Federal ‘sniper teams were authorized to use DEADLY force’ in case of unrest at George Floyd’s burial in Texas
FEDERAL sniper teams were allegedly authorized to use deadly force in case of unrest at George Floyd’s burial in Texas.
Planning records, obtained by Vice, allegedly show at least six “sniper teams” who were ready to fire from rooftops.
The documents also stated that an FBI surveillance aircraft was flying over the burial and “overwatch units” monitoring the crowd for “agitators.”
US Customs and Border Protection agents were also in the city, including members of the militarized tactical unit.
The document lists the “rules of engagement” saying that the unit was “geared up ready to deploy” in response to “verbal aggressive language” from portesters.
It also detailed that agents can use “less lethal/gas munitions” and that “deadly force is authorized anytime.”
The officers were also described as being “station for a quick response to riot and looting” and said that the team could “take up positions around Pearland PD to prevent property loss or damage” if “non-peaceful protesting” occured.
National Guard soldiers were also involved on “ready posture as last line of defense.”
Joshua Lee, the city’s spokesperson, told vice the presence of the agents was “initiated by request of our [police] department.”
“The mission of all personnel was to provide a safe environment for the Floyd family to conduct their service in peace,” Lee said.
“Just because nothing happened doesn’t mean there weren’t credible threats, we plan for a variety of potential outcomes to be as prepared as possible.”
The last chance for the public to say goodbye to George Floyd drew thousands of mourners to a church in Houston where he grew up.
Floyd died on May 25 after former cop Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes, in an incident that was captured on video.
Reflecting the weight of the moment, the service drew the families of black victims in other high-profile killings whose names have become seared in America’s conversation over race — among them Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Ahmaud Arbery and Trayvon Martin.
Most read in News
“It just hurts,” said Philonise Floyd, George Floyd’s brother, sobbing as he ticked off some of their names outside The Fountain of Praise church. “We will get justice. We will get it. We will not let this door close.”
Under a blazing Texas sun, mourners wearing T-shirts with Floyd’s picture or the words “I Can’t Breathe” — the phrase he said repeatedly while pinned down by a Minneapolis police officer — waited for hours to pay their respects as Floyd’s body, dressed in a brown suit, lay in an open gold-colored casket.
Funeral home spokeswoman La’Torria Lemon said at least 6,000 attended the service.