Statement on the Murder of Amir Locke
Just before 7am on the morning of Wednesday February 2nd, Amir Locke was murdered while still under his blanket. Seconds before his death, Amir Locke was sleeping peacefully on a couch in the living room. A licensed gun-owner, Locke had been carrying a handgun with him recently because of car theft concerns related to his work as a DoorDash delivery driver.
This preventable tragedy occurred while Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) officers executed a no-knock search warrant, which was authorized for belongings and did not name Locke. After deliberately creating confusion and commotion upon entering, the MPD shot and killed Locke before he had the chance to fully wake up or hear officers’ instructions. In the hours after this death, MPD falsely claimed that Locke was a suspect in a homicide investigation and falsely claimed that he pointed his handgun at officers during the early morning raid.
I am appalled by these attempts to justify a cold-blooded killing of a young man just 22 years old. I condemn the selective and false disclosure from leaders who sought to tarnish a young victim's character and reputation.
These calculated actions add to MPD’s history of lying to cover for officers’ misconduct—their first statement about George Floyd stated that he had died of a medical incident. It is clear that even with the national conversation about racism, violence, and policing, there have not been material changes within MPD, a department that has been under the direct authority of Mayor Frey since he took office in 2018.
I join with the Wells and Locke family and community members in calling for the arrest and charging of all officers involved with killing Amir.
The weight of our system’s failings seems unbearable to residents who are grappling with the compounding trauma of yet another senseless killing, and it’s even more painful for families and communities grieving the loss of a loved one to police violence.
My heart breaks for all of the people who must grieve unimaginable losses, while also navigating the system that caused the irreparable harm and bearing the significant financial burden that comes with unexpected death.
My office spent the last week talking with community members about actions that governments can take to more explicitly center and support victims and families going through the horrific aftermath of a loved one being killed by police. Specifically, I am dedicated to working across all layers of government to:
Expand support services and navigation for victims and families who have experienced police violence.
Expand burial assistance for victims of police violence.
Address the mounting feedback from residents for more equitable public safety models.
Advance consistent processes to support victims and families affected by use of deadly force incidents by officers.
Invest in restorative justice models that serve communities with a disparity reduction lens.
Amir Locke should be alive today. There are no actions that can bring him back. Like many Minnesota residents, I long for the day when our most marginalized neighbors no longer have to live in fear of police violence—a time when we are not afraid of being pulled over, having our home raided, or receiving a phone call about a loved one’s death. A time when our humanity is not criminalized. In partnership with government leaders and community coalitions, I hope that we can pursue the types of systemic changes that can move us closer to that day.