May 2020
Date Name (age) of deceasedRaceState (city)Description2020-05-31 Israel Berry (49) White Oregon (Portland) Berry was shot and killed by police responding to a call of a man making threats. According to police statements, during an encounter with Berry, officers shot him.2020-05-31 Thomas Sutherlin (32) White Wisconsin (Watertown)Sutherlin was shot and killed by police looking to question him about a domestic incident. According to police statements, police confronted Sutherlin during a traffic stop and used a Taser on Sutherlin. The Taser was not effective, and shots were allegedly fired from within Sutherlin's vehicle; the police returned fire and killed him. Sutherlin was transported to a hospital and died from his injuries.2020-05-30 Derrick Thompson (46) Black Florida (Fountain)Thompson was shot and killed by police intervening between a fight where Thompson shot another man. According to police statements, Thompson shot Kendall Kirkland, 23, from Newville, Alabama, and shot at police when officers tried to intervene. Officers returned fire and shot Thompson; he died at the scene.2020-05-29 Caleb Rule (37) White Texas (Sienna)Rule, a deputy constable, was accidentally shot and killed as he and sheriff's deputies were clearing a house. Officials say the deputy thought there was a suspect in the house and fired, hitting Rule.2020-05-29Terrell Mitchell (34)BlackPennsylvania (Philadelphia)2020-05-29Ronnie Kong (32)AsianCalifornia (San Diego)Kong was shot during a standoff with the police. The police surrounded Kong's apartment complex after learning he reportedly shot and killed another person during an argument. During the standoff, King allegedly pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the policemen. 3 officers opened fire and killed him.2020-05-29 Heba Momtaz Al-Azhari (22) Asian Florida (Temple Terrace)Al-Azhari was shot and killed by police when she charged at an officer with a butcher knife outside Temple Terrace City Hall. The Temple Terrace Police Department is investigating the incident.2020-05-29Robert Melton ColvinWhiteCalifornia (Lancaster)2020-05-29 Momodou Lamin Sisay (39) Black Georgia (Snellville)Sisay was shot and killed by police trying to pull him over for a vehicle tag violation. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), Sisay attempted to flee, aimed at a gun at officers, and eventually died after exchange fire with a police SWAT team. Sisay was a Gambian citizen. The GBI is investigating the shooting.2020-05-29 Jarvis Sullivan (44) Black Florida (Yulee)Sullivan was shot and killed by police trying to arrest him during a drug bust. According to police statements, Sullivan tried to escape the police in his vehicle, and when his vehicle accelerated towards an officer, the officer opened fire and killed Sullivan. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting.2020-05-28 John Benedict Coleman (53) White Utah (Ogden)Coleman was shot and killed by police responding to a report of a domestic threat. According to police statements, police confronted Coleman, who retreated into a house and started shooting, killing one officer. Other officers returned fire and killed Coleman.2020-05-28Name WithheldUnknown raceCalifornia (Fontana)2020-05-28Robert Anthony "Jordan" Whitehead (26)WhiteOregon (Portland)2020-05-28 Steven Edward Ferguson (31) White Colorado (Arapahoe County)Ferguson was shot and killed by police watching a parked stolen vehicle. According to police statements, Ferguson was seen getting into a stolen vehicle, and officers confronted Ferguson and commanded him to get out of the car. Ferguson did not get out of the car and allegedly presented a "deadly threat," at which point officers shot and killed him. The 18th Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team is investigating the shooting.2020-05-28 Ruben Smith III (35) Black Arkansas (North Little Rock)Smith was shot and killed by police responding to reports of a man having a gun. According to police statements, Smith was actively shooting his gun near the Rose City Sub-Station and was shot by officers when found. Smith was taken to a local hospital and died June 1, 2020.2020-05-27 Joshua Blessed (58) White New York (Geneseo)Blessed was shot and killed by police pursuing him about his speeding and reckless driving. According to police statements, officers stopped Blessed for speeding in his tractor-trailer, but Blessed eventually drove away and led officers in a chase across three counties. Blessed allegedly drove recklessly through the chase and fired at police officers; officers fired back after an hour and a half chase, and Blessed was shot and killed.2020-05-27Channing Lamar Spivey (34)WhiteAlabama (Luverne)2020-05-27 Hector Hernandez (31) Hispanic California (Fullerton)Hernandez was shot and killed by police responding to a domestic violence call. According to police statements, officers confronted Hernandez outside a home with a knife and ordered him to drop the knife; Hernandez did not drop the knife and turned to enter the home. The police deployed a K9 on Hernandez, Hernandez stabbed the dog, at which point officers shot him. He was taken to a hospital where he died. The K9 dog is expected to make a full recovery.2020-05-27 Tony McDade (38) Black Florida (Tallahassee) McDade was identified as a suspect in the murder of a 21-year old African American on the morning of his death. In a Facebook live video, McDade alluded to a potential suicide by cop. Police said McDade fled the scene of the stabbing on foot before officers arrived, but they encountered McDade nearby shortly afterward. According to police, McDade reportedly had a handgun and "made a move consistent with using the firearm" against an officer, prompting the officer to shoot McDade.2020-05-27 Rommel Mendoza (50) Hispanic California (Los Angeles)Mendoza was shot and killed by police responding to reports of a neighbourhood dispute. According to police reports, officers confronted Mendoza at his