Exclusive: Family, attorney of man fatally shot by Bridgeport police say the shooting was unjustified
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (WTNH) — Some controversial questions are being raised about an officer-involved shooting in Bridgeport.
The victim's family and their attorney gave News 8 a closer look at police body camera footage they say tells a different story than what is being reported.
Person shot and killed by Bridgeport police officer
Bridgeport police say they can't comment since the Inspector General's office is still investigating. But, the victim's niece says they didn't need to shoot him, and he didn't have a gun. Instead, she says, it was a vape in his hands.
38-year-old Dyshan Best was killed after a a brief encounter turned deadly. Best and his friend had just left a funeral.
Police officers were responding to a possible fight call, perhaps a weapon involved.
Now, new body camera stills and images analyzed by the family attorney were shown to News 8 for the first time.
'It's worse than rush to judgement, a rush to judgement is when someone makes a conclusion what this is a falsity,' Attorney Darnell D. Crosland said.
The inspector general says a handgun was found near the body. The attorney says that the alleged gun was discovered 20 hours later and is raising question.
But, there is a part of the video that may show what could be identified as a weapon. Crosland says it appears that way because of how the video was slowed and stopped at a crucial time, and it is not a weapon.
Connecticut Office of Inspector General releases video of Bridgeport police officer shooting man
The victim's brother said he never heard any talk of a weapon or a gun and they lived together.
The inspector general's office did not want to talk on camera, saying in a statement:
'The Office of the Inspector General is in the process of investigating this matter in a thorough and impartial manner. It stands by its preliminary report.'
Why did Best run from police?
'In my mind I think he ran because he was inebriated – he had a gallon of Remy and he was grieving his friend,' Tatiana Barrett said.
The officer who squeezed the trigger is on administrative leave, which is standard in a case like this.
Watch the full story and see the still photos above.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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