside Arlington Police Headquarters to protest the police shooting of an unarmed black man by an officer investigating a reported burglary at a car dealership.

The group expressed anger as they chanted the names of unarmed black men who have been shot by police, including 19-year-old Christian Taylor.

Many held signs with Taylor's name on them, while others held signs that read, "Unarmed? Don't shoot!"

"Vandalism should not be a death sentence," said Collette Flanagan, founder of Mothers Against Police Brutality, the organization that planned the rally. Flanagan's son, Clinton Allen, was killed during a struggle with a Dallas police officer in 2013. That officer was later cleared of any wrongdoing.

There were no arrests during Monday night's demonstration.

Police said officers arriving to a burglary call found Taylor roaming inside the dealership's showroom early Friday morning. Police have said he refused to surrender and then tried to escape.

The FBI confirmed late Monday it will not participate in the investigation into Taylor's death despite being asked to take part by Arlington Chief of Police Will Johnson.

"The Dallas FBI has full confidence in the ability of the Arlington Police Department and Tarrant County District Attorney's Office to conduct a thorough investigation of this matter," said Allison Mahan, a spokeswoman with the FBI Dallas, in a statement to NBCDFW. "If in the course of the investigation, information comes to light of a potential federal civil rights violation, the FBI is prepared to investigate."

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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