WHAT HAPPENED: Desmond Phillips was a 25 year old black man from Chico,CA with no previous police record. He had a history of mental illness and the paramedics were called by his father during an apparent mental illness related episode he was having. The fire department dispatched the police after they considered him to be hostile because he pulled his arm away refusing to leave his house. When the police arrived he was found pacing in a small living room holding a butter knife and a small kitchen knife. He was tased and seconds later, according to neighbor accounts, 10-12 rounds were fired killing him in front of his father. Two of the bullets went through to a neighbor's apartment. Officers should use the minimum amount of force necessary to resolve a situation and be better prepared and trained to deal with special circumstances like mental illness.

We'll be meeting at the Broad Street Bridge and walking from there. Please RSVP to get the full details. Also RSVP even if you can't make the vigil itself—there's more info about how to write a letter, make a call or support Desmond's grieving family.

http://www.krcrtv.com/news/local/butte/heated-discussion-of-desmond-phillips-with-da/406372698