Kiaira Wheeler

On January 3^rd, 2022, Keenan Anderson, cousin of Patrisee Cullors, the founder of the Black Lives Matter movement, died after an LAPD taser encounter and arrest.

At 3:35 pm, a motorcycle officer was called to a traffic collision scene at Lincoln Blvd and Venice Blvd. The officer had his first encounter with a man running in the street that was allegedly to be Keenan Anderson.

A video showed Anderson behaving strangely and lashing out, saying someone was coming after him. After that, the officer put in a call for a traffic collision; he also reported a possible DUI. 

Officers’ investigation revealed that Anderson was the one who caused the collision and committed a felony hit and run by fleeing the scene and allegedly attempting to steal another vehicle after the mishap.

The officers called for back up and ordered Anderson to sit on the curb. Unfortunately, Anderson said someone was trying to kill him and repeatedly said, “He didn’t mean to. “ After that, he ignored the officer’s orders, which lead the LAPD officer to request more units. 

Anderson was still running around 3:45 p.m., causing the motorcycle police to chase him while riding his motorbike. The scene intensified when the LAPD officer insisted Anderson get on the ground. At 3:46 p.m., a taser was used as cops were issuing several instructions to Anderson, and the officers threatened Anderson that if he didn’t listen to them, they would tase him.

When Anderson was on the ground, another officer placed his elbow into Anderson’s neck, and Anderson said, “He’s trying to George Floyd me.’’ The officers kept tasing Anderson and Anderson said, “I’m not resisting.” The officer continued to tase Anderson while he was in handcuffs. 

When the LAFD medic came, he placed Anderson on a stretcher and transported him to the hospital. Anderson was pronounced dead after a four-and-a-half-hour cardiac arrest. 

Delaware State University student Bowling said, “The video left a heavy feeling in my heart. It hurts tired of seeing people that look like me being killed by people that are supposed to protect us. As an African American, I look at police officers differently; these are supposed to be people we can trust and expect to protect us but instead, they cause just as mush harm as any other person.”

Another DSU student said, “I honestly do look at police officers differently; I don’t even think to call on them for help; first, I think of my mom. They were telling him to stop resisting and to turn over as if the officer wasn’t holding him down, not allowing him to move, and the officer did not have to take him for that long you could see his life leaving his body.”

LAPD reported that Anderson had cocaine and marijuana in his blood; however, they are investigating the cause of Anderson’s death.