When Gaston County District Attorney Travis Page told Rebecca Insley that he decided not to pursue charges against the officers who shot her husband, Derrick Manigault, she felt, “heartbreak all over again,” and then, “rage that builds up.” Manigault, 43, died after being shot by police on Jan. 10, at Jakob’s Food Mart, 1406 Gaston Ave. in Gastonia.
According to Page’s official report on the incident, he was carrying a fake gun at the time of the shooting.On Jan. 10, one Gastonia police sergeant and one detective were at Jakob’s Food Mart wearing plain clothes, running an undercover alcohol beverage control compliance operation, according to Page’s report. Manigault arrived at the store at around 5:30 p.m. and just after exiting his vehicle, he reached back in and grabbed, “what appeared to be a black firearm,” and placed it in the waistband of his pants, the report said. In the parking lot, he and another person got into a verbal altercation that continued after the two men entered the store, at which time surveillance footage captures their continued discussion and, “Manigault is heard stating to (him), ‘(Are) you trying to lose your life tonight?’ At least three times,” the report said. The “escalating confrontation” captured one of the officers’ attentions as he was discussing an illegal alcohol sale with store personnel. The officer said he saw Manigault holding the fake gun at his side and determined that he was a threat to other shoppers and people in the store, the report said. While Manigault was exiting the store, the sergeant fired several shots.
The other officer heard them from outside and drew his weapon as Manigault ran out. At one point, the detective who had been waiting outside said he saw Manigault raise his arm in what he believed was an attempt to return fire, so he fired multiple rounds along with the other officer, according to the report.
Manigault sustained four gunshot wounds, including one to his shoulder, one to his elbow, one to his abdomen and a fatal shot that penetrated his chest.
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