Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Officer Anthony Holzhauer is responsible for fatally shooting 20 year old Janisha Fonville in her Charlotte, NC apartment on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015. On that day, Officers Anthony Holzhauer and Shon Sheffield were dispatched to a domestic dispute at a townhouse in Charlotte, NC. Korneisha Banks met the officers outside. She said she told the officers her girlfriend ne
eded mental health treatment. She wanted the officers to take Fonville to a mental health center where Fonville had previously received help. Holzhauer, Sheffield and Banks entered the townhouse through the front door. Banks said the officers were in the dimly lit home for about 15 seconds before an unarmed Fonville was shot twice. She said Fonville jumped up from a living room couch with empty hands. This same officer shot and killed "ex*****on style" 28 year old Michael Laney, a father of three, on the porch of his Charlotte, NC home on July 12, 2012. The DA has refused to bring charges against Officer Holzhauer for taking the life of Janisha Fonville, nor were charges filed against Holzhauer for the death of Michael Laney.
“It’s ridiculous,” Banks said of Murray’s decision. “It’s not right. Basically, they’re protecting their officer.”
These are some of things we will be campaigning for:
- CMPD Officer Anthony Holzhauer to be terminated from CMPD and have charges brought by the state and/or federal government. We will be calling on NC AG Roy Cooper, state representatives, Mayor-elect Jennifer Roberts, and other local and national policiticans to support these demands.
- Mandatory Crisis Intervention Team Training (CIT) for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police and all NC Law Enforcement Personnel. Crisis Intervention Team Training (CIT) is a training program developed in a number of U.S. states to help police officers react appropriately to situations involving mental illness or developmental disability. It is estimated that 49% of people killed in the
U.S. by police have a mental illness or developmental disability.
- Zero-tolerance policy for racism in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and for all NC Law Enforcement Personnel.
- Working with and building coalitions with other victims' familys, particularly in North and South Carolina. We will work to build a Carolinas Coalition for Justice for the victims of police brutality and mass incarceration in the Carolinas to support and strengthen each other in our struggle for justice.
- Supporting and working with others that are campaigning to end mass incarceration. Janisha was loved by her family, friends, and co-workers, and they miss her very much! Please join us as we struggle for Justice For Janisha Fonville, Michael Laney, and all those suffering from mass incarceration and police brutality!
