WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National LGBTQ Task Force is calling for a full investigation into the Baltimore County Police killing of Korryn Gaines and the wounding of her child. Ms. Grimes is the 647th Black person to be killed by law enforcement across the nation this year.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones touched by this horrific incident. The attack on a 23-year-old black mother and son is outrageous and we call on the state and federal authorities to get to the truth behind what happened and to bring those individuals to justice. What makes this incident so despicable is the fact that a small child, while also being shot, was forced to watch their mother being killed at the hands of police. Far too often, police practices are applied unevenly—a situation involving a white person brandishing a gun is deescalated without gunfire, but if the person is Black, there is almost always, a much different and deadlier outcome. The National LGBTQ Task Force continues to advocate for systemic changes in how communities are policed in this country—from one designed to dehumanize black people to one that sincerely values black lives,” said Russell Roybal, Deputy Executive Director, National LGBTQ Task Force.
Vox reported that three officers were serving an arrest warrant on Gaines — over low-level charges linked to a traffic stop earlier this year — at around 9:20 am Monday morning at an apartment in Randallstown, Maryland.
Police said Gaines barricaded herself with a shotgun at an apartment. For hours, police said they tried to talk her down. But, they said, Gaines repeatedly threatened the police and aimed her gun at them. At around 3 pm, she allegedly said, “If you don’t leave, I’m going to kill you.”
An officer fired his weapon once, according to police. Gaines returned fire. Police then opened fire. By the time it was over, Gaines was dead and her 5-year-old son, Kodi, was injured.
