Pregnant, Native American Single Mother Killed by Cops

By teleSUR

25 October 16

“She needed help, but she got bullets,” said Hunter Vaiese, another member of the tribal community.

hen police were dispatched to 23-year-old Renee Davis’ house Friday evening, they were supposed to check on the pregnant and reportedly suicidal Davis. But the Native American single mother of three was fatally shot that night by cops on Muckleshoot tribal land in Washington state.

The King’s County Sheriff’s Office sent two deputies to Renee Davis’ after receiving a report of a possibly suicidal woman.

Davis, who had been battling with depression, had sent a text to a friend saying she didn’t feel well. That friend then called the sheriff’s office to check on her.

“It’s really upsetting because it was a wellness check,” her foster sister, Danielle Bargala, told The News Tribune. “Obviously, she didn’t come out of it well.”

Davis reportedly had a handgun on her, and was with her two smallest children. Upon seeing the handgun, the deputies opened fire.

Medics responded by arriving at Davis’ residence but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

“I don’t know what led up to the shooting,” King County Sheriff’s Sergeant Cindi West told Q13 News.

Bargala said her foster sister was never violent. “She was such a soft person,” she said.

A Seattle lawyer representing another police murder victim from another local tribe says these deaths are emblematic of police interactions with people struggling with mental illness.

Ryan Dreveskracht told The News Tribune that while the Seattle Police Department and several others provide training in de-escalation techniques, several others do not.

Davis was a receptionist at the Muckleshoot Health and Wellness Center, and also worked as a teacher at the Muckleshoot Child Development Center.

The Muckleshoot Early Learning Academy, the department where Davis worked, posted on Facebook about her death.

“Our MELA family is deeply saddened by the loss of our teammate, MELA parent, and friend, Renee Davis. She was an amazing addition to our team and this loss hurts us immeasurably. To ensure consistency for our MELA students, we will be open tomorrow with grief counselors available for staff and parents starting at 8:00 a.m. Prayers of strength, love, and comfort to all of those affected by this loss.”

The two cops responsible for killing Davis have been placed on paid administrative leave as the shooting is investigated. According to the sheriff’s office, one is an 8-year veteran assigned to the Muckleshoot reservation, and the other is a 3-year veteran.

A candlelight vigil was held outside Davis’ home Saturday while a protest was held Sunday.

“My community is confused. We have our own police department in which we know our deputies personally. I never thought this would happen so close to home,” Hunter Vaiese, another member of the tribal community, told Heavy.com. “She needed help, but she got bullets. It doesn’t make sense to me.”