Video shows fatal police-involved shooting in Wilmington

WILMINGTON (WPVI) -- More details have emerged in a shooting in Wilmington that saw an officer shoot and kill a man who, according to police, had a gun.

Cell phone video captured the encounter.

In the video, police demand Jeremy McDole to drop the weapon or show his hands a dozen times.

Then four officers fire their weapons, hitting the wheelchair-bound McDole several times.

"When Mr. McDole began to remove the weapon from his waist, the officers engaged him and as a result of the injuries Mr. McDole sustained, he lost his life," Wilmington Police Chief Bobby Cummings said.

Police responded to the 1800 block of Tulip Street around 3:00 p.m. Wednesday after receiving a report that the 28-year-old McDole shot himself.

Investigators say a .38 caliber weapon was recovered near McDole's body.

It's unclear if he did indeed shoot himself prior to police.

An autopsy has been completed, but results have yet to be released.

Just steps from the officer-involved shooting, relatives gathered Thursday to remember McDole. Gov. Jack Markell, the city's mayor and the police commissioner were also in attendance for the vigil.

Relatives call the use of force unjustified.

"You can clearly see on there, this is overkill and for someone to be in a wheelchair and you can't handle this better than the way you all did it? I don't understand it," relative Gene Pennewell said.

"I think it's wrong because he was paralyzed from the waist down. They didn't have to shoot him. If he did something, they could have Tased him," aunt Marceline Congo said.

Gov. Markell called the video "troubling", adding he has confidence in the investigation being conducted by the Wilmington police and the State Attorney General's Office.

Across this country, there is strife between police and the black community.

Wilmington and New Castle County leaders are now pleading for calm in the light of this officer involved shooting.

"It is imperative that in spite of the situation, the delicateness of it, that we have a unified call for peace and responsibility on the street," County Councilman Jea Street said.

"We don't have anything to hide. We are very open and we want them to understand we are very sorry for the loss of their loved one," Mayor Dennis Williams said.

The names of the officers involved have not been released.

They are on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.