Terrebonne council bristles at state tax bill
April 7, 2015
Karen Lamenter
April 11, 2015
Even after a grand jury cleared Deputy Preston Norman of wrong-doing in connection with the fatal Sept. 23 shooting of 14-year-old Cameron Tillman, the District Attorney of Terrebonne Parish acknowledges he wrestled with the question of whether his office had done everything possible to foster accountability and transparency
The ultimate answer that the prosecutor, Joe Waitz Jr., came up with is a now unqualified “yes.”
“I absolutely believe in my heart that I want above and beyond,” Waitz said Monday in an exclusive interview. “I pride myself on my guiding light being able to say I have done the right thing. This family had lost a child. I don’t take that lightly and I did everything I could. As I sit here today going over it in my mind there is nothing more I can think of.”
The story of what happened Sept. 23 at 50 Kirkglen Loop is by now well-told, details buttressed by a 58-page summary report released by the Louisiana State Police Monday.
“Norman announced “Sheriff’s Office” as he knocked on the door and moved to its right so he would not be directly in front of it. This
door opened quickly with an unknown black male, later identified as (Cameron) Tillman, walking into the garage with a black pistol in his right hand,” the report states in its conclusion.
“Both Deputies (Norman and Deputy Andrew Lewis) stated that this weapon was in Tillman’s right hand and his right arm was fully extended with the barrel of the weapon being pointed away from his body toward Deputy Norman, who had knocked on the door. Deputies Norman and Lewis stated in the seconds that follow, Tillman turned his body, and the weapon, toward Deputy Norman. While turning his body and the weapon, both Deputies Norman and Lewis stated they perceived that Deputy Norman was in imminent danger of being seriously injured or killed. Based on the location of all three at that exact moment, Deputy Lewis did not fire due to the possibility of striking Deputy Norman; however, Deputy Norman discharged his departmentally issued firearm four times at C. Tillman striking him with all four rounds. Deputy Norman stated he discharged his firearm until he felt the threat ceased.”
What is known now but which Norman said he did not know then is that the “weapon” was a realistic pellet gun that resembled a .45 caliber pistol.
“Once the shots were fired, Tillman reentered the home and fell on the floor inside of the kitchen. Once the home was secure, Dy. Norman retrieved a medical bag and attempted to administer first aid to Tillman, but to no avail.”
Referring to Norman and Lewis, the investigative report states, “their statements were found to corroborate the physical evidence and direct testimony gathered reference this investigation.”
The report also cites conflicting statements made by Tillman’s brother, Andre, and two other teens who were inside the abandoned house at the time of the shooting, which occurred shortly after 5:30 p.m.
The teens’ statements, the report says, “not only failed to corroborate the physical evidence and direct testimony gathered reference this investigation but also the statements they independently made during their respective interviews.”
A grim-faced Waitz announced the grand jury’s finding last Thursday morning in a Terrebonne Parish courtroom.
“No matter the outcome this is a very tragic and horrible event where a young man has lost his life,” Waitz said. “This sorrowful incident has affected our community and I hope and pray we can continue to come together and as one community move forward.”
Prior to the announcement Waitz shared the grand jury’s “no true bill” decision with members of Tillman’s family
Waitz recalled that he told them he had done everything he could, as they left in anger, and that one man challenged that assertion. As he had told reporters during the courtroom news conference, Waitz was not required to convene a grand jury He could have accepted the State Police report’s findings and stopped there.
But Waitz maintains that for him, that would not have been enough.
Wyteika Tillman, the teen’s mother, gave testimony A forensic consultant, Lucretia McBride – whom Waitz acknowledges erroneously referring to as an investigator during the news conference – gave testimony as well.
McBride said that when she gave testimony of her observations at the crime scene, conducted several days after the shooting, the grand jury members appeared attentive.
Waitz said he wanted any voice with anything to say to be heard when his First Assistant, Carlos Lazarus, presented the case, which lasted for two days and saw 30 witnesses testify altogether.
“Without limitation I gave them the opportunity to present any evidence that they deemed relevant,”
Waitz said.
Noting the effect of the incident on law enforcement, Waitz noted that Norman, although cleared, “will live with this tragic incident for the rest of his life.”
“I would ask that all of our community come together embrace each other and trust in God on behalf of Cameron Tillman, his family and all those affected by the loss of one of our kids.”
Noting that Terrebonne has not seen the visible rancor and violence that has visited communities like Ferguson, Missouri, in a case that occurred two months before Tillman was killed, Waitz thanked the community for its understanding as well.
“Our citizens have been a shining example for others across the nation of how to come together as one,” Waitz said.
