Neighbors react to Quintana punishment

AUSTIN (KXAN) - On Wednesday, Austin Police Department Chief Art Acevedo suspended Officer Leonardo Quintana for 15 days for not turning on his dashboard camera just before the fatal Nathaniel Sanders shooting.

However, the chief said the officer's actions that day in pulling the trigger were “reasonable” under the circumstances.

Meanwhile, people who knew Sanders personally were not surprised by the punishment and the fact that Quintana gets to keep his job.

On May 11, Sanders was killed and Sir Lawrence Smith was shot around 5 a.m. that morning during the altercation with police at 6409 Springdale Road. Officers said they woke up Sanders and saw him reach for a gun, which is when officers said Quintana shot him.

A Travis County grand jury declined to indict him earlier this year, but Quintana remained under an internal investigation for dash cam policy.

Many of the people who still live at the Walnut creek Apartments personally knew Nathaniel Sanders II, and a makeshift memorial has been taken down and put back up three times since his death in May. 

Marcell Waldon lives in the Walnut creek Apartments and knew Sanders. He is also still friends with Sir Lawrence Smith. Waldon said he worries it will not be long before another young man is killed by police.

"I would like to see our community change, but I know it's going to have to start with us," said Waldon. "It can't start with the police because they're against us. Everybody knows that because we see it in everyday life."

Neighbors said Wednesday's decision makes them distrust police even more.

Havoc broke out May 11, just hours after Sanders was killed. Dozens of neighbors took to the street, angry with Austin police. However, it was a very different picture Wednesday at the Walnut Creek Apartments.

"I know the community is scared right now, but we just got to hold up trying to fight the police," said Waldon. "The only thing we can do is just pray."

Part of the shooting was caught on one of the three police dash cameras at the scene, since only one was turned on. Neighbors at Walnut Creek apartments said they cannot understand how Quintana will get to keep his badge.

"He knew he was wrong," said neighbor Kennith Tuberville. "He didn't have a siren and no lights. He didn't turn them on and shot a guy in the back on the head."

Tuberville is not alone. At the apartments, there is widespread disbelief of APD's investigation.

That is despite APD's statement that Sanders was a gang member, had committed a violent crime before and had a gun in his waistband that night.

Many of the neighbors still do not believe Sanders had a gun at all.

"I don't believe he had a gun," said Waldon. "If he did, why aren't police giving us the details of what kind it was."

More than a dozen neighbors shared the same sentiments, but only two were willing to talk on camera.

"I'm going to be honest with you," said Waldon. "A lot of people are afraid of 'the laws.' They know the police got all the power. They can harass you. They can put anything on you."