Family Wants Answers In Homestead Police-Involved Shooting
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HOMESTEAD (CBSMiami) – A family is seeking answers after a man was shot and killed by Homestead Police Thursday afternoon.
Edward Foster III was leaving a corner store on SW 187th Ave. and 328th St. when Miami-Dade Police investigators said a 911 call was reported of a man with a gun.
Police told CBS4 the responding officer and Foster argued, before the officer shot him.
The store owner, who wished to remain anonymous, said she heard the gunshots.
"He was in knee stance, on his knees and he fell to the ground as we ran outside," said the store owner.
Foster was taken to Kendall Regional Trauma Center where he was pronounced dead.
It's still unclear if 35-year old Foster threatened the officer, but detectives said they found a gun on him.
But Foster's sister, Andrina Foster, who was not there at the time, insists her brother did not have one on him.
"They're trying to say he had a gun. He had no gun,"she said. "Homestead Police Station this is not the first time they've done this. This is the fourth time with just this officer. And this time they all gonna get prosecuted because my brother is not guilty. He didn't do nothing but come home from work."
Foster was out on probation.
His mother and sister say despite that, it doesn't excuse an officer shooting the father of six.
"He's did his thing in the past. But he's not a bad person they're trying to portray him to be. But he's really not. He just likes to have fun," said Andrina Foster.
"I just think that they saw a gun and that's what they do. That's what officers do these days," said Foster's mother, Altie Banuchi.
Police have no released the name of the Homestead officer, but he has been on the force for 20 years.
Miami-Dade Police told CBS4 the officer who shot foster is a 20-year police veteran.
They aren't confirming his involvement in any past shootings as they continue to investigate.