Asked if the shooting would result in any changes to his department’s procedures, Sheriff Jerry Larpenter emphasized that Norman acted according to Louisiana’s Peace Officer Standards and Training protocols.
“My deputy, Preston Norman, responded appropriately to the situation with which he was faced,” Larpenter told reporters. “He took appropriate action based on his training.”
Larpenter noted that the 5th Circuit US Court of Appeals has declared that a faux guns like the one Tillman reportedly held is a “dangerous weapon” even though not classified as a firearm.
Norman has been on paid leave since the incident, but returned to work Monday, a Sheriff’s Office official said. Larpenter said at the news conference that Norman would begin his return with inside duty, and would be eased back onto the streets.
Wyteika Tillman did not attend the news conference.
She and her attorney, Monroe-based Carol Powell, have both suggested that the grand jury would never have taken any action other than the “no true bill.” They plan to address reporters next week.
Powell said a federal lawsuit alleging civil rights violations will be filed. She is basing that on the number of shots fired. Waitz and State Police spokesman Evan Harrell said the New Orleans office of the FBI has asked for the investigative file.
In a Monday telephone interview, Wyteika Tillman said she is trusting in prayer to get her through the ordeal, which has severely affected her parents as well as her surviving son, Andre.
Last week, she said, 18-year-old Andre Tillman asked her what would happen if he killed himself. He has struggled, she said, since his brother’s death, which he witnessed.
“Would Jehovah let him be resurrected and be able to see Cam,” said Wyteika Tillman, an assistant manager at an east Houma chain motel.
While she has little common ground with Waitz she shares his admiration for the community at large for remaining calm in the wake of troubling news, both after the shooting and after the announcement of the grand jury’s determination.
“I planned with everyone, no matter what the outcome of this, which I knew what it was going to be, to please remain calm,” she said, noting that peace would be the best memorial to a peaceful and loving child. “I told people please remain calm because they will expect you to act up this way Don’t give them the satisfaction. I am very pleased with how the people responded to this.”
Autopsy findings reported
Tillman’s autopsy was performed by the Jefferson Parish Medical Examiner’s Office. The findings, cited in the State Police report said, “multiple distant range gunshot wounds to the torso and abdomen.”
Listed specifically were:
• “One perforating wound to the top of the right shoulder;”
• “Three (3) gunshot wounds to torso with injury to both lungs, liver and heart.”
There were no other signs of injury, the report said. The toxicology screens were negative.
The bullets recovered from the body were “microscopically compared to test fires from both officers’ weapons. These comparisons determined that they had been fired from Deputy Norman’s issued service weapon.”
Evidence collected the night of the shooting
• “Federal 40 S&W” fired cartridge collected from the middle of the garage
• 4.5 mm caliber Sig Sauer 1911 airsoft pistol, Serial Number U03130965121. This item was collected from the garage floor near the corner of a wooden book case
• “Federal 40 S&W” fired cartridge that was collected from the garage floor near the corner of a wooden book shelf
• “Federal 40 S&W” fired cartridge was collected from the garage floor near the middle of a wooden book shelf
• Multiple empty cigar packages were collected from the top of a living room table
• Two plastic bags and one clear plastic bag corner was collected from the top of a living room table
• Two swabs of blood were collected from a bloodstain that was located in the middle of the kitchen floor
One 4.5 mm caliber Crosman 1911BB airsoft pistol was collected from the living room floor near the wall that divides the garage from the living room. No serial number was observed.
• One projectile was collected from the wall near the entrance door that faced Kirkglen Loop; and
• One “Federal 40 S&W” fired cartridge was collected from the garage floor near the middle of a wooden book shelf.
Terrebonne Parish District Attorney Joe Waitz Jr. announces a grand jury’s decision Thursday to clear Deputy Preston Norman of criminal wrong-doing in connection with the Sept. 23 shooting of 14-yeare-old Cameron Tillman, during a news conference at the parish courthouse. Also pictured are First Assistant District Attorney Carlos Lazarus (left) and Trooper Evan Harrell of the Louisiana State Police.
District Attorney Joe Waitz Jr. points to similarities between a deputy’s service pistol to left and the pellet gun reportedly held by 14-year-old Cameron Tillman, when he was killed Sept. 23. To Waitz’s right are Sheriff’s Office Capt. Dawn Foret and Asst. District Attorney Jason Dagate. The presentation was made to reporters at the Terrebonne Parish courthouse Thursday.
Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Jerry Larpenter tells reporters that Deputy Preston Norman acted appropriately and within the scope of his training when 14-year-old Cameron Tillman was killed Sept. 23, during a news conference Thursday. At left is Asst. District Attorney Carlos Lazarus, at right State Police Trooper Evan Harrell.
