List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States, May 2021

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This is a list of people reported killed by non-military law enforcement officers in the United States in May 2021, whether in the line of duty or not, and regardless of reason or method. The listing documents the occurrence of a death, making no implications regarding wrongdoing or justification on the part of the person killed or officer involved. Killings are arranged by date of the incident that caused death. Different death dates, if known, are noted in the description. The table below lists 19 people.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

May 2021[edit]

Date Name (age) of deceased Race Location Description
2021-05-31 Demetrius Stanley (31) Black San Jose, California Video showed Stanley leave his house and walk down the sidewalk holding a handgun and looking in parked cars. When Stanley passed an unmarked police SUV, he opened the door, pointed his gun at the vehicle, and was shot dead by the officer inside.[1]
2021-05-30 Shannon Wright (29) Black Denver, Colorado Wright approached the drive thru window of a liquor store and threatened an employee with an assault rifle. Police located Wright a block away and shot him dead when he ignored their commands and walked towards the officers threatening them with his rifle.[2]
2021-05-26 Efren Gomez (80) Unknown San Tan Valley, Arizona Police were called after Gomez and his wife got into a fight over their upcoming divorce. Police say that when they arrived, Gomez was holding a knife and scissors and stabbing himself. Police shot Gomez when he allegedly lunged at them with the scissors.[3]
2021-05-26 Devyn Walker (34) White Holy Cross, Alaska Police were called after Walker allegedly shot and killed his father, Alden Walker, on May 25, causing a standoff between him and Alaska State Troopers. Devyn Walker barricaded himself inside his home, and was shot dead by a trooper during the standoff.[4]
2021-05-24 Vedo Hall (26) Black Washington, D.C. Police responded to a call for a woman possibly being held against her will in a building. When police arrived, Hall—carrying a rifle with a drum magazine—broke out a back window and escaped with the woman. Several hours later police found the pair, and Hall was shot dead when he raised his gun at an officer.[5]
2021-05-23 Roderick Devonne Merchant Jr. (21) Black College Station, Texas Officers responded to a call of a man pointing a rifle at people while forcing his way into apartments. Merchant was shot when he fired at officers while advancing towards them, and died later at hospital.[6]
2021-05-21 Zaekwon Gullate (25) Black Houston, Texas Zaekwon Gullate approached four Houston police officers while they were conducting an unrelated traffic stop. Gullate can be heard telling the officers to shoot him. Gullate then draws a gun from his pocket and fired at least one shot towards the officers and officers returned fire. Gullate was pronounced dead at the hospital.[7][8]
2021-05-20 Patrick Watkins (31) Black Pittsburg, California Police received a 911 call from Watkins ex-girlfriend stating he was banging on her door. Officers tried to talk to Watkins and as they spoke, Watkins was retreating up a flight of stairs. The officers shouted at him to stop and drop his handgun but he continued walking away from them. Watkins was shot by police and later pronounced dead at the scene.[9]
2021-05-19 Darion M. Lafayette (24) Black Champaign, Illinois Responding to a domestic disturbance call at an apartment complex, two officers exited their vehicle and encountered Lafayette, who was armed and exchanged gunfire with the officers. Lafayette died at the scene, one officer was shot and died later in hospital, and the second officer was wounded.[10]
2021-05-17 Yong Liu (57) Asian Monterey Park, California Liu was shot and killed after allegedly following an officer into a parking lot with a knife and charging at him.[11][12]
2021-05-16 Timothy Fleming (49) Black Baltimore, Maryland Officers responded to a man wielding a knife. On scene, Timothy Fleming was holding his fiance at knifepoint. Officers used de-escalation techniques and repeatedly tried to reason with Fleming. Fleming grabbed his finance by the hair and motion like he was going to stab or strike her with the knife. Officers then fired their guns. Fleming was fatally struck and died on the scene.[13]
2021-05-11 Lance Lowe (30) Black Stockton, California Stockton Police responded to a call of a woman being assaulted at a house. When an officer arrived, Lance Lowe opened the door and shot and killed the officer. Lowe shot at another officer, then went inside his house and returned holding his eight-year-old son, who he began to strangle. Lowe was tackled and the child was freed, and Lowe was shot by police.[14]
2021-05-09 Zachary Richardson (24) White Leicester, Massachusetts Richardson rammed his car into the front door of the Leicester Police Department, and was shot to death after pointing what appeared to be a rifle at police.[15]
2021-05-07 Mark Aitulagi Lavea (47) Unknown San Andreas, California Lavea was holding a woman at gunpoint and was shot by deputies. Lavea was pronounced dead at the scene.[16]
2021-05-04 Ashton Pinke (27) Black Mesquite, Texas Officers were dispatched to a 911 hang-up call where the dispatcher heard screaming and what sounded like a struggle in the background. On scene, officers found Pinke on the side of the building holding a knife and a club. Police state Pinke charged at the officers with both items and that both officers shot him. Pinke was pronounced dead at a hospital.[17]
2021-05-03 Eric Derell Smith (30) Black Mississippi (Biloxi) Police were pursuing Eric Derell Smith, who was suspected in a double murder in Baker, Louisiana. After an officer bumped Smith's car on the highway, it stopped in a grassy median. A shootout occurred between Smith and police, during which both he and his kidnapped 4-month old son, who was in the car, were shot and killed.[18][19]
La'Mello Parker (4 months)
2021-05-03 Roy Gordon Cole (31) White Langley, Virginia Cole was shot and killed by FBI agents after attempting to drive into CIA headquarters. One official stated he was shot after exiting his car and claiming he had a bomb, while another stated he was shot after exiting with a sword. He died the next day. Cole had attempted to drive into CIA headquarters several times before, and there were questions about his mental state.[20]
2021-05-01 Bruce Pofahl (62) White Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin A man who opened fire at a tribal casino near Green Bay, killing two and injuring a third, was shot and killed by police.[21][22][23]

