KENTWOOD, Mich. — 25-year-old Samuel Sterling was hit by an unmarked Michigan State Police vehicle late Wednesday morning and later died.
On Saturday, family members and local activists held a gathering in the parking lot of the Burger King on 52nd Street and Eastern Avenue in Kentwood where Sterling was hit.
"Justice for Samuel. Release the tape. Name that officer," was chanted by the nearly 100 people who had gathered.
Many held signs which said "No justice, no peace," and "Samuel Sterling, say his name."
"Please, help us get justice for my son, Samuel," said Andrica, Sterling's mother.
The family called for MSP to show them the video of the incident and to make it public, along with calling for the officer who was driving the vehicle to be charged.
Opening with a prayer, family members, former County Commissioner Robert Womack and community activists addressed the crowd, speaking on addressing police brutality and systemic racism.
The agency said Sterling was putting air in his tires near 52nd Street and Eastern Avenue on Wednesday when he was found by multiple agencies looking for him on felony warrants.
They said when he was approached by officers he ran away, leading to a chase on foot. An MSP officer in an unmarked vehicle drove parallel to him, then hitting him in the Burger King parking lot on Eastern Avenue.
Sterling was then taken to a hospital where he died later that day.
"He was a loved person, very loved," said Maya Lyons, a cousin of Sterling. "He was always there, you call him, he was coming. There were no questions asked. I'm going to miss him. I am."
"We want to see it now," said Anastasia Herring, Sterling's oldest sister, in reference to the video of what led up to her brother being struck. "They did not have to do that, he was not armed."
Loved ones at the gathering also said that they want him to be remembered as a good father, brother and friend.
"He was really a phone call away," said Herring. "If you need him, he was there."
MSP has said a neighboring MSP station is currently investigating the incident. The officer who drove the vehicle has been suspended pending the investigation.
In a statement, the head of Michigan State Police, Col. James F. Grady II said:
As an African American male and a father, it's not lost on me that this is the death of another young African American male following an interaction with police.
As the Director of the Michigan State Police, I want to assure the community that we see you, hear you and will thoroughly and expeditiously investigate the incident.
The full statement from the head of MSP can be found here.
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