Family of man killed by Kansas City police hires lawyer. KCPD says man pointed gun.
The family of a man shot and killed by a Kansas City police detective one week ago has retained a civil rights attorney who is calling for answers from the department.
Cameron Lamb, 26, was killed Dec. 3 in the backyard of his home in the 4100 block of College Avenue. The Kansas City Police Department has alleged Lamb pointed a gun in the direction of an officer.
Lee Merritt, a Philadelphia-based attorney, posted on social media that he is representing Lamb’s family. Merritt has taken on several high-profile police shootings, according to The Washington Post, including representing the family of Botham Jean, a Dallas, Texas, man who was killed in 2018 by an off-duty officer in his apartment.
Merritt called for KCPD to release all available video to the family.
“They demand justice,” he said.
Lamb was shot after an incident that began near 35th and College Avenue when officers saw a red truck chasing a Mustang, according to police. Officers in a police helicopter began following the truck, reporting that the vehicle was traveling 60 mph.
They saw the truck backing into a residential lot in the 4100 block of College and directed officers to the location.
One officer approached the house from the south side and came into contact with an individual who was repairing a vehicle.
The second officer went to the north side and saw Lamb back the truck down the driveway.
“He saw Lamb pull a gun and point it in the direction of the other officer,” the police department said in a statement. “The officer on the north side fired at Lamb.”
Police investigating the shooting found Lamb inside the vehicle with his left arm and head hanging out of the driver’s side window. On the ground near his left hand was a handgun, police said.
Merritt disputed that account, saying Lamb had been repairing a vehicle when the shooting occurred and that citizens have a right to to possess guns in their homes and businesses.