home, he armed himself with a sword, and approached officers. Officers did not shoot or kill Mendoza in this first encounter, and Mendoza walked back into his home. After this first encounter, more police officers arrived, including communication officers and an air unit. Mendoza exited his home again, still armed with a sword, and allegedly advanced towards officers. Officers shot Mendoza on this second encounter with non-lethal foam batons, and bullets. Mendoza died at the scene.2020-05-27 Modesto Reyes (35) Black Louisiana (Jefferson Parish)Reyes was shot and killed by police pursuing Reyes for an unspecified traffic violation. According to police statements, officers pursued Reyes for an unspecified traffic violation after he refused to stop, and he eventually bailed out of the vehicle. Reyes ran and tripped, at which point officers caught up to him. Reyes then allegedly pointed a gun at one of the officers, who shot and killed him.2020-05-27 Alexander Scott (30) Unknown Oklahoma (Wilburton)Scott was shot and killed by police responding to a report of a man walking while drunk. According to police statements, Scott threw a bottle at an officer's police cruiser, and then stabbed the officer when he got out, at which point the officer shot him. Scott died at the scene.2020-05-26 John Alvarado (22) Hispanic Texas (Corpus Christi)Alvarado was shot and killed by police responding to a suspected home invasion. According to police statements, officers confronted Alvarado and other suspects during the alleged home invasion, and Alvarado allegedly pulled out a firearm, at which point the officers shot Alvarado. Alvarado was transported to a hospital and died on May 28.2020-05-26 Robert Avitia (18) Hispanic California (Los Angeles)Avitia was shot and killed by police who pursued him for allegedly shooting at an officer. According to police statements, officers approached a group of people when Avitia produced a handgun, shot at the officers, and ran off. Officers pursued Avitia and shot him when he allegedly pointed a handgun at the officers. Avitia died at the scene.2020-05-26 Kenneth Bennett (61) Unknown New York (Manlius)Bennett was shot and killed by police responding to reports of domestic assault. According to police statements, police confronted Bennett at a house where he armed himself with a long gun and made various threats at police. Police tried to negotiate with him to put his gun down, but he did not put down his gun and leveled his gun several times. Police also fired non-lethal foam rounds at Bennett, this was not successful. Police did not kill him for at least hour. Eventually Bennett allegedly approached officers with his weapon, at which point state trooper Gary M. Novotny shot Bennett. Bennett was transported to a hospital where he died. Bennett's gun was later identified as a Daisy lever-action BB gun.2020-05-26Thomas David MarquezHispanicColorado (Thornton)2020-05-26 Richard Councilman (56) White California (Jamestown)Councilman was shot and killed by police responding to a report of a domestic violence incident. According to police, after police arrived at Councilman's residence, Councilman had a standoff with police for 20 minutes, during which the police did not kill him. After twenty minutes, Councilman left his residence, at which point police fired bean bag rounds at him. Councilman then allegedly aimed a gun at officers, which prompted officers to shoot him. Councilman died at the scene, and his firearm was later discovered to be fake.2020-05-26 Tracy Drowne (42) White Florida (Orange County)Drowne was shot and killed by police responding to reports that she hit a man in the face. According to police statements, when officers arrived at Drowne's home to confront her about the alleged assault, she came out of her home with a gun and pointed at the officers, who shot her. Drowne was transported to an area hospital where she died.2020-05-26 John Allen Dunaway III (61) White Florida (Jacksonville)Dunaway was shot and killed by police attempting to help Dunaway after a single-car crash. According to police statements, an officer tried to help Dunaway after a single-car crash, but the officer struggled with Dunaway and shot him twice with a Taser. Afterwards, Dunaway allegedly repeatedly told the officer he had a gun, and ran towards his car, at which point the officer shot. Dunaway died at the scene. JSO searched the car, but could not find a gun. The JSO and the State Attorney’s Office are investigating the shooting. The officer had a body camera, but video from the camera will not be released until all investigations are completed, which could take two years or more.2020-05-26 Jason Jesse Gallegos (37) White Michigan (Lansing)Gallegos was shot and killed by police responding to reports of a domestic violence incident. According to police statements, when police arrived at the scene Gallegos started shooting at officers, who returned fire and killed him.2020-05-26 John Vik (47) Unknown Ohio (Parma)Vik was shot and killed by police responding to a report that Vik had pointed a gun at a somebody's head. According to police statements, officers confronted Vik at his home, where he had barricaded himself, and tried to convince Vik to surrender himself. Vik allegedly walked out of his home eventually and shot at police, who fired back and killed him. The Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation is investigating the shooting.2020-05-25 Joe Louis Castillanos (38) Hispanic Texas (Houston)Castillanos was shot and killed by police on a weapon/welfare check responding to reports of Castillanos as a suicide threat. According to police, police confronted Castillanos armed with a gun walking on the street and ordered him to drop his weapon, instead Castillanos fired at the ground and then allegedly pointed the gun at the officers, at which point the officers shot and killed him. Castillanos died at the scene.2020-05-25 Gary P. Dorton (43) Unknown Tennessee (Jonesbor