See also[edit]

This section is an excerpt from Lists of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States § See also.[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Salonga, Robert (June 2, 2021). "San Jose: New video shows moments leading up to police killing of Demetrius Stanley". The Mercury News.
  2. ^ Metzger, Hannah (June 1, 2021). "Armed man fatally shot by Denver police identified". The Denver Gazette.
  3. ^ Kelly, Bobby Jo (May 26, 2021). "Deputy shoots, kills man involved in domestic violence situation in San Tan Valley". Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  4. ^ Pacer, Megan; Luzardo, Jay; Cordova, Gilbert (May 26, 2021). "Holy Cross man fatally shot by law enforcement after killing his father, Troopers say". Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  5. ^ Pomeroy, Courtney (May 24, 2021). "Man shot and killed by DC officer, police say he was holding woman against her will". ABC 7 News.
  6. ^ Stricker, Cassie (May 23, 2021). "College Station man killed in officer-involved shooting". The Eagle.
  7. ^ "HPD Releases Body Cam Footage Of Deadly Shooting, Keeping With New Policy". June 4, 2021.
  8. ^ "1st police-worn body camera footage released under HPD's new policy". June 4, 2021.
  9. ^ "Pittsburg body cam video shows armed man retreat up stairs, point gun at police before being killed". May 27, 2021.
  10. ^ "Police officer dead after shootout with suspect". WCIA. May 19, 2021.
  11. ^ Kurzweil, Tony; Herrera, Carlos (May 18, 2021). "Man with knife fatally shot after charging at Monterey Park police officer: LASD".
  12. ^ "Yong Liu, 57". June 16, 2021.
  13. ^ Fleming, Timothy (May 19, 2021). "Baltimore City Police Release Body Camera Footage In Fatal Shooting Of Timothy Fleming".
  14. ^ Diaz, Laura S. (May 11, 2021). "Police identify officer killed in Stockton shooting as father of 3, 30; suspect also killed as he tried to strangle child, authorities say". The Record.
  15. ^ "Zachary Richardson Identified as Man Killed by Officers After 'Repeatedly Ramming' Leicester Police Station". 10 May 2021.
  16. ^ "Calaveras deputies release video of shootout involving hostage". May 25, 2021.
  17. ^ Pinke, Ashton (7 May 2021). "Mesquite Police to Release Bodycam Video, 911 Call in Deadly Officer-Involved Shooting". NBC Universal. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  18. ^ Watts, Amanda; Levenson, Eric (6 May 2021). "A murder suspect and his kidnapped baby son die after police shootout in Mississippi". CNN. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  19. ^ Willingham, Leah (11 May 2021). "Activists demand answers after baby killed in shootout in Harrison County". WXXV. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  20. ^ Dilanian, Ken; Kosnar, Michael (4 May 2021). "Suspected intruder dies after being shot by FBI agents outside CIA headquarters". NBC News. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  21. ^ Silverman, Hollie; Elassar, Alaa; Boyette, Chris (2 May 2021). "Two people were killed and another was wounded at a Wisconsin casino shooting". CNN. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  22. ^ Hurley, Scott (7 May 2021). "Green Bay officers who killed suspected Oneida Casino shooter identified". Fox 11. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  23. ^ Buchbinder, Elise (5 May 2021). "End Domestic Abuse: In the Wake of Green Bay Shooting, EDA Identifies Gender-Based Violence as Public Health Crisis". Wis Politics. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
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