Mom of robber, 19, killed by cops demands apology over mock TOMB STONE

The mother of a Seattle liquor store robber who was shot and killed by cops has demanded an apology after a mock tomb stone for her son was spotted in a precinct break room. 

Damarius Butts, 19, was killed while fleeing a robbery at a downtown convenience store on April 20, 2017. He tried to steal beer, before officers chased him and exchanged gunfire.

But now, a video has captured a glimpse of a small gray mock tombstone on the shelf in the Seattle Police Department’s East Precinct break room, with his name inscribed on it and the date he was killed.

The tombstone for Butts bore a clenched black fist. On the night of his death, he suffered 11 gunshot wounds and bled to death as officers waited outside. 

The mock tombstone is seen on the top shelf on the left of the frame

Butts’ name and the date he was killed was written on the tomb stone

Following an inquest in the aftermath, the police department cleared the officers and found the shooting justified.

Ann Butts is now demanding the police force apologize for their mock effigy. 

The police department, however, have said they have ‘no reason to believe it was placed as a ‘trophy’ or with any pejorative intent.’

Butts said, through her attorney La Rond Baker: ‘I can’t express how hurtful it was to learn that SPD endorsed joking about the killing of my son by displaying a fake tombstone with his name on it.

‘I didn’t think SPD could take more from me. I was wrong.’

Baker added: ‘We are even more disturbed that SPD allowed such a culture to flourish so openly in its ranks and in its precinct facilities. Seattle deserves so much better from an agency sworn to protect Seattle residents.’

The bodycam footage which caught the tomb stone on the shelf was filmed in January 2021, and was released as part of a completely separate lawsuit being filed against the police force.  

On the night of his death, Butts suffered 11 gunshot wounds and bled to death as officers waited outside

As well as the remnants from various Black Lives Matter events in Seattle, the break room also had a Trump 2020 flag adorning the wall – which may be a violation of state law and on-duty cops’ need for partisan politics

Seattle Police Chief, Adrian Diaz

Demonstrators hold a rally and teach-in outside of the Seattle Police Departments East Precinct, which has been boarded up and protected by fencing, on June 8, 2020

Baker said the tombstone was allegedly taken from a Black Lives Matter memorial for people killed by police. 

There was also a protester’s sign pleading for police to ‘Stop Killing Us’ on the wall of the room. 

As well as the remnants from various Black Lives Matter events in Seattle, the break room also had a Trump 2020 flag adorning the wall – which may be a violation of state law and on-duty cops’ need for partisan politics. 

The department have confirmed that the statue has now been removed. 

Braden Pence, an attorney who obtained the video because he was suing the SPD over the graffiti arrests, said he released it ‘because the people of Seattle have the right to know their police department.’

‘The video shows a break room adorned with disturbing trophies and iconography.

‘Casually displaying the tombstone of a person you killed in your break room is disgusting.

‘The Butts family is owed a deeply felt apology for the horrific disrespect shown by SPD. Precinct leadership either tacitly approved or willfully ignored what was happening in the break room.’