Page 24 - Florida Sentinel 9-9-16 Online Edition

Local BREAKING NEWS!!
Ferguson Activist Darren Seals Found Shot To Death In Burned Car
Darren Seals was one of the leaders of the protest in Ferguson, MO, after Michael Brown was murdered by a police officer in 2014.
Darren Seals, who rose to prominence during the Mike Brown tragedy and subsequent Ferguson riots, was found shot to death in a burning car Tuesday. (Sept. 6) Seals was 29.
According to a press re- lease by the St. Louis County Police, Seals’ body was dis- covered after the flames
from the fire had been extin- guished.
Law enforcement re- sponded to calls of a burning vehicle in the northern sub- urbs of St. Louis. According to reports, police were not aware of Seals prominence in the community or with the Black Lives Matter or- ganization.
Funeral Planned For Tampa Man Killed By Deputy
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
As a Tampa family prepares to bury their loved one, they are still searching for answers. A family member said no one from the Hillsborough County Sher- iff’s Office has contacted them.
A funeral service will be held for 22-year-old Levonia Rig- gins, III, on Saturday, Septem- ber 10th, at 1 p.m., at The Center For Manifestation. Riggins died on August 30th after being shot by a Hillsborough County Sher- iff’s deputy during the execution of a search warrant.
His older brother, Carniel- lius Branton said, “No one from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has contacted us to offer condolences or to tell us what happened to my brother. We are demanding answers from David Gee and the State Attorney’s Office.”
Several individuals have protested the death since it took place. Last Tuesday morning, the Hillsborough County Sher- iff’s Office arrived at Riggins’ Clair Mel City home to execute a search warrant. They reportedly ordered everyone out of the home and everyone came out ex- cept Riggins. He was shot
LEVONIA RIGGINS, III 1/15/1994 t0 8/30/ 2016
through the window by Deputy Caleb Johnson, who alleged that Riggins was reaching for his waistband when he fired the fatal shot.
He died at the scene. It was later determined that Riggins was not armed. Johnson was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the in- vestigation.
On Friday, at 4 p.m., mem- bers of the community will gather at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, 2008 E. 8th Avenue. Ali Muhammad (Clarence Jones), of Van- guard of Tampa Bay, said, “We want answers and these people are not listening to us. They don’t hear us and we want to know why he was killed.”
Branton said members of
his family will attend the protest. “We will all be there, both sides of his family.”
Branton further said, “They kicked in the door and they are trying to say it was a standoff, it wasn’t a standoff. The next day, they (police) came back and took everything out of his room. My mom is devastated. Everyone who knew him is.”
A native of Tampa, Riggins attended the public schools of Hillsborough County. At the time of his death, he was work- ing at a neighborhood store and working on obtaining his GED.
“He grew up in that neigh- borhood and everyone knew him as “Daddy Man.” He was well known and loved. He was hilari- ous, man, he was so funny. He loved children and they loved him.”
Riggins was the son of Mrs. LaShawn Branton Rig- gins and Levonia Riggins, Jr. He is survived by his 7 sib- lings, his foster mother, Ms. Jessie Williams, other family members and friends.
Wilson’s Funeral Home is in charge of handling arrange- ments. The Center For Manifes- tation is asking for volunteers to serve in various capacities dur- ing and after the service.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2016 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 13-A