The protest was related to the death of Hasani Best in August. A
police officer shot and killed Best in August after a standoff inside a home on
Fourth Avenue. Police say that Best was holding a knife at the time, and threatened
to stab officers. City
activist Randy Thomspon has been vocal about what he thinks was an unfair
shooting.
Best's family was at the protest. They are planning on filing a
civil lawsuit against Asbury Park and the officer who opened fire, Sgt. Sean DeShader. They
are alleging a wrongful killing.
"We demand the attorney general's office, pursuant to the
law, put the facts before a grand jury. That is a requirement. And when the attorney
general puts before a grand jury a video, pictures of the truth, it is clear
that this killing was unjustified," says family attorney Scott Ryneck.
"This killing never should have happened. And this police officer has
committed criminal acts causing this death. We want this police officer
charged, arrested and sent to jail."
The shooting was captured on
police body cam footage when officers responded to the domestic dispute. Best
was pronounced dead 20 minutes later at Jersey Shore University Medical
Center.
The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General is investigating the
circumstances of this shooting.