Tonight's big story the 12 News
I team obtains new video of a
deadly officer involved shooting
that's been sealed for years.
In 2019, Jacob Harris was
suspected in an armed robbery and
was killed by Phoenix police.
The officers involved were
cleared of any wrongdoing.
As Team 12 Bianca Bono tells us,
Harris's father is calling on
the Department of Justice to
take action in light of what he
has seen in this new footage.
It's only a cover. Shoot
somebody in the back. That way.
It's been more than three years since
Roland Harris lost his son Jacob,
and the pain hasn't gone away.
One incident is not a definition
of what Jacob's life was.
In January of 2019,
Jacob Harris was one of four suspects
in a series of armed robberies,
including this Whataburger,
where a different suspect is
seen here holding a pellet gun.
Undercover officers with the Phoenix
Police Special Assignment unit watched
as the crime was committed and aerial.
Footage shows an officer
following the suspects car.
This is the only video of the
incident because at the time this
unit didn't wear body cameras.
They deployed a grappler,
set off a flash bang and
20 minutes after midnight,
19 year old Harris got out
of the car and ran.
Police say he had a gun in his hand and
within seconds he was shot in the back.
Yes, he broke the law.
He should have been arrested,
he should have been tried and
convicted and one did his time
and rehabilitated and came home
and never made that mistake.
Getting his life because I
would have made sure of it,
but to be killed and tortured like
that over $1200, it's sickening.
Even more troubling to Harris's
father is what happens next.
Video newly obtained by 12 news,
shows the minutes following the shooting,
Harris, who had been shot,
is lying face down.
The gun officials say he had been holding
was thrown and nobody came to his aid.
They wanted him to die.
Video shows Harris on the ground,
occasionally making small
movements nearly 9 minutes.
Go by then officers shoot Harris
with non lethal rounds and 30
seconds after sending a police dog,
which drags Harris back to the officers.
According to timestamps in court records,
fire crews did not start rendering
aid for at least 10 to 14
minutes after Harris was shot.
But the danger was so grave,
why didn't they immediately
try to retrieve the gun?
Kenneth Williams is a professor at the
South Texas College of Law in Houston
and specializes in criminal law.
These researched a police officer's
duty to provide medical aid to
injured suspects and says courts
have determined its minimal
their only duty is to summon for
medical assistance for the person who
might be in distress. But Williams
believes failing to render aid
is a violation of due process.
Encouraging departments
to make a policy change
in those few minutes before the
EMT arrived could be very crucial
in terms of saving someone's life.
That's the concern there.
More than three years later, he's still
fighting to get his sons belongings,
which the city has refused to give
back due to ongoing litigation.
It's all I got left of me.
I want to at least have something
of his to give to his children,
a Phoenix police spokesperson confirmed.
Officer Christopher Burts,
the officer who shot Harris,
is still an active member of the department.
Birds has been involved in another officer
involved shooting since Harris died.
The department also said this
unit is now wearing body cameras.
Police declined to comment.
Further saying they wouldn't litigate
this case in the media but in court
documents argued the officers actions
were reasonable and justified.
In recent weeks Roland has met
with the Department of Justice
to talk about Jacob's case,
hopeful the investigation into what
happened to his son isn't over.
Out of every Police Department in the nation,
they picked the city of Phoenix to
come in and do I feel that was God
moving in a way that get Jacob Justice?
And just a few days ago a judge
dismissed Harris's civil complaint.
His attorney has already filed an appeal.
Last year, the Department of Justice
did announce it was investigating
Phoenix PD, including the
department's use of deadly force.
We're in Phoenix, Bianca Bono, 12 news.