[Posted Feb. 27, 2008]

Protest March
Planned In Death
Of Man By Police

New Journal and Guide Staff Report

     A protest march will be held Tuesday, March 4th by activists, supporters and members of  the family of James R. Dennis, who was shot to death by two Norfolk police officers last October when they claimed he was pointing a weapon in their direction.
     James Bailey, who is the Legal Redress Chair of the Virginia Beach NAACP, says the march will start at 6 p.m. from the base of the King Memorial on Church Street to the steps of the Norfolk City  Hall Complex. He said that about 500 people have already signed up to participate in the march.
Following the march, members of Dennis' family and community activists will address the Norfolk City Council on issues related to the shooting, according to Bailey.
      Bailey said that a number of questions have not been answered about the late October shooting and he hopes that the march will signal that the "Black community is concerned about a citizen being shot by the Norfolk Police Department."
    "We are marching to show our concern about the number of young black men who have been shot dead by the Norfolk Police," said Bailey. 
      "We want the city to appoint an Independent Citizens' Police Oversight or Review Board to make sure that if this happens in the future, we will not have the police department investigating itself. We want justice here."

     Earlier this month  the Norfolk Commonwealth Attorney announced that he will summon a special grand jury to look into Dennis' shooting. He said that he based his  decision on conflicting statements about what took place. In the past, Doyle, who is tasked with investigating such incidents, has decided not to indict and prosecute any of the officers who have been involved in shooting incidents involving citizens.

     He has ruled that the deadly shootings were justified because the police officers feared being harmed.
     Amanda Howie, a spokesperson for  Jack Doyle, the Norfolk Commonwealth's Attorney, said the Special Grand Jury will look at the case starting on March 12.
      A police report says that two Norfolk police officers responded to a call in a neighborhood adjacent to a  portion of Newtown Road.  While investigating that call, they heard shots being fired.  They encountered Dennis shooting at an unknown target with a handgun. They shouted at him to   drop the weapon. Instead, according to the official police report, Dennis turned and pointed the gun at the officers who shot him dead at the scene.
    But witnesses say that Dennis did not turn  and  point a weapon at the officers and that his hands were in the air.
     According to Bailey,  James Gorham, Dennis' father has secured a copy of the autopsy conducted on his son shortly after he was shot to death. Bailey says that the autopsy indicates that Dennis may have been shot in the back. Howie  said that she could not comment on the  issue because it was part of an ongoing investigation.
     

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