Jesse Jackson Speaks on Man Shot in the Back by Police at Church

The Reverend Jesse Jackson has intervened in the case of Mark Anthony Barmore, the man who was allegedly shot in the back by police at a church in Rockford, Ill. Barmore was unarmed at the time, being sought by police for a domestic dispute. We reported on the Mark Anthony Barmore case here on Black Voices this week.

"I'm extremely disappointed," Jackson said Thursday. "We were hoping that the outstanding facts of the case would prevail over politics. An unarmed man shot in the back is justified homicide? This is a miscarriage of justice."

Mark Anthony Barmore's case has been shocking in light of the fact that the eye witness stories vary so dramatically from the accounts given by the police. Here is the account of events, according to the Winnebago County State Attorney Joe Bruscato:

"As the officers were standing in front of the door, the individual came out, lunged at officer Poole, grabbing his weapon, grabbing the barrel of his weapon, with both hands," Bruscato said. "Officer Poole then had the weapon pushed toward his face. Officer Poole then attempted to push the weapon back, successfully redirecting it, and one shot was fired, which struck Mr. Barmore in the neck."

Sheila Brown (the wife of pastor Melvin Brown who runs the church) and her daughter Marissa gave a completely different description of events that took place that day, stating that Barmore came out of the boiler room with his hands up and was then shot by police. Attorneys representing the Browns have stated that the Grand Jury never heard the testimony of Sheila and Marissa.

According to the county attorney, Sheila and Marissa Brown refused to testify or speak to police. Their attorneys, however, argue that they never refused to testify before the grand jury. According to their lawyer, Keenan Saulter, this is why the grand jury never heard their testimony when they offered it (as he shared with the Rockford Register Star):

"Yet, immediately upon receiving the subpoenas, the attorneys were informed that no grand jury would be impaneled to investigate this matter at that time, and that witnesses need not appear," Saulter said. "Attorneys for Pastor Sheila Brown and Marissa Brown immediately contacted the Winnebago state's attorney's office and advised that Pastor Sheila Brown and Marissa Brown would make themselves available to testify provided that their right to counsel would not be infringed, and that reasonable notice be given as to the date and time for their testimony. Nearly three and a half months passed (from September through Dec. 17, 2009) without any communication from the Winnebago state's attorney's office relating to the investigation or the possible issuance of subpoenas for the appearance of Pastor Sheila Brown or Marissa Brown before the grand jury."

It appears that something fishy is going on here. An independent investigation is necessary to get to the bottom of this. There is no way that the grand jury can make a decision based solely on the officers' description of the shooting. It is a well-known fact that police officers are not inclined to give testimony that is detrimental to their careers or likely to get their colleague's arrested.

I'll keep you posted.