SAN JOSE, Calif. (KCBS) -- A multi-ethnic coalition of community based groups in San Jose is calling for more police accountability following the fatal shooting of a mentally ill man earlier this year.
The group is calling for the investigation to be reopened in the case of Daniel Pham, a 27-year-old man shot to death by San Jose Police.
Richard Konda with the Asian Law Alliance said the recent release of 911 tapes in the case has brought about more questions to be answered.
KCBS’ Mike Colgan Reports
"Based on the questions raised by the tapes and the police reports, the Pham family and other concerned individuals and organizations will request a formal meeting with District Attorney Dolores Carr and ask that she convene an open grand jury to determine if criminal charges should be filed against Officers Jeffrey and Blackerby."
San Jose police said they had no choice but to shoot Pham when he refused to follow commands to drop the knife, which he used to slash his brother in the neck.
Lieutenant Rikki Goede said regardless of the suspect's mental state, officers wouldn't have acted any differently.
"They have the victim right in front with the cut neck who's telling them this is the person that did it with the bloody knife," Goede said. "There's your suspect in crime that's just committed a violent act. They were going to take the same action."
Pham was shot and killed on May 10. A grand jury cleared the officers of any criminal wrongdoing.
(kmi)
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