Durham police today released the preliminary findings of their internal investigation into the death of Jesus Huerta as he sat in the back of a police car on November 19. Seventeen-year-old Jesus Huerta died after allegedly firing the shot in the back on a police car following his arrest for trespassing in Durham, North Carolina. A report from the SBI on the case is still in the hands of the Durham County Prosecutor's office. Duncan’s squad car then slammed into a parked van, leaving Huerta shot and killed in the process. The other ended with officers in riot gear spraying tear gas. By Lamont Lilly – Durham, NC Another Durham resident has now died in a controversial encounter with the Durham Police Department.This time it was teenager and local Riverside High School student, Jesus Huerta. The death of 17-year-old Jesus Huerta sparked a violent protest Friday night which was no doubt fueled by the mounting frustration over the SBI's tightlipped investigation. Duncan then radioed "shots fired" and told another officer in the parking lot that his prisoner was shooting at him. Huerta’s family members deserve justice; local Durham residents deserve the truth. This time it was teenager and local Riverside High School student, Jesus Huerta. Unfortunately, Jesus Huerta became the third Durham resident killed by or in Durham police custody over the last five months. The warrant also says the Haverford Street break-in was similar to three other November burglaries, which were all within blocks of each other. While Huerta was in the backseat of the car, he was seen to be moving his hands from behind his back to a position behind his knees. While speaking with the boy, officers checked records and discovered an outstanding arrest warrant for a second-degree trespassing charge. She said the shop did not comply with federal gun reporting laws. 9:57 a.m. RSS. Clayton said it is a distance of about a mile and would have taken about three minutes. Many residents are pointing to police brutality and excessive use of force. by Lisa Sorg. As Duncan's car pulled into the parking lot around 2:30 a.m., he reported hearing a loud bang and he jumped out of the moving car, which then rolled into parked vehicles. He resides in Durham, NC. Jesus "Chuy" Huerta, 17, died Nov. 19, 2013, after being arrested by a Durham police officer. After Durham police officer, Samuel Duncan arrested Huerta, reports state that Officer Duncan heard a loud noise from the vehicle’s rear seat and jumped out of his moving patrol cruiser. The stolen goods have been connected to a home break-in a few nights earlier on Haverford Street. I’m worried about our local thugs in pressed blue uniforms. At a news conference, Internal Affairs Captain Laura Clayton said the case began when Huerta's family called Nov. 19 to report him as a runaway. In calling for justice for Jesus Huerta, marchers called for an end to the criminalization of Durham’s youth. On November 19, at around 2 a.m., Chuy's older sister called the … It states detectives found jewelry and electronics in the pack that were taken in a series of residential break-ins from homes near Huerta's Washington Street address. "We didn't want to rush to judgment because this is a very serious matter," said Bell. It said it has concluded the teen shot himself with a gun he had hidden on his person. During the drive, Duncan said he could hear metal scrabbling against the hard plastic of the seat and assumed Huerta was trying to possibly get rid of drugs he might be carrying. An official response from Durham police chief, Jose Lopez states that 17 year old, Jesus Huerta died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound while placed under arrest in the back seat of a police squad car. "The Department of Justice needs to step in." Officer Duncan next headed to Durham Police Headquarters to pick up the warrant for Huerta's arrest. Get Alerts | Send us photos "He was frisked and found to have no gun. By Lamont Lilly – Durham, NC Another Durham resident has now died in a controversial encounter with the Durham Police Department.This time it was teenager and local Riverside High School student, Jesus Huerta. The Durham Police Department released its preliminary internal affairs report on the shooting of 17-year-old Jesus "Chuy" Huerta in police custody Friday. Both Duncan and another officer present said Duncan searched Huerta's pockets and frisked him before placing him in the back of a police car. Both men then approached the car with their weapons drawn and found Huerta slumped over in the backseat. She said the investigation continues and the department's procedures for transporting prisoners and use of in-car cameras are under review. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Another Durham resident has now died in a controversial encounter with the Durham Police Department. Unfortunately, Jesus Huerta became the third Durham resident killed by or in Durham police custody over the last five months. Durham Police Officer Samuel Duncan frisked 17-year-old Jesus Huerta before the boy allegedly shot himself in the backseat of a patrol car, officials said. "This DPD 'Update on Preliminary Findings' is, to paraphrase Winston Churchill, a whitewash wrapped in a cover-up and basted in denial. This is what a local Durham newspaper wrote about the case: Jesus Huerta, a 10th-grader at Riverside High School, was being charged with second-degree trespassing just before 3 a.m. Tuesday and was in the back seat of a patrol car driven by Officer Samuel A.M. … Durham Mayor Bill Bell chimed in on reaction to the report, and his take on what police released Friday. An