Emotions run high at East Side forum

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Emotions ran high at a community forum with city officials to provide information about the shooting death of Nathaniel Sanders by a police officer last month.

More than 300 people crowded into the Wilhelmina Delco Activity Center in Northeast Austin and at times, emotions boiled over. Police Chief Art Acevedo addressed the Sanders family, who was in attendance, directly.

"To Mr. Sanders and the Sanders family- from the bottom of my heart I apologize to you and your family. Your son should not have been out there that long," said Chief Acevedo, addressing concerns about the length of time Nathaniel Sanders body remained in the parking lot of the Walnut Creek Apartments on the morning of the shooting. Sanders body was not removed from the scene for more than five hours.

"What can we do to make sure that this doesn't happen to another one of our children in this community," asked Austin resident Larry Hargrove. He continued, "the camera, Chief, is a big issue."

Many people in the crowd expressed concern that Officer Quintana's dashcamera video was not rolling during the shooting. Chief Acevedo acknowledged the department's camera system is antiquated and in need of an upgrade.

"You can't put a price tag on public trust," said Chief Acevedo. "You can't put a price on the truth and we are not afraid of the truth."

The May 11 shooting death at 6409 Springdale Road caused an uproar among some in the community who protested the shooting, saying it could have been avoided.

City Manager Marc Ott, Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo, Police Monitor Cliff Brown and other City officials were in attendance.

In the 20 years Annie Bacon has lived at the Walnut Creek Apartments she has worked to clean up the area.

"I try to stop the traffic of these people coming in that don't live here," said Annie Bacon. "It would be a better place for all of us and it is a lot of bad boys come through selling drugs."

Even Bacon has a hard time trusting police and can not understand why Nathaniel Sanders had to die. Marking the spot Sanders died are numerous flowers and balloons. The candles still lit from from celebrating what would have been his 19th birthday.

The make shift memorial for Nathaniel Sanders at the Walnut Creek Apartments shows that his friends are still pretty angry with the Austin Police Department and blame them for his death. There is even a "Law Stay-Away" candle at the site.

"Why does this mistake keep appearing? Why all of a sudden your camera was off?" asks Tim Screw, a friend of Sanders. "It's repeating and it's repeating. Justice needs to be served I think."

These are questions the community will have the chance to ask at the meeting. Both the local chapter of the NAACP and ACLU say the meeting is a step in the right direction.

"It's a chance to to talk to city officials about how the process works to me it's about communication and understanding I think anytime that happens, its a good thing," said Nelson Linder, President of the Austin NAACP.

"This is definitely indicative of our new administration not only at APD but with the city manager, I think recognizing the issues between the police and the community," said Debbie Russell, President of Central Texas Chapter ACLU-TX.

Still after two decades Bacon has lost hope.

"After this die down there will be another one," said Bacon.

Senior police officer Leonardo Quintana shot Sanders, 18, as well as 21-year-old Sir Smith during the investigation of a suspicious vehicle in the Walnut Creek Apartments parking lot.

Police said Quintana opened fire when Sanders reached for a gun in his waistband. Smith allegedly ran toward officers after he heard a gunshot, so Quintana shot him also.

Sanders died at the scene, and Smith was released from the hospital after a few days.

Police said Sanders was a member of a street gang, something Sanders' family denies.

Sanders' family waits to hear more information about the officer-involved shooting investigation. They want to know why only one of the three officers' dash cameras was taping during the shooting.

Quintana has been placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation.