Anthony Kyser (pictured above left) of Chicago walked out of a CVS store on Saturday, holding toothpaste that didn't belong to him. He never expected that this toothpaste would cost him his life.
A CVS store employee saw Kyser and chased him out of the store and in to the alley. He caught up with Kyser and put him in to a choke hold. "I can't breathe, I can't breathe!" were the words coming out of Kyser's mouth, as he was being restrained by the employee. Three other men were attempting to control Kyser as well, according to witnesses. That is when he died.
The medical examiner ruled Kyser's death a homicide, citing that the autopsy showed he was strangled. The police, however, are saying that the employee who killed him won't be charged. The death is being treated as "accidental," according to Chicago Police Spokesman Daniel O'Brien.
Kyser's family is outraged by the decision.
"Why would you kill someone over toothpaste?" said Kyser's ex-wife, Ann Balboa (pictured above right). "Why would you even chase them, and how is this not murder -- it doesn't make sense."
According to family members, Kyser has served prison time on drug convictions and has had a drug problem for some time. They do not, however, believe that what he did should have cost him his life. The family wants a full investigation in to claims made by two witnesses that an off-duty Chicago police officer was at the scene and had her weapon drawn on Kyser before he died. The police are saying that no officer was present at the time.
According to witnesses, the officer pointed her weapon, announced herself and told Kyser to stop resisting the CVS employee and the other men who were holding him down. When he would not stop, she went in to her car and made a phone call. Chicago Police Spokesman John Mirabelli said that Kyser was unconscious when officers arrived at the scene. Police Lt. Maureen Biggane said, "We have no indication of CPD involvement."
Kyser was declared dead 45 minutes later at Mount Sinai Hospital.
When it comes to the death of Anthony Kyser, the bottom line is this: There needs to be a deeper and more serious investigation in to whether Chicago police were involved in this incident. The words of community witnesses should be taken as seriously as those of the police. Also, the public should get a clear understanding, regarding why the CVS employee is not being charged for a death that was ruled a homicide by the medical examiner.
While many of us do not condone resisting arrest or shoplifting, we can all agree that there should not be a death sentence for stealing toothpaste. The family deserves both compensation and an explanation about what happened in this case.
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TO MY UNDERSTANDING A SECURITY GUARD CANT EVEN TOUCH YOU ONCE YOU LEAVE THE STORE, THAT'S WHAT ALOT OF THEM I KNOW TELL ME, SO WHAT GIVES THEM THE RIGHT TO STRANGLE SOMEONE. WHERE WAS SECURITY? STEALING IS WRONG BUT DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE SOMEONE LIFE SHOULD BE TOOKEN. TOOTHPASTE AND CRAYON, COME ON.
I still remember my 82yo mother (now passed on) crying after the SECOND time they stole her little car, and torched it. She was on a fixed income, and could not afford a replacement. I knew I'd never find the perps, so I had built a 150 megaton Tactical Thermonuclear Device so that the perps would probably be caught within the 50 mile vaporization radius; but I couldn't get the fission detonation device to work reliably, so I scrapped it. So that would be 7.5 million people incinerated over an 87' Toyota Corolla; unfair - certainly - but what started it?
I wonder if it was a white that got killed by a black man in this fashion would they let it go and it is justified? I don't think so. Why is it always ok that a brotha or sis dies it's then ok? Then they wonder why black people are still so damn bitter when it comes to this type of crap.... That's BS
couldn't the CVS manager go in his pocket and gave the man two dollars, and bring him back in the store to pay for the toothpaste. there are sometimes in one life one have to go outside the box. if is was a robbery would the manager and friends be so BOLD.
this went way wrong. Kill someone with a car dont have to be yours, u get vehicular homicide, IF your kill ANYONE by ACCIDENT using CAR, or other methods that can be easily proven to be an Accident, the CHARGE IS CALLED INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER, and holds a federal prison sentence of more than 5yrs. The years are more like 10 or 15 might even still remain 25 depending on the state your in. I am not a lawyer just someone who has already been through the system for something very similar to this and yes it did result in someone dying and me going to prison. just didnt stay long due to a retiring judge giving me a chance.
THE POLICE , COURTS , AND JUDGES ARE HUMAN BEINGS , THEY HAVE NEVER FOLLOWED LEGAL MATTERS CORRECTLY 100% OF THE TIME , THIS CAUSES DISCORD IN OUR NATION BECAUSE OF THE POT LUCK TREATMENT , A LOT OF TIME MONEY TALKS IN ORDER FOR YOU TO WALK GUILTY OR NOT . THEY MAKE THEIR OWN RULES UP CASES BY CASE , THIS MANS FAMILY SHOULD CHALLENGE THIS DETERMINATION , EXAMINER SAYS ACCIDENTIAL , THEY SHOULD BE JAILED , THERE IS NO ACCIDENT PUTTING YOUR HANDS AROUND SOMEONES NECK CONSTRICTING THEIR BREATHING . MY VAST AND BROAD COMPARRISON IS WHEN A WOMAN DEMANDS A MAN TO STOP HAVING SEX WITH HER AND HE DOSENT THATS RAPE , WHEN A PERSON TELLS YOU THAT THEY CANT BREATH BECAUSE YOU ARE CHOCKING THEM AND YOU DIE THATS MURDER
This is to ooozzzzz, tanisha and tired of poor me. People like you have never been sh@t, won't be sh@t, and never will be sh@t! So take your lame excuses for human beings and crawl back into the slime you and your parents came out of, because obviously your parents have never taught you all anything about compassion! What the man did was wrong, but should not die because of it! Well I hope everyone one of you get some kind of ticket next time from the so call protectors of justice. And while you are getting that ticket you get shot accidently! Since your broke the law no big deal right? And I will make sure I go and visit your grave stone and read your epitaph! It was just a speeding ticket!!!! Good luck ho's and bro's!
