Detroit woman Renisha McBride shot dead after seeking help
Mike Gallagher
THE family of a 19-year-old woman wants answers after she was shot dead when she knocked on a door for help after a car accident.
It was about 2:30am on Saturday when Renisha McBride was reportedly in a car accident. Her mobile phone's battery was dead so she sought help at a home in Dearbo Heights, Detroit.
But the Detroit News reports that she was killed with a single gunshot wound to the head in apparent self-defence by a man who believed she was an intruder.
Her family was initially told her body had been "dumped" a few blocks away but police now say she died on the man's front porch.
"Dearbo Heights (has) identified the person who fired the shot and killed the woman," according to a press release by the Dearbo Heights Police Department.
McBride’s aunt, Beita Spinks, said the shooting was not justified even if the resident believed that she was an intruder.
"He shot her in the head ... for what? For knocking on his door," said Ms Spinks. "If he felt scared or threatened, he should have called 911."
Ms Spinks said the family had met with officials from the Prosecutor’s Office. Ms Spinks said she believes her niece was racially profiled.
"You see a young black lady on your porch and you shoot?" said Spinks. "He killed my niece and he needs to pay for it. He needs to be in jail."
"There was no window broken. My niece didn’t bother anyone. She went looking for help and now she’s dead," she said.
