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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Ronald G. Waters |
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PLBC applauds Pa. attorney general for investigating McNair/Simmons case
PHILADELPHIA, July 15 – Today, state Rep. Ronald Waters, D-Delaware/Phila., chairman of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, issued a statement commending the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office for following through on the investigation of the shooting death of Joseph McNair in Montgomery County.
On Sept. 17, 2008, an unarmed Joseph McNair was shot by his neighbor, Darryl Simmons, an off-duty SEPTA police sergeant, during a dispute. Waters became aware of the incident when McNair’s family recently spoke with him and other members of the PLBC, asking for their help.
When reports showed an investigation by the office of Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman was still pending two years after the incident, the PLBC sent letters to Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. requesting they investigate.
"Sergeant Simmons claims he acted in self-defense because he felt his life was in danger," Waters said." However, audio tapes of the argument from the two men cast doubt on the police officer's claim."
Waters also said the only way for McNair's family to see justice is for them to get answers to what really happened preceding the fatal shooting.
"Based on the seriousness of the incident and everything that has been presented to us, the proper authorities need to investigate to get to the truth. The fact that this incident has taken the Montgomery County DA two years to investigate raises a few questions, so higher powers must intervene," Waters said.
Waters said Corbett's office has agreed to look at the case and has referred it to the office's criminal division.
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