TITUSVILLE, Fla. – More than a month has passed since a 25-year-old man was shot and killed by police in Titusville — and some residents are still searching for answers on what exactly happened.
Tuesday night, a crowd of advocates piled into the city council meeting room just as they did on Feb. 11.
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During the public comment period of the meeting, Christina Michelle stood up to question the shooting to Titusville Mayor Andrew Connors and Council Member Jo Lynn Nelson.
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“How many bullets does it take to stop a threat, one, two, three — 15? Tri-Marea Charles was shot 15 times in the back, killed with over 60 shell castings left by a police department with more than 30 unsolved murders,” Michelle said.
Michelle spoke after her allocated three minutes leaving the mayor to cut off her microphone and calling a recess. News 6 did not attend the meeting in person and the video feed available for the public was paused for nearly 20 minutes.
“Do you want me to call a recess. Alright we will call a recess,” Connors said before the feed cut out.
Police have shared limited information on the Feb. 7 shooting — releasing a press release which reads the agency initially was responding to a suspicious incident investigation off Robins Avenue.
Titusville Police Chief, John Lau then met with residents on Feb. 13 at NAACP meeting to address questions from the community on the incident.
He said officers encountered Charles after he ran out the front door and dropped a gun. He then claimed there was some type of altercation with officers and Charles.
“Mr. Charles re-armed himself with the gun that had fallen, and that’s when shots were fired,” Lau said on Feb. 13.
Charles was shot by police and taken to the hospital where he was soon pronounced dead, News 6 confirmed. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is the now investigating the shooting, police said.
Meanwhile, News 6 requested clarification to FDLE if Charles was shot 15 times in the back and the following response was given.
“Our investigation remains active,” an unnamed spokesperson for FDLE said in an email.
We also put in a public records request for the body camera footage, 911 audio and incident report from the shooting to FDLE — it is unknown how long it will take to be fulfilled.