Protesters Demand Answers From Police After Man Killed By Officer

DEARBORN (WWJ/AP) -- Protesters gathered at a Kroger parking lot at Greenfield and Michigan Avenue in Dearborn on Monday evening to voice their concerns over the December 23 shooting death of 35-year-old Kevin Matthews.

Bishop D.B. Walker was among the almost 150 protesters who marched about a half a mile west to the Dearborn Police headquarters building. Walker questioned reports that Matthews and an officer had gotten into a scuffle before the fatal shooting.

"It's a 'scuffle in the back.' How do we know that?" Walker said. "That could just be something that you're saying. We don't know if that's true or not. That's what this situation is all about."

Matthews' funeral was held Saturday at Morningview Baptist Church, more than a week after he shot multiple times in Detroit during a struggle with a suburban officer.

Police say Matthews -- who was unarmed -- struggled with the unidentified Dearborn officer following a foot chase from that city into a nearby Detroit backyard. Officials add Matthews was involved in an earlier larceny in Dearborn and was wanted on a misdemeanor warrant in Redford Township.

Aaron McCarthy with the group Southern Christian Leadership Conference was also on-hand at the demonstration.

"When is enough, enough?" McCarthy said. "Not all police are bad, but you have some police out just taking advantage of the situation. You're killing our youth and that's our future. We need our youth for our future."

Though the shooting took place within Detroit city limits and Detroit police are investigating the incident, some of those among the protesters said that they plan to boycott the city of Dearborn and its businesses until they get answers.

Matthews' supporters are hoping to eventually see dashboard camera footage of the incident. The officer involved in the incident is currently on administrative leave.

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