Family and friends gathered at a South Los Angeles church Saturday to say goodbye to Carnell Snell Jr., who was fatally shot by Los Angeles police. The 18-year-old was remembered by a few hundred mourners at First AME Church, the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
As his body lay in a blue coffin draped with white roses, Snell, known as C.J. to his family and friends, was described as fun-loving, respectful to his elders and more than just a headline. His life mattered.
“The family wants today’s celebration filled with joy, honor, excitement … jubilation,” said J. Edgar Boyd, pastor and senior minister at First AME.
Snell was shot by Los Angeles police officers after an attempted traffic stop led to a foot pursuit. Police have said that Snell had a gun, and the LAPD released video last week to corroborate those claims. Further details in the shooting have yet to be released. Relatives have claimed that Snell had his hands up when he was shot.
Two nights of protests followed the teen’s shooting, and demonstrators interrupted a meeting of the Los Angeles Police Commission last Tuesday.
Police accounts do not indicate that Snell pointed a weapon at them; they have only said that he turned toward them with a gun in his hand.
As The Root previously reported, Snell’s death is just the latest in a number of questionable police shootings that have happened across the country.