Almost a week after Edilberto Espinoza Sierra’s death, protestors gathered to question law enforcement’s actions

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY)– Almost a week after the death of Edilberto Espinoza Sierra, his family still mourns.

On Saturday, dozens of protestors gathered around the parking deck on Market Street to protest the actions that happened last Sunday morning.

On March 8th, around 3 in the morning, law enforcement responded to gunfire at the parking deck. Wilmington Police arrested and charged 22-year-old Rafael Martinez of Wallace, with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.

David Corpus was shot, and was being helped by medicals, but moments later, Officers shot and killed Sierra, after police say he refused commands to stop his vehicle.

The shooting stemmed from an earlier incident where a fight broke out between Sierra and David Corpus, where police say Martinez shot Corpus.

Now a week later, friends, families, and even strangers gather, saying it was police brutality. Dozens held up signs, to remember Sierra, and to protest the actions of the law enforcement.

Sierra’s younger sister, Genesis Espinoza Sierra, questions the actions of the police, and says it was uncalled for.

“If they truly wanted to protect him so badly and valued the life of an American citizen so much, why shoot him so many times?” said Sierra. “Why reload the gun, in the video, you can hear the gun stop and another shot follows after that.”

This is still an ongoing investigation, with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation leading the investigation into this officer-involved shooting.