Family of man killed by New Castle County Police wants body cam video released to public

The family of a 30-year-old man shot and killed by New Castle County police last month viewed body camera footage with their attorney and said what they saw contradicts police statements and now police "must be held accountable."

The family is calling for police to release the video footage so the public can judge for themselves. 

"The world needs to see this senseless murder. It’s murder," said Amanda Spence, whose husband, Lymond Moses, was shot to death on Jan. 13. “Show the world this.”

Spence, attorney Emeka Igwe and Moses’ sister, Ikia Womack, spoke during a virtual press conference Thursday morning.

SHOOTING IS QUESTIONED: Police fatally shot Lymond Moses. His family says officers' account doesn't make sense

Because there is an ongoing investigation, police said they would not be providing further statements until the matter is complete and a decision has been rendered.

According to the narrative released by county police, Moses fled as officers approached him. He drove his vehicle down Rosemont Avenue toward 27th Street, which is a dead-end due to construction, the police statement said.

"The vehicle then made a U-turn and drove at a high rate of speed directly at the officers," the statement said. 

Igwe said the video shows that officers spoke to Moses before he drove away. During the conversation, the officers explained they were investigating reports of stolen cars. After officers asked Moses to get out of his car, Igwe said, Moses put the car in gear and started driving away.

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Moses did turn around after confronting the dead-end, but Igwe said the video shows he did not drive toward officers.

"What it shows is that Mr. Moses was actually veering away from the officers, simply trying to get away," Igwe said. "The officers shot Mr. Moses, even though they weren’t in imminent harm, nine times."

At least four of those shots hit Moses, with one bullet striking him in the head, he said.

“Which we believe was by an officer who was shooting at Mr. Moses' vehicle as it was driving past him,” Igwe said. “The video shows, that this officer, was beside the driver's side window and shooting into Mr. Moses' car as it was driving away.”

Igwe called this an unlawful shooting, saying the officers had no justification for shooting and killing Moses.

"The family demands that this video be immediately released," Igwe said. "So you can judge for yourself. You don't have to take my word for it. The public can see for themselves that this was an unjustified shooting."

Contact Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299, eparra@delawareonline.com or Twitter @eparra3.