Dayton NAACP pushing for end of gun violence after string of deadly shootings

The Dayton Branch NAACP is pushing for an end to gun violence in the wake of the deadly police shooting and deadly mass shootings in Dayton.

The organization said on Friday that they have a three-pronged approach to help end gun violence, but their mission is first to support all families of victims of gun violence, like 16-year-old Brian Moody’s. Part of that is getting answers to questions that are still out there.

>> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: ‘We have a problem;’ Leaders speaking out after recent Dayton shootings

“What we don’t know is what was in the mind of the officer,” Derrick Foward, President of the Dayton Branch NAACP, said.

Foward said the body camera video of the shooting that took place last weekend on Negley Place makes it clear that officers bypassed several other people to make a beeline to try and question Moody.

“We don’t know if they had information beforehand,” he said.

Foward and those in the NAACP leadership would like to see the officers’ statements about what unfolded on Negley Place on June 29.

As reported on News Center 7 at 5:00 , News Center 7′s Mike Campbell asked Dayton Police about that and they said it there is such a statement, “that would be in the investigative file of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.” The file won’t be released until the investigation and any possible court proceedings are concluded.

>> RELATED: Police: 16-year-old shot, killed by officers had modified, fully-automatic handgun

As previously reported, Moody’s family has hired legal representation, but leaders at the NAACP said they do have answers to some community questions.

“When people say that the police planted a gun, police did not plant a gun,” Foward said. “When people say, ‘Did the young man have a firearm?’ Yes, he did.”

Police stated during a community briefing that Moody carried a Glock 17 with a loaded 30-round magazine and pointed that gun at officers, leading to their reaction of opening fire.

NAACP leaders don’t believe officers should have chased the teen.

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“[He] was not a fleeing felon, that we know of. Was not a fleeing misdemeanor person, that we know of, so we feel the individual should still be here with us,” Foward said.

NAACP leaders also spoke at length on Friday about the steps they are taking to fight back against gun violence, not just because of this shooting but because of the numerous Black lives lost in what they referred to as “Black on Black crime.” They’re suggesting a team of elected leaders bring back a gun buy-back program.