Father of Kansas man killed in police shooting views ‘disturbing’ body-cam video

After a months-long legal tussle, a relative was permitted to view body-camera footage showing the shooting death of Dominique White by Topeka police.

In a press release sent by the family’s legal counsel, the family announced White’s father, Kelly White, viewed the footage on Friday. It was described as “disturbing.”

White, a 30-year-old from Topeka, died of gunshot wounds “to the back,” according to his death certificate, after two officers shot him in a struggle in late September near an east Topeka park.

White was armed but fleeing, police said.

The Lawrence Police Department, which assumed investigative duties of the incident, said White was shot after he “reached for the pocket containing the firearm.”

His death sparked Black Lives Matter protests amid demands from the family and others to release the footage and the officers’ identities to the public.

A state court judge last week named Kelly White special administrator for his son’s estate.

The city had said Kansas law allowed only an administrator or Dominique White’s young children, as his heirs, to view the footage absent a court order.

“They (the White family) have asked for space to process, grieve and heal,” the release said. “The investigation is ongoing.”

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

This story was originally published December 16, 2017 at 12:32 PM with the headline "Father of Kansas man killed in police shooting views ‘disturbing’ body-cam video."