NEW ORLEANS -- While the investigation continues into Thursday's deadly shooting, a Mid-City family is mourning the loss of Justin Sipp, who was shot and killed by police.
"One of them was in college, both working. On their way to work. This is real bizarre, you know," said Larry Champ about his two brothers early morning commute.
About 100 yards from where Justin Sipp was being driven to work, a teddy bear and flowers now sit. The 20-year-old worked at the Burger King on City Park Avenue. On Thursday morning, his brother Earl was driving him to work when their commute turned violent.
Shortly after listening to NOPD Superintendent Ronal Serpas speak at a news conference broadcast on the radio, Champ spoke to Eyewitness News about the deadly shooting.
"Lets go into the investigation before we start throwing these things around: 'They shot the police and this and that.' Lets find out what the police did," said Champ.
NOPD says Justin Sipp began shooting at officers after a traffic stop, and that police returned fire, killing the 20-year-old.
"That's not what I heard they're not telling the total truth. Mayor Landrieu and Ronal Serpas and all of these people to get on the news and act like it was such a heroic act by these police. It's mind boggling to me," added Champ.
Injured in the cross fire was Earl Sipp, Jr., who was escorted by family and friends to a relative's house after being discharged from surgery at University Hospital. His attorney Glenn Woods said that the 23-year-old was handcuffed when gunfire broke out near the intersection of North Bernadotte and Toulouse Streets in Mid-City.
"The only thing I can tell you right now is Mr. Sipp is not being charged with anything. In fact at the time of the shooting, he was in handcuffs," said Woods.
Champ said the family wants a thorough police investigation to determine what exactly happened in the early morning hours.
For now, one grieving family says it's being left with more questions than answers.
"They were on their way to work with their uniforms on. What made them feel endangered with two guys with uniforms going to work?" said Champ.
Posted By: Siebra Muhammad
Friday, March 2nd 2012 at 10:47AM
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