Just one day after a grand jury said two Fort Pierce police officers were justified in the shooting death of Demarcus Semer, we are now seeing some of the evidence they had to consider in this case.
Wednesday, the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office released hundreds of pictures, hours of video and radio transmissions related to the case.
In one of the interviews, Officer MacNaught tells investigators, “I see there’s an object in that hand it was a black and silver, black and white object. And I’m thinking this is it I’m not going to see my wife my kids. He’s got a gun. He’s going to start shooting again.”
In another interview the other officer, Officer Holmes, is asked why he originally fired at Semer’s fleeing car.
“To protect MacNaught. To stop him from being dragged,” said Holmes.
According to the grand jury’s summary, the officers said Semer was not cooperating and had marijuana in the car.
The officers reported that Semer started to drive off in the middle of the stop, sending one officer to the ground and taking the second one with him.
The summary says officer on the ground fired his weapon fearing the other officer was in danger. The second officer heard those shots and thought they came from Semer. Then, Semer reportedly took off on foot. That second officer followed and says Semer turned around with an object in his hand and so the officer fired.
Meanwhile, the grief is still setting in for LaTrecia Middleton. “I feel that the cops are getting away with murder,” she said.
Middleton is still processing the fact that the grand jury decided not to indict the officers who shot and killed her son.
“I look at his picture and I just cry because I couldn’t get him any justice,” said Middleton.
RELATED: No indictment in Demarcus Semer police-involved shooting
She is now getting a chance to learn exactly what happened during that fateful traffic stop back in April.
Middleton is frustrated that officers thought Semer may have been armed when he wasn’t.
“You should know a phone when you see a phone. You should know a gun when you see a gun,” said Middleton.
Moving forward, she says she wants changes including dash cam video and more training requirements.
She is asking her community to remain peaceful.
LaTrecia says they are still considering a civil suit..
