Activists gather at New Haven police building to protest Jebrell Conley’s death

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — Dozens gathered around the New Haven Police Department (NHPD) on Thursday to peacefully protest the death of a New Haven man last week in an officer-involved shooting.

A crowd of around 50 people were calling “Justice for Jebrell.”

Jebrell Conley, 36, was shot and killed by police officers in West Haven at a car wash.

Protesters said that they do not believe police claims that Jebrell Conley fired at police. They believe police instigated a violent conflict with him.

Police said Jebrell Conley shot at them, and they fired back.

Earlier this week, body camera footage was released to show when shots were fired from police and Conley.

Protestors claim the ‘edited body camera video’ released by police does not show Conley firing a gun at police. New Haven’s chief said in a press conference earlier this week that you can see Conley’s car window shatter when he did fire at police, and that is what caused two New Haven officers and a state police sergeant to return fire.

According to the inspector general’s office, Conley had an outstanding arrest warrant on robbery and firearm charges. On Sept. 19, the police department was told that Conley was at the Splash Car Wash on Boston Post Road in West Haven. When police arrived at the car wash, they allegedly tried to block Conley’s car their patrol vehicles.

When police moved in attempts to arrest him, Conley allegedly fired one round that shattered the front driver side window of his car, according to the inspector general’s office. The officers fired at Conley striking him multiple times until he fell out of the car and into the parking lot.

Conley was transported to Yale New Haven Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The officers involved were placed on paid leave by the NHPD.

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