GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING: There are depictions of violence in this video.
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Almost two months after an officer-involved shooting that left one man dead, the Peoria Police Department held a press conference where officials released pictures and body cam videos of the deadly incident.
Samuel Vincent Richmond, also known as ‘Meatman’, was shot to death near Martin Luther King Jr. Park on Oct. 3.
During Friday’s press conference, Peoria Police Chief Eric Echevarria said the city and department are committed to being transparent. He said they’ve reached a point to where releasing bodycam video and 911 call audio from the incident would not jeopardize Illinois State Police’s investigation.
Echevarria said police received a ShotSpotter alert at 10:06p.m. and dispatcher also notified officers of a call in the area of a man wearing a sweat suit, driving a gray Impala, threatening suicide.
Echevarria, then, showed an image from the scene and said when officers arrived Richmond began to point a gun at officers. Echevarria said this is when gunfire erupted.
He said until ISP complete its investigation he can’t answer how many shots were fired or if all involved officers fired their weapons.
Once officers stopped shooting, video shows them walking to Richmond, turning him over and attempting to handcuff him before administering CPR.
When asked if officers followed protocol, Echevarria said wouldn’t give a direct answer but rather said after ISP’s investigation Peoria police will conduct an administrative review to determine if procedures and protocols were followed.
“First, I’ll remind you of the clip that you saw there of Mr. Richmond pointing a gun at my officers,” Echevarria said. “When a situation like that occurs and it’s a rapidly developing situation when our officers go up safety is paramount.”
“Where there may be one firearm there may be two firearms so protocols and training may differ in given situations,” Echevarria said. “They’re not always going to be the same.”
Echevarria also released the names of the four officers involved in the shooting. The officers were Candice Fillpot, Christopher Heaton, Danny Marx, and Andrew Fuller.
All the officers are currently on paid leave while ISP finishes its investigation.
There is no timeline set for when the investigation will be complete, but Echevarria said once that happens, ISP will give its findings over to the State’s Attorney’s Office.
WMBD also reached out to Richmond’s widow where she deferred all statements to her attorney. WMBD contacted her attorney and are awaiting a response.
According to Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood, 59-year-old Samuel Vincent Richmond, also known as the Meatman, was shot multiple times and died near Martin Luther King Jr. park.
All the available bodycam footage that has been released by police is available HERE.