Protest in Ft. Pierce FL for "Ferguson-type shooting" - It's happening

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A Fort Pierce family rallied more than 50 demonstrators in a show of solidarity and outrage, almost a year after their loved one—who was African American—was fatally shot by St. Lucie County Sheriff’s deputies. The group marched through the streets of Fort Pierce Monday night to the steps of City Hall chanting, “Hands up! Don’t shoot!” and "Justice! Justice!"

This march was for Greg Hill, Jr. who died in January. The group had one, powerful message Monday for city leaders: Improve the relationship between the police department and our community.

Hill's fiance, Monique Davis, said, "What’s going on in Ferguson is going on right here in our own community.”

Greg Hill was gunned down by St. Lucie County Sheriff’s deputies in January, when they responded to a noise complaint. They claimed they shot Hill—who had a criminal record and whose blood alcohol limit was almost five times the legal limit for impaired driving-- because he pointed a gun at them. A grand jury later cleared the cops of any wrongdoing. Now, this group wants a new, independent inquiry into what happened.

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When deputies were called to the area at about 3 p.m. Tuesday, officials at a school across the street from Hill's home were complaining about his loud music. Deputies went to his home and when Hill opened the garage, he had a gun in his hand, Mascara said. Despite orders to drop the weapon, he raised it instead while simultaneously closing the garage door.

"Fearing for their lives, one of the deputies fired his handgun multiple times at the subject," Mascara said at a news conference Wednesday afternoon. "The bullets penetrated the garage door and as we now know, struck the subject."

Mascara said Hill had a lengthy arrest record that included charges for drugs, thefts and other crimes, and was on probation for cocaine possession at the time of Tuesday's standoff.

"They said it was a threat for their life," Gerald Newberry said. "Where is the threat if you gotta shoot a man through the garage door? I'm not gonna say (Hill) didn't have a gun, (but) ... if he pulled the garage door down that's not a threat to your life."

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