official response from Durham police chief, Jose Lopez states that 17 year old, Jesus Huerta died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound while placed under arrest in the back seat of a police squad car. Clayton said an in-car camera system in Duncan's car had stopped recording while the car was stopped and Duncan did not log back into the system when he began driving - which would have switched it on again. There is no record of where it was after that. It … From the moment of the 9-1-1 call reporting Jesus Huerta as a runaway, to his death 44 minutes later in the back of Durham Police Car No. Send Tip |  If you enjoy this content and/or believe "Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights" get yourself some CopBlock Gear from our store or donate just $1/month to the CopBlock Network. Personally, I don’t believe one word of what the Durham Police Department has stated. "The absurd statements by Durham Police Chief Jose Lopez about the shooting death of Jesus Huerta are sad, predictable and prove what the Huerta family and local Latinos know: the Durham police cannot and will not conduct a transparent investigation of the incident," Carmona said. Judging from the city’s buzz of conversations, many residents believe Officer Duncan was directly responsible for Huerta’s death. He said he wants to know if Huerta's friend - who was interviewed by police - reported that he was armed. Jesus Huerta, 17, was found dead in the back of a police car last November. Lamont Lilly is a contributing editor with the Triangle Free Press, Human Rights Delegate with Witness for Peace and organizer with Workers World Party. Jesus Huerta in North Carolina. Bell did not mention the recent controversies surrounding the Durham Police Department. Fact is, a 17 year old boy who was allegedly handcuffed, mysteriously died in police custody. 919.560.4600 This time it was teenager and local Riverside High School student, Jesus Huerta. After police spoke with Huerta's mother at her home, officers later located the teen with a friend at Washington and Green streets. This incident occurred right outside of the Durham Police Department’s headquarters parking lot. Now! Duncan said he planned to search Huerta again when he arrived. "There are probably people who still question them, but what we've tried to do is be as transparent and open as possible -- when I say we: the city council - through the city council and the police department," said Bell. Jesus Huerta, affectionately known as "Chuy," was a 10th grader at Riverside High in Durham. See It On TV | Report A Typo |  Clayton said Huerta's sister told police that he had attempted suicide in the past, but Clayton said that information was not communicated to officers looking for him. The chief's shell game with the facts continues," said Charns. Duncan also said the car was checked to be empty at the beginning of his shift and Huerta was the first prisoner placed in the car on his shift. Thirty-three year old, Jose Ocampo was killed July 27th, shot four times in the chest for possessing a knife. DURHAM . Durham Police Department A vigil was held Thursday for a teen who died in police custody in Durham; Jesus Huerta, 17, died of a gunshot wound to the head while handcuffed in the back of a police car last month A peaceful vigil in Durham to remember the life of Jesus Huerta. Durham, N.C. -- Another Durham resident has now died in a controversial encounter with the Durham Police Department. Listen . An official response from Durham Police Chief Jose Lopez claims that 17-year-old Jesus Huerta died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound while under arrest in the back seat of a police squad car. 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LATEST: First batch of COVID-19 vaccines arriving in NC Monday, 17-year-old boy killed in Fayetteville shooting, police say, Wake School Board meeting to discuss potential return to online learning, US government agencies hacked; Russia possible culprit, Vandals hit Black churches during weekend pro-Trump rallies, LIST: Holiday light displays in Raleigh, Durham and Fayetteville, LIST: Central NC hospitals to receive 1st shipment of Pfizer vaccine, Cleveland Indians to change team name, sources confirm to ESPN, White House staffers to receive COVID-19 vaccine ahead of general public, CDC officially allows COVID vaccine to be administered in US, Master spy writer John le Carre dies at 89. The gun most likely was in the back seat when Chuy was placed there," he charged. Find Jesus Huerta's phone number, address, and email on Spokeo, the leading people search directory for contact information and public records. On a coffee table in Durham Police Chief Jose Lopez's office, there is a chessboard with New York Yankees players on one side and Boston Red Sox players on the other. Personally, I don’t believe one word of what the Durham Police Department has stated. Thirty-three year old, Jose Ocampo was killed July 27th, shot four times in the chest for possessing a knife. The NAACP and other organizations have called for city leaders to get involved. This time it was teenager and local Riverside High School student, Jesus Huerta. Clayton said because the police car was searched before Huerta was put in it, the department has concluded he shot himself with a gun that he had on his person. Friday, the Durham Police Department also released its preliminary internal affairs report on Huerta's shooting while in police custody. Personally, I’m not worried about the “Bloods and Crips” in Durham. I’m worried about gang members who carry badges, tasers, steel batons and