Group Views Shooting as Justified

The police officers who shot and killed a knife-wielding man appeared to be justified in using lethal force, but the death will be perceived as a black mark on the beleaguered Police Department, the head of a watchdog group said Tuesday.

Part of the confrontation leading to Monday’s shooting was caught on videotape that showed about a dozen officers surrounding the man as he waved his arms and brandished a small knife. The shooting itself was not taped.

“People will continue to have a negative opinion of police in this city,” said Rafael Goyeneche, executive director of the Metropolitan Crime Commission of Greater New Orleans. “That goes back to some of the sins the department has been guilty of over the past 10 to 15 years.”

The victim was identified by the coroner’s office as Anthony Hayes, 38, of New Orleans. His death follows a series of allegations of police misconduct in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, including the videotaped beating of a retired teacher and accusations that police deserted their posts and looted parts of the city.

Goyeneche said he expected the shooting to be ruled appropriate because the officers apparently felt their lives were threatened, but people might question whether they could have done more to prevent the situation from escalating.

“It’s important for this administration to not just address the appropriateness of the shooting but to look to other policy or training that would have prevented them from getting to this point,” Goyeneche said.