US rapper Willie Bo has died following an incident which saw six police officers shoot him after he had been sleeping in his car.
As The San Francisco Chronicle reports, 20-year-old Willie McCoy, who performed under the name Willie Bo, has been shot dead following what his family are calling a “senseless” shooting by police.
Police were originally called to the drive-through line of a Taco Bell restaurant in Vallejo, California after an employee told police that a man was “hunched over” the steering wheel of his car.
When police arrived, they discovered that Willie McCoy was unresponsive in his locked car, though a handgun was seen sitting on his lap.
Following a request for backup, officers noted that the car was still in drive, leading to the police making “efforts to stop any forward progress by the Mercedes as they assessed the situation.”
However, McCoy reportedly made a sudden movement, which saw officers ordering him to keep his hands visible. Despite this, the young man reportedly reached for his gun, with a police statement noting that “fear for their own safety, the officers discharged their weapons at the driver.”
While medical assistance was requested, Willie McCoy was pronounced dead on the scene, leading to his family condemning the actions by the Vallejo Police Department.
“There was no attempt to try to work out a peaceful solution,” explained McCoy’s older brother Marc in a statement to the Guardian. “The police’s job is to arrest people who are breaking the law – not take the law into your own hands.”
“You’re not judge, jury and executioner … We’re never going to get over this.”
“No one trusts the police in Vallejo,” echoed David Harrison, Willie McCoy’s cousin. “We are being targeted.”
“Police have a campaign of executing young black men who fit a certain profile. Willie dressed the part. He represents hip-hop music. They are profiled.”
“This was senseless… shooting a man sleeping in his car. We want to make sure this never happens again to another person.”
The Vallejo Police Department have not yet made any further statements on the matter, though the incident is reportedly under investigation.
Check out Willie Bo’s ‘Song For You’:
