Mother of teenager killed by police hit by stray bullet during funeral: report

The mother of a black teenager who was shot dead by police in Florida earlier this month was reportedly shot dead during her son’s funeral last week.

A spokesperson for the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Tod Goodyear, told NBC News on Monday that the mother, Quasheda Pierce, 39, was shot in the leg during Saturday’s service.

The spokesperson said the agency’s investigation into the shooting, which he said included testimony and physical evidence, determined that the shot “allegedly originated” from a 16-year-old who had “apparently suffered an accidental discharge of a concealed firearm on his person during the funeral service.

Goodyear said the teenager, whose name has not been released, was also injured on Saturday, claiming that “the bullet entered and exited his leg before hitting Quasheda Pierce’s leg.”

He added that none of the injuries appeared to be life threatening.

According to Florida Today, people heard a gunshot as participants lay flowers on the casket of Pierce’s 18-year-old son, Sincere Pierce.

Moments later, participants were seen fleeing the cemetery. Brevard County Sheriff’s Office assistants and emergency medical personnel arrived shortly after.

The Hill has contacted the sheriff’s office for comment.

The shooting comes after the police murder of Sincere Pierce and Angelo Crooms, 16, which sparked local protests earlier this month.

At the time, the local sheriff’s office said two of his deputies, Jafet Santiago-Miranda and Carson Hendren, had “attempted to conduct a follow-up investigation into what they believed to be a possible stolen car.” The office said the car also leaked another local lawmaker.

The office, which also posted dashcam footage of the shooting, said MPs attempted to stop the vehicle, which they said was being driven by the teenagers.

“MP Santiago-Miranda gives repeated verbal orders, 7 to be exact, to the driver of the vehicle to stop the car, however, the driver of the vehicle, Angelo Crooms, 16, turns and accelerates the vehicle in direction. deputy Santiago-Miranda, “the office said.

The office claimed Santiago-Miranda was “forced to fire his service weapon” in self-defense.

An investigation into the shooting continues.