Family of black man gunned down by off-duty cop admits shooting was ‘justified,’ gets video released to ‘quell’ rumors
The family of an armed black man who was shot dead by an off-duty police officer has said the shooting was “justified” — while approving police efforts to rush the release of video to “quell misinformation” and protests.
Elijah Wilks, 26, was fatally shot on Thursday, Oct. 9, after he caused a minor car accident with an unidentified Milwaukee police officer who was on his way to work, officials have said.
Newly released video shows Wilks walking up to the relaxed-looking, 40-year-old plainclothes officer — then pulling out a gun and smacking him in the face with it.
As he backs off, Wilks then raises his handgun and points it straight at the cop — who fires his department-issued handgun in self-defense.
Wilks was declared dead at the scene while the officer — a 21-year veteran of the force — was taken to the hospital for minor injuries, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
While the police department typically waits 15 days before releasing videos of officer-involved shootings to the public, Wilks’ family wanted it to be released as soon as possible to “quell misinformation.”
“We will acknowledge that we believe this officer-involved shooting was justified,” the family’s attorney, B’Ivory LaMarr, said at a news conference.
“We acknowledge that (Wilks) made a bad decision yesterday and unfortunately it came with dire consequences,” he said, acknowledging the officer shot back “in accordance with his training.”
“The Wilks family has seen the truth for themselves. Now they want the public to see it too. They are choosing truth over rumor — transparency over division.”
Wilks’ aunt, Latrice Bell, said the family did not intend to file any lawsuits and was “at rest” with what the video showed.
“My nephew, he made a decision he should not have made and that’s just something we have to live with,” the aunt said.
Wilks’ family said he had been driving to his uncle’s funeral when he flipped, suggesting that could be why he acted violently and out of character.
The West Allis Police Department is leading the investigation into the ѕһᴏᴏтɪпɡ.
A teenage girl who faced bullying and harassment because of her weight lost 138 pounds and now looks like a movie star.
There are countless reasons why someone might want to lose weight. It might be for health reasons, to feel better in their own skin, to fit into certain clothes, or due to the social stigma that often surrounds being overweight. But for Josie Desgrand, a 16-year-old girl from Australia, it was Instagram that became the trigger for a life-changing transformation. At just 16 years old, Josie weighed 280 lbs (around 127 kg). Like many teenagers, she spent a lot of time on Instagram, scrolling through photos of slim, toned models who seemed effortlessly beautiful and happy.
The constant comparison made Josie feel worse about her body. She had tried various diets before, but every failed attempt left her feeling more discouraged and stuck in a cycle of emotional eating and junk food. She described this time in her life as a downward spiral—where every disappointment led to more unhealthy habits and deeper feelings of self-pity. But something changed one day. She had a “Eureka” moment that shifted everything. “I went into my room and stripped down to my underwear,” Josie recalled in an interview with
Instead of jumping into a drastic or extreme routine, Josie set small, realistic goals. She adopted a low-carb, no-sugar diet, increased her water intake, and began tracking her meals and body changes consistently. Her approach was focused more on sustainability than speed. One of the most supportive people in her journey was her dad. Seeing Josie’s determination, he joined her effort and started his own weight loss plan. Together, they encouraged and motivated each other every step of the way. Through diet alone, Josie managed to lose over
With her confidence rising and results showing, Josie decided to take her transformation to the next level by joining a
As Josie opened up about her journey, she started gaining followers from all over the world. People reached out with encouragement, questions, and their own stories. Josie made it a point to respond to every message, using her time each night to lift up others who were struggling, just like she had before. “When someone felt like giving up, I’d write back, ‘Keep going.’ I wanted them to know they weren’t alone,” she said. Over time, Josie reached her ultimate goal:
What started as a diet had become a true
