SBI wrapping up probe of Akiel Denkins shooting
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- The State Bureau of Investigation is wrapping up its probe into the shooting death of a southeast Raleigh man by a police officer.
Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman told ABC11 she has received a portion of the SBI report and expects to have all of it by next week. She said, however, that she is still waiting on some items of evidence in the case still being processed by the SBI crime lab.
She is also being told by the Medical Examiner's office that it could be another month or two before the final autopsy of Akiel Denkins is complete.
The 24 year old was shot to death on Feb. 29 by a Raleigh police officer who was trying to arrest him on an outstanding warrant. Raleigh Police Department officials released a report saying Denkins ran from the officer, then pulled a gun. The officer claims he fought with Denkins and fired as Denkins reached for the officer's gun.
The District Attorney released limited details from the preliminary autopsy report showing Denkins has been shot in the chest, arm, and shoulder. Denkins family said last week one of the shots was to the back of the shoulder.
Read More: Family's lawyers say independent autopsy shows Denkins was shot in back
Some in the southeast Raleigh community claim there are eyewitnesses that saw the officer shoot Denkins in the back, but the DA says the SBI has not been able to find anyone who saw the actual shooting.
"We continue to ask people if they have additional information that they contact the SBI so we can have all of that information," Freeman said.
Freeman also said she is trying to expedite the case, but cannot release any information from the SBI findings until she has examined the agency's report, the crime lab analysis, and decided whether to submit the case to the Wake County Grand Jury.
She said she may not have to wait for the final autopsy, though. That's because the SBI has interviewed the pathologist who conducted the autopsy and that may provide enough information for her to make a decision.
"The SBI worked very hard to move this as quickly as possible because of public interest," Freeman said.
Whether the case is presented to a grand jury depends on the DA's review of the results of the investigation. She says by law she can only send a case to a grand jury that has enough probable cause to show a possible violation of the law.
