This is a list of people reported killed by non-military law enforcement officers in the United States in October 2021, whether in the line of duty or not, and regardless of reason or method. The listing documents the occurrence of a death, making no implications regarding wrongdoing or justification on the part of the person killed or officer involved. Killings are arranged by date of the incident that caused death. Different death dates, if known, are noted in the description. The table below lists 13 people.
Date | Name (age) of deceased | Race | Location | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
2021-10-30 | Jason Jones (29) | Unknown | Catskill Village, New York | Jones walked into the Catskill Police building and got into a confrontation with officers. After Jones doused himself with hand sanitizer, an officer tased him, causing him to burst into flames. Jones was hospitalized and was pronounced dead on December 15.[1][2] |
2021-10-29 | Christopher Zike (51) | White | Boston, Massachusetts | An off-duty Massachusetts State Trooper lost control while driving a Ford Explorer and stopped perpendicular on Interstate 93 South against the median barrier. Moments after, Zike hit the SUV while riding his motorcycle and later died. The SUV's passenger said the trooper had "six to seven" drinks before driving and had tried to kiss her moments before the crash. The trooper, who had graduated from the academy a week prior, was relieved of duty, fired, and charged with motor vehicle homicide while OUI and negligent operation of a motor vehicle.[3] |
2021-10-20 | Jesse Fischer (40) | Unknown | Arlington, Texas | An officer attempted to pull over Fischer for drunk driving. According to police chief Al Jones, the officer exited his vehicle and shot Fischer as he drove around a cul-de-sac. The officer was fired several days later for violating department policy regarding stepping in front of moving vehicles.[4] In June 2022 the officer was indicted on a murder charge.[5] |
2021-10-18 | Reiner Sommer (50) | Unknown | Las Vegas, Nevada | Police responded to reports of a man acting erratic. Officers took Sommer into custody, after which he was handcuffed and restrained. He fell unresponsive and died at the hospital. His death was ruled a homicide due to police restraint, with methamphetamine, heart disease, and obesity also playing a role.[6] |
2021-10-14 | Calvin Wilks Jr. (40) | Black | Crestview, Florida | Police responded to reports of a man calling for help and encountered Wilks at his home. Police tased Wilks, after which he became unresponsive and died the following day at a hospital. The death was ruled a homicide and three officers were indicted on manslaughter charges.[7] |
2021-10-13 | Jamie Liang (24) | Asian | New York City, New York | An off-duty NYPD officer allegedly shot her ex-girlfriend and her ex's new girlfriend, Liang, at the ex's home in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. The officer was arrested and charged with murder. The ex-girlfriend was hospitalized but is in stable condition.[8] |
2021-10-13 | Jim Rogers (54) | Black | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Police responded to a report of a stolen bicycle, although the bike's owner stated she was selling the bike and would have given it to Rogers, who had taken it and returned it to her home. Police tased Rogers eight times, after which he fell unconscious, later dying in the hospital the day after. Rogers's death was ruled an accident and five officers were fired for their role in his death.[9][10] |
2021-10-09 | Angel Acevedo Jr. (40) | Unknown | Tinton Falls, New Jersey | An off-duty officer was driving to work on a highway when his truck drifted off and struck the car of a Baltimore couple. Both died at the scene. Prosecutors say the officer was under the influence at the time.[11] |
Daniela Correia Salles (35) | ||||
2021-10-05 | Daniel Garcia (43) | Unknown | Corpus Christi, Texas | U.S. Marshals were serving an arrest warrant against Garcia for cocaine distribution when he was shot and killed. Officials say Garcia was unarmed and Marshals believed he was reaching for a gun when he was shot, although no gun was found.[12] |
2021-10-04 | Michael Craig (61) | Black | Chicago, Illinois | Craig called police during a domestic dispute saying that his wife had a knife to his throat. Body cam footage shows an officer enter the apartment and speak to their son, who says that his mother has a knife. The officer then found Craig and his wife fighting, and fired both his gun and taser, hitting Craig. An attorney says that Craig was the domestic violence victim, and that he had been stabbed several times before police arrived.[13] |
2021-10-04 | Demetrius Deshawn Roberts (21) | Black | Las Vegas, Nevada | Officers were responding to a domestic dispute were fired at by Roberts. After returning fire, they followed him and shot and killed him.[14] |
2021-10-04 | Paul J. Weeden (66) | Unknown | Walton, New York | A police officer responding to a mental health call shot and killed Weeden after he allegedly pointed what appeared to be a gun at police.[15] |