SALINAS, Calif.- An in depth interview with the parents of a star Central Coast football player killed by Los Angeles police.
More than a year after his death, Reggie Doucet's parents want answers and justice.
Thursday, they showed us surveillance video from the moments before police shot him.
Friday, Reginald, Sr. and his wife Odessa came back to Central Coast News because they wanted to show us and you why they say Reggie wasn't a threat to police.
They also said part of the surveillance video is missing. Officers say Reggie was running around naked, acting wildly and attacked them. His parents told Central Coast News that's not true and they say the video proves it.
"And I'm not going to rest until something is done."
All it takes is five minutes with Odessa Doucet and you'll believe her when she says she'll do whatever it takes, however long it takes, to get justice for her son Reggie Doucet, Jr.
Central Coast News invited Odessa and Reginald, Sr. to our newsroom so they could walk me and you through this condominium surveillance video from the January night last year when police shot and killed Reggie.
"He's not being hostile, he's not being belligerent, he's laid back, relaxed and talking to him...For whatever reason the officer has a taser on him like he's violent or he's a threat to him. To me, in my opinion, he doesn't seem to be a threat, no hostages, no weapons," said Reginald, Sr.
Reginald, Sr. sees dangerous criminals everyday and says his son wasn't one. He is a peace officer and said Reggie's actions didn't warrant deadly force, but by the end of the incident LAPD officers shot him twice in the neck.
It all started when a taxi driver called police because he thought Reggie was trying to skip out on the tab. Doucet said he was trying to get in his condo to get money to pay the driver.
"From the point of them talking to him and them exchanging words no physical contact occured and he ran, he dashed to another alcove maybe 20, 30 feet away and two minutes later two shots rang out," said Reginald, Sr.
Odessa and Reginald Sr. said the battle to get justice for their son's death is compounded by a LA police commission investigation that cleared the officer who shot Reggie. The Doucets believe LAPD is covering up a wrongful death.
For example, there were 16 cameras in the complex. The Doucets said they got footage from all but one, "That is camera 16 and for some reason that camera...That footage is gone...That is where the killing occurred."
Odessa and Reginald said eye witnesses, video, and audio all tell a much different story than LA police are painting.
"I can't help Reggie, I can't help him anymore, Reggie is no longer with us...But these cops are back on the street and they can do it someone else's kid," said Odessa.
And until the officer is forced to answer for his actions in a courtroom, you can believe the Doucets will not rest.
"No and who would? Any self-respecting parent who wanted, had, loved, adored, raised and made us so proud, made us so happy. I mean who wouldn't do that for their kid?"
Central Coast News is still waiting for a call back from the Los Angeles Police Commission.
The Doucets are now asking for an independent investigation by the FBI that would include a altercation at a nightclub six days before Reggie was killed. Reggie said he was jumped by men who claimed to be officers. Congressman Sam Farr is helping with the effort.
A civil lawsuit is being filed on behalf of Reggie's young daughter by her mother. Reggie's parents are not part of any civil lawsuit, they are asking solely for prosecution of the officer.
