Friends Of Man Killed By Dade Police Hold Protest
NORTH MIAMI BEACH (CBS4) - Family and friends of a North Miami Beach man who was gunned down by a Miami-Dade police officer last week plan gathered Sunday in peaceful protest.
Miami-Dade police said one of their officers was patrolling the North Miami Beach area Friday afternoon when he approached 34-year-old Manuel Buenos. According to police Bueno flashed a knife and the officer 'responded with lethal force'.
According to Buenos' family, witnesses they spoke with have consistently said that Bueno did not draw a knife, which contradicts the police report. They add if Bueno did indeed have a knife, why didn't the officer use a Taser to subdue him.
"He was a good boy and everybody loved him," said Bueno's aunt Ana Bueno. "Everybody knew him in this community."
Bueno's family wants answers from Miami-Dade police as to why he had to die. They note that this is the eighth shooting by a county police officer; the previous shootings are the subject of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice.
"Why did they kill him," asked Bueno. "I don't understand this. Why do they have some police officers that are assassins, assassins, that's all they are."
Bueno family and friends gathered on the corner of NE 169th Street and 15th Avenue at 5 p.m. to demand answers from police and memorialize a man they say was a loving brother, uncle and grandson.
"I want justice, that's what we want - justice and we want answers as to why the police had to come and why they did this thing, this injustice" said Bueno.
