Tensions escalated in the nation's capital after the police killed a man who had worked to prevent violence. This led to unrest on Monday night following the release of body-camera videos from two officers involved in the shooting, the Washington Post reports. People angry about the shooting took to the streets in protest in the hours after officials published the footage. Justin Robinson, 26, was a resident of Southeast Washington who was employed as a violence interrupter with D.C.’s Cure the Streets program. The body-camera footage captured the moment officers surrounded Robinson’s car after it crashed into a McDonald’s restaurant, and as they attempted to rouse him, before ultimately opening fire. After officers arrived, police said, they noticed a handgun in Robinson’s lap. When he stirred, several officers began yelling at him to put his hands up, according to the video. When Robinson allegedly reached for the officer’s gun, the officer — identified by D.C. police as Bryan Gilchrist — fired 10 shots at Robinson, while a second officer, Vasco Mateus, fired one shot.
Police said they would increase their patrols around possible business targets Tuesday night. Jawanna Hardy, who runs an anti-violence nonprofit called Guns Down Friday, said she mobilized Monday night when she saw “youth talk” on social media after the video was released that didn’t sound positive. She reached out to those young people and said that while she understood their desire to do something, this was not the right time. She told them to go home and stay home. In total, Hardy, who is also a violence interrupter, estimates she stopped about 30 kids from protesting Monday night. Still, she said she understands the overwhelming anger and devastation people are feeling after watching the video of Robinson’s death. On Tuesday, more than 100 protesters rallied and marched between the Seventh District police station and the McDonald’s where Robinson was fatally shot. At one point, the protesters locked arms with friends and strangers in a testament to Robinson’s work as a violence interrupter. At about 10 p.m., D.C. police said, people began throwing bottles, rocks and other objects at officers. Police said they arrested seven people as of 12:30 a.m. Wednesday.
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