Memorial held honoring Grace Denk and victims of recent ICE-involved fatal shootings
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY-TV) – Wednesday marked 12 years since a Wilmington police officer shot and killed former U.S. Marine, Grace Denk.
A memorial was held to honor Denk and three victims who were recently fatally shot by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
Activists and protestors gathered at the 1898 Memorial Park in downtown Wilmington. Denk was fatally shot by Wilmington Police Officer, Ian Lovell.
Lovell responded to a call for a suicidal person with a gun. Denk was found with a handgun while in her vehicle. When Lovell fired four shots claiming Denk raised her weapon. The shooting was later deemed justified.
Sonya Patrick, a local activist said they are demanding justice for Denk and the three victims who were recently shot and killed by ICE.
“So now the question is ‘is anybody really safe?’ you know 12 years later I’m sure 12 years ago Renee Good, Keith Porter or Alex had any idea that they would be victims next,” Patrick said.
Alex Pretti was shot and killed Saturday morning while filming an ICE operation in Minneapolis.
The Department of Homeland Security claims the ICE agents acted in self-defense and said Pretti brandished a gun that was concealed and strapped to his waist.
This claim is up against videos of the shooting that show Pretti only holding a phone to film the federal agents.
“He was exercising his constitutional right with respect to the laws in that state,” Patrick said.
In Minnesota, it’s legal for a protestor like Pretti to conceal carry. Though, this isn’t the case for North Carolina protestors.
According to state, it is considered a class one misdemeanor for any person participating in a protest to willfully or intentionally possess a dangerous weapon.
“We have local officials on state and local levels who are asking us to record these incidents with ICE but yet at the same time we’re not able to protect ourselves,” said Madison Morrison, a local activist.
Morrison said she doesn’t blame Pretti for carrying a concealed weapon the day of the shooting.
“It’s our second amendment right to protect ourselves and to protect the people around us,” Morrison said.
The state law prohibiting protestors from concealed carry was enacted in 1981 to prevent people from using weapons to intimidate or terrorize others.
