A 19-year-old man, Kadir Skinner, was shot and killed by a Wilmington police officer on June 29. According to reports, Skinner allegedly aimed a loaded firearm at a crowd of people before being shot in the back.
Wilmington City Councilmember Shané Darby has renewed her call for an external audit of the city's Police Department following this incident. She has been advocating for such an audit since her first term, citing concerns about use of force and disparities in stops and arrests among Black residents.
The Wilmington Police Department is conducting two investigations into the shooting: one to determine if a law was violated and another to see if internal policy was breached. The Delaware Department of Justice is also investigating the incident. The officer involved has been placed on administrative leave.
Mayor John Carney's administration released a statement expressing condolences to Skinner's family and acknowledging that incidents like this raise difficult questions and evoke strong emotions. However, it stopped short of committing to an external audit, instead promising transparency through the investigation process.
Darby wants a police force that is transparent and trusted by community members, citing concerns about body camera footage being withheld for extended periods without clear communication. She believes independent oversight is essential due to differences between the official police narrative and accounts from the community.