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Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and the author of the new book 'Black American Money.' To have Dr. Boyce's commentary delivered to your e-mail, please click here. 
Comments: (115)
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By: carla ford on 5/12/2010 8:30AM
Arjai
Finally, someone on this site with some sense! Thank you, very well-put.
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By: KIKI on 5/11/2010 8:41PM
TO MY UNDERSTANDING A SECURITY GUARD CANT EVEN TOUCH YOU ONCE YOU LEAVE THE STORE, THAT'S WHAT ALOT OF THEM I KNOW TELL ME, SO WHAT GIVES THEM THE RIGHT TO STRANGLE SOMEONE. WHERE WAS SECURITY? STEALING IS WRONG BUT DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE SOMEONE LIFE SHOULD BE TOOKEN. TOOTHPASTE AND CRAYON, COME ON.
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By: Mike P on 5/12/2010 4:14AM
I still remember my 82yo mother (now passed on) crying after the SECOND time they stole her little car, and torched it. She was on a fixed income, and could not afford a replacement. I knew I'd never find the perps, so I had built a 150 megaton Tactical Thermonuclear Device so that the perps would probably be caught within the 50 mile vaporization radius; but I couldn't get the fission detonation device to work reliably, so I scrapped it. So that would be 7.5 million people incinerated over an 87' Toyota Corolla; unfair - certainly - but what started it?
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By: Prettygirl89 on 5/12/2010 8:03AM
I wonder if it was a white that got killed by a black man in this fashion would they let it go and it is justified? I don't think so. Why is it always ok that a brotha or sis dies it's then ok? Then they wonder why black people are still so damn bitter when it comes to this type of crap.... That's BS
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By: tykete on 5/12/2010 8:17AM
What color was the store clerk?? Or the Cop?? Both black
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By: D on 5/12/2010 12:53PM
If the races were reversed in this situation you certainly would not be hearing 10 million white people pulling the race card.
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By: linda j on 5/12/2010 10:35AM
couldn't the CVS manager go in his pocket and gave the man two dollars, and bring him back in the store to pay for the toothpaste. there are sometimes in one life one have to go outside the box. if is was a robbery would the manager and friends be so BOLD.
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By: robert on 6/17/2010 12:57PM
this went way wrong. Kill someone with a car dont have to be yours, u get vehicular homicide, IF your kill ANYONE by ACCIDENT using CAR, or other methods that can be easily proven to be an Accident, the CHARGE IS CALLED INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER, and holds a federal prison sentence of more than 5yrs. The years are more like 10 or 15 might even still remain 25 depending on the state your in. I am not a lawyer just someone who has already been through the system for something very similar to this and yes it did result in someone dying and me going to prison. just didnt stay long due to a retiring judge giving me a chance.
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By: LEROY on 5/12/2010 11:13AM
THE POLICE , COURTS , AND JUDGES ARE HUMAN BEINGS , THEY HAVE NEVER FOLLOWED LEGAL MATTERS CORRECTLY 100% OF THE TIME , THIS CAUSES DISCORD IN OUR NATION BECAUSE OF THE POT LUCK TREATMENT , A LOT OF TIME MONEY TALKS IN ORDER FOR YOU TO WALK GUILTY OR NOT . THEY MAKE THEIR OWN RULES UP CASES BY CASE , THIS MANS FAMILY SHOULD CHALLENGE THIS DETERMINATION , EXAMINER SAYS ACCIDENTIAL , THEY SHOULD BE JAILED , THERE IS NO ACCIDENT PUTTING YOUR HANDS AROUND SOMEONES NECK CONSTRICTING THEIR BREATHING . MY VAST AND BROAD COMPARRISON IS WHEN A WOMAN DEMANDS A MAN TO STOP HAVING SEX WITH HER AND HE DOSENT THATS RAPE , WHEN A PERSON TELLS YOU THAT THEY CANT BREATH BECAUSE YOU ARE CHOCKING THEM AND YOU DIE THATS MURDER
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By: george on 5/12/2010 11:29AM
This is to ooozzzzz, tanisha and tired of poor me. People like you have never been sh@t, won't be sh@t, and never will be sh@t! So take your lame excuses for human beings and crawl back into the slime you and your parents came out of, because obviously your parents have never taught you all anything about compassion! What the man did was wrong, but should not die because of it! Well I hope everyone one of you get some kind of ticket next time from the so call protectors of justice. And while you are getting that ticket you get shot accidently! Since your broke the law no big deal right? And I will make sure I go and visit your grave stone and read your epitaph! It was just a speeding ticket!!!! Good luck ho's and bro's!
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