The family of Cleavon Miles wants justice for their brother after Sacramento police shot and killed him Tuesday morning downtown. Police said a member of the SWAT team shot and killed Miles, 36, Tuesday morning on top of a downtown parking garage on Third Street. The shooting followed an hours-long standoff, where, at times, Miles waved the gun. Officers said they saw Miles fire his gun but did not say when or how many shots were fired.KCRA 3 News was on the scene all morning Tuesday and our cameras captured the shooting. We are choosing not to broadcast the moment, but Miles’ family asked to see the video.After watching the video, Miles’ brothers were tearful, upset and angry. They want answers from police. “It was not justifiable. From the looks of it, he was tired and going to give himself up,” said Cedric Miles. “They grew impatient with him and shot him.”Sacramento police first came into contact with Miles around 1 a.m. at the parking structure by Macy’s.Police said officers on scene witnessed gunfire but didn’t say when in the four hours that occurred. They said the exact number of rounds fired by Miles is under investigation.At 5 a.m., police said the SWAT team member fired one shot, hitting Miles. He died on scene.”Why did they have to go from doing nothing for four hours, to immediately end the whole situation without first trying another method to resolve it in a more peaceful, humane way?” asked oldest brother Cornell Miles. Miles’ brothers said Cleavon was lost and confused but not suicidal. They believe he was at the parking garage with a gun to go back to jail. They said he spent most of his life behind bars and had trouble coping in the outside world.Cedric Miles called it a crisis situation. “It was a cry for help. He didn’t know what to do, all he knew to do was to sit down. He didn’t think he was going to get killed,” said Cedric Miles. “He knew he was going to go to jail for something, he didn’t know he was going to get killed.”The family said they want justice and don’t believe their brother was a threat to anyone but himself.”Whoever pulled that trigger needs to be held accountable. Whoever shot my brother needs to be held accountable. That’s wrong, there’s no reason for that, no explanation. Why shoot him at that time?” said Cedric Miles. By law, police are required to release the body-worn camera and other video during the officer-involved shooting. The department said it will most likely release a narrative video possibly as soon as next week.The family has set up a GoFundMe to help with Miles’ funeral expenses. The family also said Miles had just found his 18-year-old son, who had been put up for adoption. He found out he was also going to be a grandfather.
The family of Cleavon Miles wants justice for their brother after Sacramento police shot and killed him Tuesday morning downtown.
Police said a member of the SWAT team shot and killed Miles, 36, Tuesday morning on top of a downtown parking garage on Third Street.
The shooting followed an hours-long standoff, where, at times, Miles waved the gun. Officers said they saw Miles fire his gun but did not say when or how many shots were fired.
KCRA 3 News was on the scene all morning Tuesday and our cameras captured the shooting.
We are choosing not to broadcast the moment, but Miles’ family asked to see the video.
After watching the video, Miles’ brothers were tearful, upset and angry.
They want answers from police.
“It was not justifiable. From the looks of it, he was tired and going to give himself up,” said Cedric Miles. “They grew impatient with him and shot him.”
Sacramento police first came into contact with Miles around 1 a.m. at the parking structure by Macy’s.
Police said officers on scene witnessed gunfire but didn’t say when in the four hours that occurred. They said the exact number of rounds fired by Miles is under investigation.
At 5 a.m., police said the SWAT team member fired one shot, hitting Miles. He died on scene.
“Why did they have to go from doing nothing for four hours, to immediately end the whole situation without first trying another method to resolve it in a more peaceful, humane way?” asked oldest brother Cornell Miles.
Miles’ brothers said Cleavon was lost and confused but not suicidal. They believe he was at the parking garage with a gun to go back to jail.
They said he spent most of his life behind bars and had trouble coping in the outside world.
Cedric Miles called it a crisis situation.
“It was a cry for help. He didn’t know what to do, all he knew to do was to sit down. He didn’t think he was going to get killed,” said Cedric Miles. “He knew he was going to go to jail for something, he didn’t know he was going to get killed.”
The family said they want justice and don’t believe their brother was a threat to anyone but himself.
“Whoever pulled that trigger needs to be held accountable. Whoever shot my brother needs to be held accountable. That’s wrong, there’s no reason for that, no explanation. Why shoot him at that time?” said Cedric Miles.
By law, police are required to release the body-worn camera and other video during the officer-involved shooting. The department said it will most likely release a narrative video possibly as soon as next week.
The family has set up a GoFundMe to help with Miles’ funeral expenses. The family also said Miles had just found his 18-year-old son, who had been put up for adoption. He found out he was also going to be a grandfather.
Read More: ‘Cry for help:’ Family of man shot, killed by Sacramento police on downtown parking garage
