Many Questions Linger in Suspicious Brownsville Police Shooting of Sonnier

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        Kermith Sonnier Jr. was shot and killed by a police officer on May 5th. After an alleged traffic violation Police Officers reportedly pursued Sonnier on a high speed car chase through Brownsville and on into the neighboring Village of Century. Police have yet to disclose the nature of the traffic offense. Police claim that during the chase Sonnier circled his car around the police and then attempted to run them down as he drove toward them.[more] Officers, one from Brownsville and another from Redstone Township then fired three shots into his car; one shot killed him. A toxicology report indicted that Sonnier had cocaine in his system.
        However, many inconsistencies have been pointed out in the police version of what happened to Sonnier.  For instance, although Sonnier was shot in the back, police maintain that they shot at him as he charged towards them in his car. Police officials also released statements claiming that Sonnier had damaged several police cars with his truck. Yet photographs that have been taken of the truck since the incident only reveal a slight dent to the vehicle. Moreover, even though the police have stated that three shots were fired at Sonnier the toxicology report indicated that there were no other bullets in the car besides the fatal shot to Sonnier.  Derrick Fisher, an attorney for Sonnier's father has said that Brownsville police have also denied Sonnier's attorneys access to: autopsy reports, toxicology reports and an amateur video of the incident shot by a neighbor. The police confiscated the video tape.
        Fayette County District Attorney Nancy Vernon has stated she will not pursue criminal charges or a criminal investigation against the officers and has said that their actions were "justified". Sonnier's family has retained Attorney Geoffrey N. Fieger, to pursue civil claims against Brownsville on Sonnier's behalf.  The NAACP, Jesse Jackson's Rainbow Coalition and the Pittsburgh Coalition of Concerned Citizens are interested in the case.

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