SAINT PAUL, MN – -(Ammoland.com)- While many facts remain unknown at this time, information indicates that Amir Locke was a law-abiding citizen who was lawfully in possession of a firearm when he was shot and killed by Minneapolis Police on the morning of February 2nd, 2022.
“As seen in the body-worn camera video released by Minneapolis Police, Mr. Locke appears to be sleeping on the couch during the execution of a no-knock warrant, “ stated Bryan Strawser, Chair, Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus. “He is awoken with a confusing array of commands coming from multiple officers who are pointing lights and firearms at him.”
“Mr. Locke did what many of us might do in the same confusing circumstances, he reached for a legal means of self-defense while he sought to understand what was happening, “ added Rob Doar, Senior VP, Governmental Affairs.
Mr. Locke was not a suspect in the crime for which the warrant was issued and was not named at all in the search warrant.
“The tragic circumstances of Mr. Locke’s death were completely avoidable, “ stated Doar. “It’s yet another example where a no-knock warrant has resulted in the death of an innocent person. In this case, as in others, the public should expect and receive full transparency and accountability from law enforcement agencies that serve and protect our local communities.”
“Amir Locke, a lawful gun owner, should still be alive, “ added Strawser. “Black men, like all citizens, have a right to keep and bear arms. Black men, like all citizens, have the right to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable search and seizure.”
The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus expects a transparent and independent investigation into the circumstances of this tragic incident.
About Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus
The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus is a non-partisan, single-issue Minnesota nonprofit advocacy organization that serves as the trusted voice of Minnesota’s gun owners to defend and restore the right to keep and bear arms. The Minnesota Gun Owners Political Action Committee is the Caucus’s Minnesota Political Fund.
The Caucus is an IRS-recognized 501(c)(4) organization.
Learn more at www,gunowners.mn.
I was a cop for 30 years as a narcotics detective and tactical operator for one of the largest jurisdictions in the country. I never saw a justified need for a NO KNOCK warrant and always believed them to be a huge RED FLAG for LEO’s and suspects. This is insane. How would anyone expect an armed citizen NOT to defend their lives inside their own home if there was an unknown intruder. There are criminals who break into homes and shout “POLICE SEARCH WARRANT”.
No knock has got to stop. These “SWAT” members could have handled this in a much better way. IE locate the real suspect and catch him on his way to some where and pulled over by awaiting LEOs as if a traffic stop. Shooting and killing INNOCENT people as they are awakened by surprise in their own homes HAS TO BE brought to an end. I support Police, but NOT when they do things like this. This is totally UNSUPPORTABLE. I too have been awakened at 6:00AM to a yard full of trigger happy “agents”. I hope these SWAT guys… Read more »
This same result could be seen with any ammoland reader. All it takes is a typo on a warrant, and the no knock raid comes to your house. What would you do if 5 men barged into your house at 3am while you’re asleep and shouted unintelligibly at you while shining bright lights in your face? Reach for your gun, of course! Even if you heard them say “police”… so what! How many times have we seen home invaders pretend to be police to rapidly disarm and take control of victims?
“Mr. Locke appears to be sleeping on the couch during the execution of a no-knock warrant”
Correction: Mr. Locke appeared to be sleeping on the couch during his execution.
OK, some judge, somewhere signed that warrant. I am wondering under what theory of probable cause that judge signed that warrant. More than likely this is another ‘War on Drugs” operation gone very, very wrong. Professional ethics and integrity are out the window when it comes to our two primary wars of America: the War on Drugs and the War on Terror (everything). WE have to ask if it is really worth it. And ask ourselves why young men die in droves here in the Continental United States for simple drug possession or other minor offenses and the very drug… Read more »
Just another way to kill Law Abiding Gun Owners ( Democrat Policies Suck!)
No Knock warrants need
to be Abolished! WTF?
The scary part is…this could of been anyone of us! This is total bull shit!
These police should be charged!
No knock warrants need to be outlawed!
As my son once told me, if the police did their homework they would not have to do a knock or no knock warrant. They would address the search for the subject in public. BTW he is a retired Marshal