handguns, “law enforcers” who are paid with public tax money to terrorize people. Here is a link to see the state medical examiner’s report on Jesus Huerta: After Durham police officer, Samuel Duncan arrested Huerta, reports state that Officer Duncan heard a loud noise from the vehicle’s rear seat and jumped out of his moving patrol cruiser. Such sheer lack of accountability on behalf of the Durham Police Department is not only disrespectful, it’s outright despicable. Twenty-six year old, Derek Deandre Walker was executed September 17th by a Durham police sniper for publicly threatening to commit suicide. Copyright © 2020 WTVD-TV. Credit Leoneda Inge. One resulted in damaged police property. He was dead of a gunshot wound to the head and a black semi-automatic .45 caliber handgun was found lying on the seat beside him. ... Jesus Huerta died from a … She also said the weapon was traced by the ATF to a pawn shop in Commerce, Ga. that last reported having it in 1991. The warrants show 17-year-old Jesus Huerta had a backpack with items that were “confirmed stolen out of Durham in early November of 2013, prior … http://durhamnc.gov/ich/op/DPD/Pages/Home.aspx, Magic Mauve Crystal Pyramid Law Of Attraction Evoking Wealth And Happiness$60000.0, Police Comics #1 (1941) Cgc 6.0 Fn 1st Appearance Plastic Man & Phantom Lady$28888.0, Rarest Ww2 Us Army Mp Police Visor Hat -exclusivaly Made For Nurnberg Trial,1946$25000.0, Electrocution Cane At Auburn N.y Prison Made By A. Lamb, 1916$22000.0, Barack Obama “44th President 0f Usa 1991 (harvard Law)yearbook” Graduation Year”$20000.0. Thirty-three year old, Jose Ocampo was killed July 27th, shot four times in the chest for possessing a knife. Friends and relatives posted pictures like these of Jesus Huerta around Durham, NC after he died. The tiny truths in there are intertwined with half-truths and misdirection, the facts are not readily identifiable. A child has been killed, and we need answers. Doubt and suspicion over trickling details in the Huerta case have prompted two violent street protests. Clayton said investigators found gunshot residue on the gloves Huerta was wearing, and not on Officer Duncan's hands. It seems to me, and many others throughout the city, Durham police officers are simply covering their tracks with a concocted story that makes no physical or logical sense whatsoever. Durham, NC - Another Durham resident has now died in a controversial encounter with the Durham Police Department. Follow @abc11 on Twitter  |  Become a fan on Facebook. Trespassing and misdemeanor possession of cannabis was not the cause of Jesus Huerta’s death. Police Chief Jose Lopez did not participate in Friday's news conference. Maybe someone should pull up the Durham Police Department’s criminal record. Huerta was wearing white baseball-style gloves on his hands. When you see "CopBlock" as the author it means it was submitted via our submission tab - you can share your story too. Unfortunately, Jesus Huerta became the third Durham resident killed by or in Durham police custody over the last five months. Huerta family attorney Alexander Charns released a statement to ABC11 after seeing the internal affairs report Friday. Jan. 20, 2014. Durham’s police chief says that Jesus Huerta, the 17-year-old who died in police custody last month, shot himself in the head after he had been searched, handcuffed and … Police decided to take Huerta into custody, and Officer Samuel Duncan handcuffed him behind his back. Phony condolences are of no use, here. Bell acknowledged that the city's decision to release the report would do little to quell some doubts. All Rights Reserved. Relatives of 17-year-old Jesus Huerta had hoped for a peaceful vigil on Thursday outside of the Durham Police Department, but the night turned wild as … An official response from Durham police chief, Jose Lopez states that 17 year old, Jesus Huerta died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound while placed under arrest in the back seat of a police squad car. It is also quite disturbing how the first thing Durham police chose to highlight in this controversy was Huerta’s past juvenile offenses. Another Durham resident has now died in a controversial encounter with the Durham Police Department. He was allowed to keep them on. On November 19, 17-year-old Jesus Huerta, a student at Riverside High School in Durham, N.C. was shot to death in the back of a police car, his hands cuffed behind his back. This time it was teenager and local Riverside High School student, Jesus Huerta. 225, law … Entertaining such ploy is merely a distraction from gathering the truth of what actually happened, here. They say the police's information conjures up more questions than it resolves. We need answers and Officer Samuel Duncan arrested. A search warrant for the backpack Huerta had with him when he was arrested was made public earlier this week. A Durham teen [17-year-old Jesus Huerta] died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, Durham Police Chief Jose Lopez said… “I know that it is hard for people not in law enforcement to understand how someone could be capable of shooting themselves while handcuffed behind the back,” Lopez said. Huerta was temporarily taken out of the car and told to reposition his hands. "The fact of the matter is that a person lost his life.". Jesus Huerta deserves more than blanket apologies from city officials. Charns said Huerta's family member doubt he had a gun on him. "He was taken away by the action of the police by not following proper procedures," said Jaime Huerta, Jesus Huerta's sister. 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