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A D.C. family is alleging that a 29-year-old man was unarmed when he was fatally shot by D.C. police on Christmas Day, according to reports from Fox 5 News and WJLA. The Metropolitan Police Department says that Gerald Hall was armed with a knife when they arrived to the scene on the 3200 block of Walnut Street NE.

After viewing police body-worn camera footage, Hall’s mother told Fox News that her son was not “waving a knife” and police “shot him dead” after telling a girl to move out of the way. “I don’t feel like my son deserved [any] of this,” she continued.

Hall’s cousin told WJLA that although officers were ordering Hall to put down a knife, “you will also not see a knife in his hand to put down.” Hall’s sister told WJLA that she is “absolutely certain” that he did not have a weapon. “I have no idea why that man shot my brother,” she said.

Meanwhile, Interim D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham told Channel 8 News that “there is indisputable evidence that the suspect did have a knife in his possession when the shots were fired. And with regard to whether or not the force was justified—that remains to be seen. That’s something that we have an investigative process for.”

According to a police report, officers received a call about a domestic related disturbance and arrived to the residence in Woodridge around 11:30 a.m. Police said they encountered Hall holding a knife. After Hall ignored an officer’s commands to drop the weapon, at least one officer shot Hall. He was taken to a nearby hospital with serious injuries and later pronounced dead.

The officer involved in the incident has been placed on administrative leave. And police say Hall’s weapon was recovered on scene.

His family members are requesting that MPD release the video footage to the public, according to WJLA. Under D.C.’s police body-worn camera legislation, releasing the video would require approval from Mayor Muriel Bowser.

When asked if the mayor has plans to release the footage publicly, Susana Castillo, a spokesperson for Mayor Bowser’s office, told DCist that “this case remains under review and we have no additional comments at this time.”

Newsham told Channel 8 News that Bowser is “considering the release of the video.” He says he anticipates that the decision will be made in the coming weeks.

This post has been updated with comments from Interim D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham.

Filed Under: body camera, crime, Gerald Hall, mpd, police, police involved shooting, shooting,