Police Chief To Meet With Families Of Men Shot By Officers

Officers Kill 7 Men In 7 Months

MIAMI – Miami Police Chief Miguel Exposito has promised to meet with the families of the seven men killed by police bullets.

The fatal shootings, which are still under investigation, have upset parts of Miami's inner city, where the shootings took place. Since July 5, seven young black men have been the targets of police gunfire.

Recommended Videos



Community leaders and residents have been outspoken about their frustration with the Miami Police Department because of few answers being made public.

Local 10's Terrell Forney caught up with several of the families involved in the string of police-involved shootings, who said they have yet to hear from the chief or any member of the Police Department.

"No, I haven't", said Lynn Cone, the father of 27-year-old Lynn Weatherspoon.

Weatherspoon was gunned down by police in Overtown early on New Year's Day. Detectives said they feared for their lives because Weatherspoon was waving a gun of his own. The 27-year-old was a convicted felon who was not supposed to be in possession of a firearm.

"If he did have one, it was New Year's", said Cone. "If they would've rode around town, guess how many people they may have found with something like that-- it's a tradition."

Local 10 also caught up with the McNeil family. Travis McNeil was the most recent person to be shot and killed by Miami police officers. The incident happened during a Feb. 10 traffic stop.

Detectives have not said if McNeil or his male passenger were armed.

In addition to Weatherspoon and McNeil, the following men were killed in police-involved shootings:

  • DeCarlos Moore, 36, on July 5
  • Joel Lee Johnson, 16, on Aug. 11
  • Gibson Belizaire, 21, on Aug. 14
  • Tarnorris Gaye, 19, on Aug. 20
  • Brandon Foster, 22, on Dec. 16

"What questions do you have for Chief Exposito?" Forney asked Cone.

"I just want to know who made him God. That's all I want to know, because he's acting like a judge, jury and executioner," Cone said.

The chief is expected to hold the meetings sometime this week, but they will be private, according to a statement released by the department. In the release, Exposito said that the meetings are "an attempt to offer the families some clarity during these most difficult of times."


About the Author:

Terrell Forney joined Local 10 News in October 2005 as a general assignment reporter. He was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, but a desire to escape the harsh winters of the north brought him to South Florida.