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The family of Tyrell Wilson, who died in a hospital Wednesday after being struck by gunfire in an officer-involved shooting in Danville last Thursday, has retained a civil rights lawyer to investigate the circumstances that led to his death.
The Contra Costa Office of the Sheriff announced the death Wednesday afternoon and said it “is committed to full transparency of all the facts. Sheriff’s investigators continue to work with the District Attorney’s Office on investigating this incident pursuant to the countywide law enforcement involved fatal incident protocol.”
The incident began at 11:48 a.m. March 11, when police dispatch received several calls from motorists regarding a man throwing rocks onto oncoming Interstate 680 traffic while standing atop the Sycamore Valley Road overpass.
The account provided by the Office of the Sheriff is that Andrew Hall, a peace officer with the sheriff’s department, arrived at the scene and contacted Wilson, who was in the area of Sycamore Valley Road and Camino Ramon, just east of the freeway. Hall approached Wilson and attempted to speak with him. Wilson then pulled out a folding knife and opened it. Hall ordered him to drop the knife several times. That is when Wilson approached Hall, who then discharged his weapon, striking Wilson once.
“Tyrell’s parents are concerned that the officer’s statements are not totally truthful,” the office of civil rights attorney John Burris of Oakland said in a statement. “Especially since an independent witness disputes the officer’s account. The witness described a different account of how the incident occurred between Officer Hall and Mr. Wilson.”
Burris said the shooting “is the second use of deadly force by Officer Hall” and announced he will be “suing the officer and the department for civil rights violations for the prior use of deadly force.”
Hall, who is assigned to Danville under a contract with the county, has been a peace officer for seven and a half years and is on paid administrative leave per department policy, sheriff’s office spokesperson Jimmy Lee said.
Really? The transient who was dropping rocks on cars from an overpass was shot after pulling a knife on an officer and the family thinks it should benefit from this? Let’s hope they get a lot of money and then get sued by the people whose cars were hit by the rocks.
Danville and Officer Hall should not settle a dime on Mr. Burriss’ attempt at extortion. It’s time to put at end to these farcical lotteries.
I completely agree with the two posts above! It is amazing how these “family members” were nowhere to be found when these criminal transients were out on the streets committing crimes and injuring innocent victims, but suddenly these “family members” show up with crocodile tears when an ambulance chasing lawyer contacts them and promises them money. Please, Town of Danville, do not pay a dime on this frivolous lawsuit, as your town citizens support this police officer who risked his own life and was forced in self defense to shoot a criminal, one time, who ignored commands to surrender, but instead escalated the situation by pulling out a knife and went into attack mode. There are consequences for ignoring lawful commands from the police, and then pulling a knife on an officer, and the tragic end of this criminal’s life was his own fault. If his “loving family members” were as concerned about his welfare and safety when he was a transient committing crimes on the street, as they suddenly are when they think there is a settlement waiting for them, they would have stepped in years ago and got him help, and encouraged him to change his ways, before it was too late.
Very sad situation, but where was this man’s family when he was sleeping on the streets and in obvious need of mental health care? And where was the assistance from the mental health system in general? The police have the right to defend themselves against a weapon wielding individual and race has nothing to do with it. I support the police in this situation 100%.
Not one dime. Burris needed to go a long time ago.
Retaining an attorney for what? What about the rights of the individuals he was hurling rocks at from the over pass? I stand with the CCC Sheriff’s Department. They are committed to our safety and I appreciate what they do each and every day. I’m sorry a family lost a loved one. Mental illness can be a beast. This incident was, in no way, a violation of anyone’s civil rights. It was a matter of safety.
Man are you all pathetic. Wonder how all of you feel about the suits filed in 2014 and 2015 against the Danville police by people who actually were convicted of crimes. I bet none of you even know what I am talking about
The family is all lawyered up now. Where were they when Tyrell was sleeping in a bus stop? Ah, there’s no money sleeping in a bus stop.
It is amazing how little sympathy anyone had for this mentally ill man. You know nothing about what his family has gone through. I am sure none of you remember this story of a Monte Vista grad and his battle with drug addiction and homelessness. And don’t think it had a happy ending cause 6 months after this article was published this Danville resident returned to the tenderloin and subsequently died of a drug overdose. I don’t think a single one of you would condemn his family https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Once-homeless-now-found-Danville-native-13817848.php I am ashamed of the people on this thread and on the other thread that was shut down yesterday. Clearly we live in an intolerant community and their are racist among us (and on these posts). You can’t see the obvious. In the last week 18 people were killed by two people who are white (and yes I know the Colorado killer had a Muslim name, which probably thrills most of you, but look at him) and somehow police were able to get both of them disarmed without killing them even though they had far more reason to kill them as opposed to Mr Wilson. Your false outrage over this man calling him a thug, belittling his family and praising an officer how has propensity for violence just masks your racism and hate.
At Don,
Seems to me you’re the one passing judgment before the facts come out.