NAACP Wants Special Prosecutor in Death of Man in Wheelchair

WILMINGTON, Del.— The fatal shooting of a man in a wheelchair by Wilmington police is being investigated by a new unit within the Delaware attorney general’s office that was established to help instill public trust in government, but the state NAACP ...

The scene of where Delaware police officers fatally shot an armed man Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015. AP Photo/Randall Chase

WILMINGTON, Del.— The fatal shooting of a man in a wheelchair by Wilmington police is being investigated by a new unit within the Delaware attorney general’s office that was established to help instill public trust in government, but the state NAACP is calling for an independent investigation by a special prosecutor.

Authorities say Jeremy McDole, 28, was shot Wednesday afternoon after police responded to a 911 call about man who had shot himself and was still armed with a handgun.

Police Chief Bobby Cummings said Thursday that McDole, who was left paralyzed by a shooting 10 years ago, failed to obey officers’ commands to show his hands and put his weapon down, and that he was shot as he began to remove the gun from his waist.

Cummings said he did not know if McDole pointed the gun at any of the four officers, “but when he went to remove the weapon, they engaged him.”

Flowers lie at the scene of where Delaware police officers fatally shot an armed man Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, in wheelchair after responding to a call that he had a self-inflicted gunshot wound, is seen Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, in Wilmington, Del. Authorities say a shooting occurred and the man died at the scene.AP Photo/Randall Chase