On Thursday (June 11), Michael “Blue” Thomas, a 62-year-old unarmed black man in Los Angeles, was fatally shot by a cop inside his living room.
Per Daily Mail, police responded to a call around 5:30 a.m. PST made by Thomas’ fiancée Kimberly over a domestic violence incident. According to authorities, they claimed that the 62-year-old attempted to grab a firearm from a deputy at the time. Michael “Blue” Thomas
According to Kimberly, her partner was simply turning away from officers when they opened gunfire. She also clarified that they were only having a verbal argument. Family attorney Bradley Gage explained to The Daily Beast that the reasoning for his client’s passing doesn’t add up. “There is no doubt in my mind that if Mr. Thomas was white, he would be alive today,” Gage said.
“They broke the front down and they grabbed Mr. Thomas immediately. As they were holding him, they hurt him by twisting his arm. At that point, because he was uncomfortable, Mr. Thomas tried to move and one deputy just stepped back and shot him. He was murdered without justification. It was 100 percent avoidable,” Gage explained before adding, “He was disabled, he had problems with his hands. It would have been painful for him to try to grab a gun.”
Gage’s explanation differed from what authorities said in their official statement regarding the incident. “During the altercation, the suspect reached down and attempted to gain control of one of the deputy’s firearms. It was at that time when a deputy-involved shooting occurred,” a police statement read. At the moment, the investigation remains ongoing.
Thomas’ passing came after the senseless deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, who both lost their lives as a result of mistreatment by the police. In the past few weeks, outraged Americans have marched in protests, calling for justice. Rest in peace, Michael “Blue” Thomas.