Last month, The Root reported that 29-year-old South African man Lindani Myeni was fatally shot by Honolulu, Hawaii, police officers after he removed his shoes and then entered the home of two tourists who then called the police even though he is seen on RING video apologizing to the couple before leaving peacefully. Myeni’s wife filed a wrongful death lawsuit claiming that the shooting was racially motivated on the part of the officers, but last Wednesday, officials dismissed the claim along with any chance of seeing justice served on Myeni’s behalf as it has been decided that the shooting was justified and that race played no part in it.
“We did not find any evidence that race played any part in this case,” Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm said during a press conference, KHON 2 reports.
As we previously reported, video footage of the incident shows a couple entering the home with Myeni following behind. He removes his shoes before he enters and less than a minute later he is seen leaving the home and apologizing to the occupants, one of whom is frantic as she points Myeni out to the police moments later.
The video also shows the altercation and struggle between Myeni and the officers, the first of whom didn’t announce himself as an officer when confronting Myeni. Not much time passed between the initial confrontation between Myeni and the officers and the time shots are fired, just as not much time passed between Myeni entering the home and then leaving. (Myeni’s wife’sattorneys said that he likely mistook the house for a similar-looking home next door that houses a temple that is open to the public.) However, Alm said that plenty happened in those short moments and that it all actually started before the alleged home invasion (which was reported as an attempted burglary) even took place.
Source: Prosecutor Won’t Charge Honolulu Police Officers Who Fatally Shot South African Man
