Suspect sought in Mathews department store theft
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Doris Shelbunre
April 6, 2018
The federal judge presiding over the case involving a civil rights claim against the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff, brought by the mother of a teen shot to death by a deputy in 2014, has ordered that document involving the settlement amount be sealed
The suit was brought against the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff and two deputies. Preston Norman and Andrew Lewis, in connection with the Sept. 23.2014 shooting death of 14-year-old Cameron Tillman. The teen’s mother, Wytelka Tillman, filed the suit one year later.
‘There are no winners or losers in a case like this with suffering and mental anguish on both sides,” said Sheriff Jerry Larpenter, “I respect the Tillman family’s request to the Judge asking her to seal the record relating to settlement in this matter. However. 1 want it made dear that I did not request same nor will I oppose
the family’s request to unseal this matter should they so desire.”
US. District Judge Jane Tricbe Milazzo ordered the dismissal of action concerning the death of Tillman, who was a student at Ellender Memorial High School, in the doorway of an abandoned ranch-style house in the Village East subdivision, used as a clubhouse by the teen and his friends.
Preston and Lewis were among the first deputies who responded to a call from neighbors alleging armed black youths walking down the street and entering the house. According to a report later compiled by Louisiana State Police investigators. Norman knocked on a door located in side a carport.
The report states that Tillman opened the door while holding a realistic replica of a Sig Sauer 9 mm pist ol pointed toward Norman, who fired his weapon, felling the teen.
The State Police report was among the evidence presented to a Terrebonne Parish grand jury by District Attorney Joe Waitz Jr. The grand Jury cleared officers of wrong doing.
Attorney Carol Letting was lead counsel representing the Tillman family The suit alleged that Tillman did not have the simulated weapon in his band as stated in the report and raised other issues concerning how the case was handled.
Wy teika Tillman said she did not wish to settle the case and wanted it to go to trial. But she agreed to a settlement because other plaintiffs wanted the case to be done with. Other youths who were in the abandoned house with her son are also plaintiffs.
Tillman said that since 2014 there have been no improvements in relations between her largely black Village East neighborhood and the people who police them.
“1 feel there is no relationships between the sheriffs office and the black community.” she said. While disappointed in the outcome, she said that while Justice may not have come to her through the courts it has other ways of manifesting.
“It is in Jehovah le hands.” she said. “There is no justice in this system and we don’t expect it Look at what’s in the news every day. You can trust and believe very soon Larpenter and those other officers will be held accountable. I pray for the officer who killed Cameron I have heard be is not at peace. I have heard that they have bad threats. I pray For all of them and I have no hate in my heart I Just pray for those little boys who seen it happen. Their lives will never be the same.”
In a statement issued Wednesday afternoon. Larpenter said that with the matter done there are many thanks to be given.
“1 want to thank the citizens of this community as a whole, the public officials who were involved in this matter, and the religious and civic leaders within our community who all worked hand in band to avoid any unlawful civil unrest over this incident thus allowing the legal system to work as it should, showing that we are a community that cares and is willing to work with one another in hard and good times.” Larpenter said, noting in particular the officials at various agencies involved with the case. I can and do want to thank the Louisiana State Police for their full and thorough investigation into this matter, finding that my officers acted lawfully and properly. I also want to thank District Attorney Joe Waitz Jr. and the Terrebonne Parish District Attorneys office for empaneling a grand jury made up of citizens from this parish who after hearing the ev klence presented by both sides to this litigation, conduced again that my officers acted lawfully and properly. Additionally. 1 want to thank the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Justice Department who, after investigating this matter, found that my officers acted lawfully and properly, and that specifically my officers did not violate the civil rights of any of the plaintiffs in this matter”
