LOS ANGELES, CA – One week after Brandon Boyd was fatally shot by police on the steps of his community church, his family, joined by members of Black Lives Matter Long Beach, held a press conference demanding transparency and accountability. Boyd, 30, was reportedly experiencing a mental health crisis at the time of the incident.
Incident Details
Tiffany Boyd, the victim’s sister, addressed reporters Tuesday at the site of the Nov. 19 shooting.
“He was peaceful and in need of help. Despite this, the police decided to escalate the situation by deploying a flash grenade, a violent and unnecessary act that led to the fatal shooting of my big brother,” she said.
Boyd is survived by six children. “He was a father, a brother, and a member of this community. Now his kids will grow up without him,” Tiffany added.
The Long Beach Police Department stated that officers responded to a “text to 9-1-1” report about a man with a gun near the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and 52nd Street. Upon arrival, officers encountered Boyd, who identified himself as the sender of the text and was reportedly near a firearm.
Police said they spent over two and a half hours attempting to de-escalate the situation. They eventually deployed less-lethal foam projectiles and a flashbang as diversionary tactics. According to the department, Boyd then pointed the firearm at officers, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.
Boyd was pronounced dead at the scene despite life-saving efforts. One officer sustained a gunshot wound to the arm and was treated at a hospital.
Family members argue Boyd called the police himself for assistance during a mental health crisis. They allege that the use of a flash grenade unnecessarily escalated the situation.
Tyerra Boyd, another of Boyd’s sisters, claimed police violence extended to family members who were present. “After they gunned Brandon down in front of me, the police turned their violence on me, my sister, and my niece,” she said. “We were begging them to stop, but instead of showing us a shred of humanity, they brutalized us.”
Demands for Transparency
Boyd’s family and Black Lives Matter Long Beach are calling for the release of the 9-1-1 call, body-worn camera footage, and the names of the officers involved in the shooting. They also demand charges be dropped against family members who were arrested that night.
Audrena Redmond, a representative of Black Lives Matter Long Beach, called for systemic changes. “We want the officers who killed Brandon to be charged with murder,” Redmond said. “This is not how mental health crises should be handled. That flash grenade set it all off.”
The family has also requested a review of the Long Beach Police Department’s policies for responding to mental health emergencies and questioned oversight by Mayor Rex Richardson’s office.
The Long Beach Police Department has pledged transparency and announced that body-worn camera footage will be released in the coming weeks. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is also reviewing the case, which is standard for all officer-involved shootings.
“A multi-level review of this incident is ongoing,” the LBPD said in a statement.
Community Support
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support Boyd’s family as they seek justice and grieve the loss of their loved one.
Boyd’s death has reignited discussions about the need for improved responses to mental health crises and greater accountability for law enforcement actions. Further updates are expected as investigations progress.
