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Panel: Killing that sparked riots was justified
November 13, 1996
Web posted at: 3:40 p.m. EST
ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (CNN) -- A Florida grand jury Wednesday cleared a white police officer of any wrongdoing for shooting to death a black motorist last month. The shooting sparked a night of rioting on St. Petersburg streets.
The Pinellas County grand jury said St. Petersburg police officer Jim Knight had reason to fear for his life when he shot and killed 18-year-old TyRon Lewis.
"We have determined the death of TyRon Lewis was the result of a justifiable homicide under Florida law," said Bernie McCabe, Pinellas County State Attorney.
Knight was standing in front of the car after it had been stopped for speeding when the car lurched forward several times. The officer fired after shouting warnings that he would do so, the grand jury said.
After the October 24 shooting, about 300 people roamed the streets of south St. Petersburg, setting 29 fires, looting buildings, and hurling firebombs, rocks and bottles. Several police officers and firefighters were injured.
Damages have been estimated at up to $5 million.
According to a police statement, Knight and his partner, Sandra Minor, stopped Lewis for a speeding violation. Lewis and passenger Eugene Young declined to roll down their windows or open their doors, the statement said.
Knight went to the front of the car because the windows were so heavily tinted he could not see inside, the statement said. Meanwhile, Minor used a baton to break one of the windows, and the car lurched forward toward Knight, police said. He fired two shots, one of which hit Lewis in the chest.
The grand jurors said they believed that the degree of tinting exceeded Florida law and that Knight made a reasonable response in moving to the front of the car so he could see inside.
The jurors also said they did not believe race was involved in Knight's decision to shoot. Knight has been on administrative leave since the shooting.
Only hours after the grand jury ruling, Knight was suspended from the police force for 60 days. A police review panel imposed the suspension because it found that Knight "placed himself in a position of disadvantage and danger by moving to the front of the vehicle to confront the occupants. This tactic is not consistent with our training or policy, which instructs sworn members to employ 'reasonable means to avoid the danger.'"
St. Petersburg police said, in advance of Wednesday's hearing, that they planned to patrol streets to watch for further rioting that could break out because of the ruling.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- St. Petersburg quiet as leaders assess riots - October 26, 1996
- State of emergency declared in riot-stricken city - October 25, 1996
- Calm returns to riot-stricken St. Petersburg, Florida - October 25, 1996
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