Who was Anthony Lowe Jr? Double amputee murdered amid Tyre Nichols protests

Authorities in California are looking into the police killing of a wheelchair user who allegedly refused to drop a butcher’s knife.

Who was Anthony Lowe Jr.?

Anthony Lowe Jr., 36, was shot and killed by police in Huntington Park, California, in yet another incident of alleged police brutality. After being attacked by Texas police previously, Anthony became a double amputee and had both of his legs cut off.

Also read | What is API? Twitter replaces free API with a premium

He allegedly threatened officers after stabbing someone. Mother of Mr. Lowe stated: “They killed my son.” 

It happens as police killings are being looked at more closely following the death of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, Tennessee. His ex-wife said video of the incident “broke me.”

I just want the truth,” his mother, Dorothy Lowe, told reporters Monday, the Los Angeles Times reported. “Nothing but the truth and justice for my son. My son was murdered.”

She added: “Anthony was a good person. He was always there for his family. He’s our protector.”

Lowe’s teenage son and daughter stood next to their grandmother with their heads bowed, holding photographs of their late father.

This event took place in Huntington Park, and onlookers recorded it on camera. 

The blurry footage captures a portion of the altercation as Mr. Lowe moves away from the officers while clutching a long, shiny object. The shooting is not captured on that clip. 

The police officers claimed that they attempted to restrain Anthony using tasers but were unsuccessful. According to reports, he threatened them with what looked like a butcher knife. The shooting happened at that time. According to reports, the LA County Sheriff’s Department is looking into the matter.

Also read | Mason Greenwood age, net worth, family and more

“He’s down from his wheelchair, he’s got both legs amputated up to his knee and he’s running from officers,” Cliff Smith, an activist who is part of a coalition calling for increased controls and regulation on police procedures, said on Monday. At a press conference held in front of the Huntington Park Police Department, Smith joined Lowe’s family in demanding justice for what they claim to be yet another instance of police violence. Officers are only allowed to use weapons in California when it is absolutely required to protect human life.

Advocates and Lowe’s family have both asked that the cops involved be charged with murder. However, a police spokesman said that the officers will stay off duty while they receive psychological evaluations. The authorities have not yet responded to this demand. They will be temporarily relieved of street patrol responsibilities upon their return to their postings and given administrative tasks instead. 

Anthony Lowe Jr. had previous violent encounters with police officers before Thursday. After an altercation with a Texas State Patrol trooper, his older sister notified the media on Monday that both of her brother’s legs had to be amputated. The family also has misgivings about that incident from last year, but they haven’t provided any additional information.