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In loving memory
Tommie Staples Jr.
United States · Aged 55 · Died 06/02/2008
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How they died
Deadly force
According to police, officers Barron Townsend and Steven Kopp. saw Tommie Staples Jr. lingering in an alley at about 10:30 p.m. and walked over to him. Staples allegedly put his hands under his shirt, which made officers think he was armed. Staples allegedly attempted to threaten the officers with a gun, so they shot him in the back, killing him. The gun police said was found near Staples' body didn't have his fingerprints on it, and there were other inconsistencies between the police version and the evidence. The city settled a lawsuit with Staples estate in 2010 for $2.5. million. Townsend also shot and killed Dennis/Stephen Crawford in 2004.
Alleged responsible partyDetroit Police DepartmentReported by the cited sources. “Alleged” is used pending verification.
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This record exists so that Tommie Staples Jr., and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.
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