Family struggles to understand shooting; police account doesn't jibe with man they knew
Twenty-year-old Byron Matthews didn't fit the profile of a guy who points guns at police officers, according to his family. The father of twin girls graduated from Vivien T. Thomas Medical Arts Academy in 2008, worked on his off-days at a wine and spirits distribution company in Jessup, and had no brushes with the law as a juvenile or as an adult.
His family is seeking answers after he was shot and killed by police officers shortly after midnight Wednesday during a drug investigation. Police say he pointed a .38-caliber revolver at plainclothes detectives and was found in possession of heroin, an image that family, friends and co-workers are having trouble reconciling with his reputation.
"Byron was never in trouble. He is not the monster he's being portrayed to be," said an aunt, Janet Robertson, 47. "If they say they've got a tape that shows him and he had a gun, then I'm going to have to respect what they did. But until then, we want justice."
His family is seeking answers after he was shot and killed by police officers shortly after midnight Wednesday during a drug investigation. Police say he pointed a .38-caliber revolver at plainclothes detectives and was found in possession of heroin, an image that family, friends and co-workers are having trouble reconciling with his reputation.
"Byron was never in trouble. He is not the monster he's being portrayed to be," said an aunt, Janet Robertson, 47. "If they say they've got a tape that shows him and he had a gun, then I'm going to have to respect what they did. But until then, we want justice."
Posted by Justin Fenton at 8:50 AM | Permalink
| Comments (3)
Categories: Neighborhoods, Police shootings, West Baltimore
Categories: Neighborhoods, Police shootings, West Baltimore
Comments
WOW!!! THE POLICE DOING THE "SHOT FIRST AND ASK QUESTIONS WHEN YOU CAN" POLICY. SINCE DEC.7TH THERE'S BEEN 3 POLICE INVOLVED SHOOTINGS, 1 FATAL
Posted by: uncleollie41 | December 11, 2009 10:05 AM
Maybe criminals should stop trying to kill the police and they wont be shot! Ive been robbed at gunpoint and have no sympathy for gun- wielding thugs who have no respect for anyone or anything. Baltimore City has drug dealers on every corner who carry guns and think they own the world. Dont believe me? Take a walk sometime - try Pratt/Calhoun or 10th/Potapsco. Take a look at the murder rate for Maryland and pray to God that if you are being robbed or assaulted that the Police are close by because if you live in the City - the stats prove you'll need them someday. Probably sooner then later.
Posted by: onthego321 | December 12, 2009 3:39 AM
Good guy? I feel selling H is just as bad as the gun part. It is always the police bad guys. Got a feeling this guy was no angel and has never been caught before, always a first.
Posted by: ryan | December 16, 2009 10:12 AM