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Video shows Ahwatukee man’s fatal shooting by police BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
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yan Whitaker never got a chance. Just three seconds after he opened the door of his condo at 16000 S. Desert Foothills Parkway in Ahwatukee around 10:53 p.m. May 21, Phoenix Police Of�icer Jeff Cooke �ired three quick rounds, killing him with two bullets in the back. Whitaker’s �inal moments are recorded in a chilling video that was released last week by the Phoenix Police Department. It is part of an internal and criminal investigation that may also include an unidenti�ied neighbor and a 911 operator whose conversation with the neighbor occurred about eight minutes before Cooke and Of�icer John Ferragamo knocked on Whitaker’s door. The video consists of portions of the recordings from the two of�icers’ body cameras, audio of parts of two 911 calls by the same man and commentary by Phoenix Police public information of�icer Sgt. Tommy Thompson. The day after the video’s release July 15, Whitaker’s family and their attorney, Matthew Cunningham, held a press conference outside
Ryan Whitaker, 40, left, was fatally shot twice in the back May 21 by Phoenix police Officer Jeff Cooke and his brother Steven Whitaker, right, on Thursday called for murder charges to be filed against the two officers. (Special to AFN)
City Hall to demand that murder charges be �iled against the of�icers. An online petition with that same demand at change.org has already been signed by more than 3,700 people. The video also prompted renewed calls by
activists and family members for greater accountability by police and justice for the slain 40-year-old Whitaker, who, according to fam-
dler and member Michelle Fahy of Tempe were the subject of prepared remarks by board President Michael Myrick and member John King for signing the letter without discussing it with the rest of the board. King also went further in a blistering criticism of Fahy for using an earlier board meeting to announce that she was seeking another term on the board and allegedly criticizing Superintendent Dr. Jan Vesely behind her and the board’s back.
Without mentioning her by name, King said Fahy “repeatedly levies political attacks on the district leadership behind the scenes” and that she “decided to reach out directly to teachers to have them send the emails of concern to Dr. Vesely in order to pressure her to make a decision to delay the start of school.” Myrick refused to let Walsh and Fahy directly answer his and King’s criticism.
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Reopening letter creates tension on Kyrene board BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
T
he normally staid atmosphere of the Kyrene Governing Board erupted into some tense moments last week after two members criticized two others for signing a letter that asked state of�icials to delay resumption of in-classroom instruction until at least Oct. 1. Board Vice President Kevin Walsh of Chan-
Enroll in Kyrene Kindergarten for 2020-21 www.kyrene.org/kindergarten • 480-541-1000 • LEARNING. LEADING. ACHIEVING.
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