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August 3, 2012

African-American Man Shot Dead While Handcuffed in Police Vehicle 
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The mother of an African-American man who died while handcuffed in the
back of a police vehicle in Arkansas is demanding justice for her son.
Twenty-one-year-old Chavis Carter was detained on Saturday after
allegedly being found with marijuana. Police say he was handcuffed and
placed in the back of a police cruiser, at which point he accidentally
shot himself in the back of the head while reaching for a gun. In an
interview, Carter's mother, Teresa Carter, cast doubt on the police's
claims.

Teresa Carter: "I think they killed him, my son wasn't suicidal. They
searched him twice. I just want to know what really happened."

Carter's mother says the police's account is further questionable
because he was shot through the right temple despite being left-handed.
Shortly before his death, Carter had phoned his girlfriend to tell her
he would contact her from jail.

 

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