On January 8, 2022, Deaughn Willis was killed by an East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Deputy.
Through recovered surveillance footage, you can see these Law Enforcement Professionals approach the Willis Family Door and deliver bang after bang on their door while never saying or acknowledging it was the police.
Those officers, without any known warrant to enter the residence, banged scarily on a residential door and never announced themselves.
During an epic crime wave, it had to have left a heightened sense of fear. Imagine waking up to it while your mother lay a room away recovering from surgery, which is precisely what happened to Deaughn Willis.
He was awakened by loud bangs on the door and a sick mother in the next room, with children playing around the front door.
The Willis Family rushed to gather the kids to safety while Deaughn approached the door, all while his Mom, Mrs. Trinelle Willis, was on a 911 call because she didn’t know who was scarily banging on her door during an epic crime wave. Where was the care? What was the Policy & Procedure?
Deaughn Willis was killed by that deputy that day, shot as he opened the door. Officers said he had a gun; family members can’t confirm or deny that because, in fear of not knowing who was scarily banging on their door, they were busy getting the small kids to safety. This could have been worse. What’s the policy and procedure?
Deaughn Willis was killed that day because Law Enforcement Professionals banged on his door and never acknowledged themselves as officers without any known warrant to enter the residence. What’s the policy and procedure?
Those officers that day were looking for Deaughn’s twin brother Keaughn, who surrendered to officers after receiving a phone call that prompted him to check on his family. He was unaware that a warrant had been issued for his arrest. Keaughn was not in the home; he came immediately once called. One phone call could have prevented this.
Deaughn would undoubtedly be with us today if those officers had only announced themselves.
Mrs. Trinelle Willis tried to give her son medical aid that day, which is something she has done for so many others as a nurse, only to be denied that as her entire family was removed from the apartment before medical aid could be delivered. One minor family was required to be cleared before providing medical assistance, and he was on crutches.
A predicted 30 minutes would pass before Deaughn Willis would receive medical aid. His mother, a nurse, feels he could have been saved if cared for sooner. The care she was denied from giving her son as he took his last breaths on earth—the care she’s given to so many. What’s the police and procedure?
If that wasn’t enough, his Mom, Mrs. Trinelle Willis, was placed in a police car handcuffed in the vehicle where they later put the gun that killed her son. She was made to leave that apartment while her son bled out.
Deaughn was described by some as humble, a Young Man that never gave his Mama a single back word.
Deaughn was labeled a hard worker, often working multiple jobs. Deaughn started a new job on Jan 7th and was killed by this Deputy who remains on active duty on Jan 8th.
Nobody from East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office (EBRSO) has met with the Willis Family. The Willis Family has a simple ask, transparency. EBRSO has bodycam footage and a recorded 911 call; release the tapes.
#JusticeForDeaughn