PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A rally, organized by the mother of Patrick Kimmons, took place on May Day outside City Hall in an effort to hold police accountable for deadly officer-involved shootings.
Kimmons, 27, was shot and killed by Portland police on Sept. 30, 2018 near Southwest 4th and Harvey Milk Street.
According to the investigation, Sgt. Garry Britt and Officer Jeffrey Livingston came upon a fight in a parking lot. During the fight, police said Kimmons fired 5 shots, injuring two people involved in the fight.
Police also said Kimmons ran toward the officers, still armed with a revolver, and didn’t listen to their verbal commands to drop the weapon. Officers fired 12 times at Kimmons, who was treated at the scene and then taken to the hospital, where he died.
In October, a grand jury ruled that the officers’ actions were justified.
Letha Winston, Kimmons’ mother, was joined by others on Wednesday morning who want to speak out against police brutality.
“Today, I’m out here because I need to get justice for Patrick Kimmons,” Winston said.
Every other Wednesday, Winston speaks out against deadly officer-involved shootings. She said she still has questions — and wants answers. But more than anything, she said she wants to see change.
“My justice is body cams for all the police around America,” Winston said. “I want them to be re-trained. I don’t want them to shoot. There are other things to do than to shoot. Quit taking that gun and using it.”
Winston said her life and her grandchildren’s lives aren’t the same without Kimmons.
“I just want justice. I can’t sleep,” she said. “I want justice for Patrick. He has three kids. He has an 8-year-old, a 7-year-old and my small grandbaby is so sad and devasted. All three of my grandkids deserve justice.”
Winston wants to see the two officers involved to be taken off the force.