How police sprayed two dozen bullets on unarmed black man in United States

African-American father of three was shot dead in the parking lot of a Walmart supermarket in California. Police indicated officers had responded to reports of a “suspicious vehicle”.

Police gunned down an African-American father of three using two dozen bullets in the parking lot of a Walmart supermarket in California, authorities and his lawyer said on Tuesday.

Police indicated that officers had responded to reports of a “suspicious vehicle”. (AFP/Photo for representation)

Diante Yarber, 26, was unarmed and parking his car in Barstow, about two hours east of Los Angeles, at the time of the incident on April 4, according to his lawyer Lee Merritt.

Among the car’s four passengers was 26-year-old Mariana Tafoya, who is recovering in hospital from bullet wounds, Merritt told AFP.

He said police officers shot a total of 30 bullets, two dozen of which hit Yarber.

The lawyer plans to file a complaint this week for “excessive policing” on behalf of Yarber’s family.

Police indicated officers had responded to reports of a “suspicious vehicle”.

“The suspect/driver began accelerating his vehicle in reverse, striking a police vehicle. The vehicle then accelerated forward toward the officers, and then accelerated in reverse toward officers and striking another patrol vehicle,” police said. “Afterward, an officer-involved shooting ensued.”

Merritt, the lawyer, said three police cars had responded to the incident. Two other passengers in Yarber’s car were arrested on site and later released.