Greater than two dozen mates, relations and activists rallied exterior the Aurora Municipal Heart on Monday night time, decrying Arapahoe County District Lawyer John Kellner’s determination to not press prices towards the Aurora Police Division officer who fatally shot Kilyn Lewis.
Lewis’ household discovered that Kellner had introduced his determination to not cost Aurora Police Division Officer Michael Dieck on Friday by means of the information media, Lewis’ mom LaRonda Jones mentioned Monday.
“One factor I need the world to know is that simply because the end result got here out, that’s not the final outcome and that’s undoubtedly not the final choice,” Jones mentioned, standing in entrance of the Municipal Heart. “We’ll proceed to battle for my son… and we’ll battle with all energy.”
Aurora and Denver police surveilled Lewis for 2 days earlier than they tried to arrest him on suspicion of tried homicide exterior an condominium advanced on South Ironton Avenue on Might 23.
Kellner’s determination letter cited Lewis reaching a hand into his again pocket in the course of the encounter as one of many causes Dieck believed he was at risk of loss of life and due to this fact legally justified in capturing Lewis.
Investigators later discovered Lewis was holding a cellphone and plastic tubes of fruit snacks.
Kellner’s determination was not shocking, organizer Auon’tai Anderson mentioned.
“We anticipated this consequence as a result of the system has proven us that Black lives actually don’t matter,” Anderson mentioned Monday night time. “For 144 days this household has waited for solutions, and the reply is that the person accountable for the loss of life of Kilyn Lewis will get to return to work.”
Jones defended her son’s character on the rally Monday, saying that whereas everybody has performed issues they’re not happy with, Lewis was an honorable man.
“Kilyn was not any of these issues they made him out to be. In the event you imagine any of that, then disgrace on you,” she mentioned.
Lewis’ father, Robert Lewis, described his son as loving and sort.
“I’m just one little voice and one little voice solely, however I stand for my son and he didn’t need to die like that,” Robert Lewis mentioned.
The capturing was “state-sanctioned violence,” Denver Justice Mission Government Director Alexander Landau mentioned on the rally.
“Kellner, you need to be ashamed. You might be a part of the issue. It is a ethical subject, proper? The district legal professional perpetuates this sort of violence within the Aurora Police Division,” he mentioned.
Jones requested neighborhood members to face with Lewis’ household and different advocates in calling for change.
“I implore you guys to face with us and let your voice be heard, not just for Kilyn however for your beloved too,” she mentioned.
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