Family of woman killed by DPD officer's gun still awaits answers
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By Robin Schwartz, Fox 2 News -
Adaisha Miller
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (WJBK) -
It's been more than half a year since their daughter died in a mysterious shooting involving a Detroit police officer. The parents of Adaisha Miller say they're no closer to understanding what happened and they need answers.
"There's not a day that goes by that I don't want to hear her voice. I have to remember what it sounds like to hear her say I love you, mommy," said Yolanda McNair.
Adaisha's mother expressed her heartbreak seven months after her daughter was shot and killed by a Detroit police officer's gun. The 24-year-old was celebrating her birthday back in July at a fish fry at the home of Officer Isaac Parrish. Police have said the 16-year veteran had a loaded handgun in a soft, neoprene holster and the gun accidentally went off when he and Miller were dancing.
"Was she in front of him when she got shot? Was she behind him when she got shot? Was she standing when she got shot? Was she kneeling when she got shot?" said Gerald Thurswell.
The family's attorney says they haven't been able to get answers to those questions and so many more. He's preparing a lawsuit under the Freedom of Information Act to be filed next week.
The family was given a report with summaries of statements from 41 witnesses. Under manner of death, the word homicide is crossed out and changed to indeterminate.
"It's been too long for us not to hear [anything] and we just want some closure," said Eddie Miller, Adaisha father.
"We don't have any details. We don't have any way to get any kind of closure on it because we don't have any idea how," McNair said.
The report does indicate Adaisha had a blood alcohol level of 0.19 when she was shot in the upper chest. Family members call that insignificant because she was old enough to drink and was not doing anything illegal.
"We'd like to know if they did any testing of the officer how much alcohol was in his system. He had a huge party. If they have 41 witness statements, that means a minimum of 41 people were at the party," Thurswell said.
We've made calls to the city law department and the police department for comment. Those calls were not returned.
The family says as far as they know, Officer Parrish is still working on administrative duties while they continue to mourn and wait for answers.
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Adaisha Miller
