Suspect Dies After Being Tazed by Police

(IntegrityPress.org) – The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement gained prominence in the wake of George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis, Minnesota, police in 2020. Co-founder Patrisse Cullors headed the group but quickly found herself mired in scandals involving how the organization used the funds it raised. Now, someone related to her has died following a scuffle with police.

On January 3, someone called the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) to the scene of a traffic accident. When they got there, they found and detained an adult male acting erratically, according to an official LAPD statement. Authorities later identified him as Keenan Anderson, the cousin of Cullors.

Police say they were initially able to calm Anderson down, and he cooperated with them. However, he quickly attempted to flee from the scene. A scuffle ensued, and LAPD officers tased him as part of an effort to subdue him. Viewers can hear him saying, “They’re trying to George Floyd me,” in a recording of the incident captured by a police officer’s body cam.

‘They’re Trying To George Floyd Me!’: BLM Co-Founder’s Cousin Dies Hours After Police Tase Him In Los Angeles https://t.co/neQQhFOngT via @DailyCaller

— Chris 🇺🇸 (@Chris_1791) January 12, 2023

Because the police tased Anderson, they called the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) to administer medical aid. First responders took him to a hospital in Santa Monica. Unfortunately, he suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away.

The reference to George Floyd is likely to stir up incidents related to those that took place following his death. Riots erupted during the summer of 2020 in cities across the country. Some municipalities experienced such significant destruction that they’re still undergoing rebuilding.

Cullors spoke about her cousin, describing him as “an educator [who] worked with high school-aged children.” She blames the LAPD for his death. Speaking to The Guardian, she said, “my cousin was asking for help, and he didn’t receive it.”

Now, Cullors and other activists are calling for the resignation of the LAPD’s police chief. The case is under investigation by the Force Investigation Division.