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SL origin family of Texas seeks answers after police kill man on his own porch

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4 December 2022 01:45 pm - 30     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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AUSTIN, Texas — The family of an Austin, Texas, man is seeking answers after he was fatally shot by police last month on his front porch following a late-night emergency call by a neighbor.

Video and audio released Thursday show Austin police officers arrived Nov. 15, yelled “drop your gun,” then fired at Rajan Moonesinghe, who was holding an AR-15-style weapon, the Washington Post reported.

Officers were responding to a 911 call requesting police and mental health support because a man was holding a long gun outside in the residential neighborhood. The caller, who was not identified in the recording, said the man had approached him earlier in the day to ask if he had noticed anything suspicious in the area.

When officers arrived, Ring security camera footage released by police shows Moonesinghe had just fired two shots into his home.

Moments earlier, the security camera footage shows Moonesinghe speaking in the direction of his house while pointing the gun inside, but it is not clear why.

Body camera footage released by police shows officers running to the porch and attempting life-saving measures after shooting Moonesinghe.

Officers checked Moonesinghe’s house and didn’t find anyone inside, police said.

Officer Daniel Sanchez was identified by Austin police as the officer who fired at Moonesinghe. Sanchez, who has worked for the department for almost three years, was placed on administrative leave, police said.

The Austin police Special Investigations Unit in conjunction with the Travis County District Attorney’s Office is conducting a criminal probe. There also will be an Internal Affairs Unit administrative inquiry with oversight from the citizen-led Office of Police Oversight, police said.

Moonesinghe’s older brother said in a statement that officers “shot first and asked questions later.” Johann Moonesinghe said he wants city officials and the Travis County district attorney to hold the officer who killed his brother accountable.

“Otherwise, these senseless shootings will continue and more innocent people will be shot and killed by Austin police officers,” Johann Moonesinghe said.

The Moonesinghe brothers founded inKind, an Austin-based business that says it helps restaurants access capital without traditional investment or loans.

El Khattary, a friend of the Moonesinghe brothers who lives five doors away, said Rajan Moonesinghe was concerned about crime in the area.

Khattary, who said a man once jumped his fence before fleeing, said he recently spoke with Moonesinghe about his safety concerns following a different criminal incident near the neighborhood.

“We were all on high alert,” Khattary said. “I know he was concerned about that in previous conversations with him.”

Khattary said the security video shows officers shot Moonesinghe without asking questions.

“This is not unusual for police around the country,” Khattary said, adding he wanted officers to be held accountable if something was done wrong.

The police department declined to comment further beyond official statements.

 


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  Comments - 30

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  • Reza Sunday, 04 December 2022 04:14 PM

    What a shame, his time came unfortunately. The laws of karma are universal to all who ever we follow. Hence be good, do good.

    Sisira Sunday, 04 December 2022 06:01 PM

    You are not Reza but the Tamil Christian Convert “ Psycho “ D B S Jeyaraj. Every time anything terrible happens to any Sinhalese then instead of having some sympathy someone used to mock us by commenting “ it is past karma or something like that “ and use names like “ Buffalocitizen “, “ Sokrates “, “ Roisin “, “ European “, “ Punchi”. At long last we caught the SUSPECT, it is no other than D B S Jeyaraj. This madman is doing the same again in relation to this terrible killing of the Sinhalese in USA. But he has fooled the daily mirror as a good Lankan and allowed to write weekly articles in the daily mirror using his true name D B S Jeyarsj. This animal is 70 years old and lived as a refugee in Canada , educated only up to A/L but still became well known because of the Indian paper Hindu that helped him because this Animal helped the Indian Army to suppress evidence of it’s atrocities against the Tamils in Jaffna.

    Ranil Sunday, 04 December 2022 09:55 PM

    @Reza What the hell are you talking dood? "His time" was determine by "BRUTALITY" of the Police. We're in the age of technology where Police can sedate, tranquilize or even numb a person. Why do Police want to disengage their weapons even when shot are fired when Police have body armor.

    Seniveratne Sunday, 04 December 2022 05:41 PM

    This is the problem for all Non-White people in all the Western Countries “ YOU DO NOT GET THE FULL RESPECT AS AN INDIVIDUAL HUMAN BEING AS IT IS GIVEN TO THE WHITE PEOPLE “. In this Daily Mirror paper recently I have seen an increasing number of comments regarding the Western countries and the third world. Every thing that have been pointed about the racist Western countries is true. We also have racism in third world countries but the difference is the Western Countries totally deny that they are racists. Now, there will not be any action against this policeman who killed the Sri Lankan , in the typical hypocritical way they will have an inquiry and then they would announce the “ policeman took the right decision in killing the Sri Lankan “. That would be the end of the matter.

    Tissa Fernando Sunday, 04 December 2022 05:58 PM

    This is the police in America so called free country. Of course , free to kill anyone. They then protest so called human right violations in other countries.

    Nimal Perera Monday, 05 December 2022 05:56 AM

    @Tissa Fernando, just like in SL. Lawless.

    Sam Silva Sunday, 04 December 2022 06:08 PM

    The news is distorted. You don't go out and shoot at any in the middle of the nights. The police warned him put the gun down and he did not. Also specially in Texas, the gun law is so relaxed the police don't take any chances getting shot which happens .

    Ranil Wednesday, 07 December 2022 07:37 AM

    @Sam silva Just because a man has a gun or an object and does not head orders of the Police does not justify Police to take a life. This is why Police offices go through rigorous training in Police academies and on the job training. The problem with the USA is that Police are given "sovereign immunity" to walk away with MURDER! It is difficult to prosecute law enforcement officers because the criminal justice system is a JOKE!

    Marie Sunday, 04 December 2022 06:13 PM

    RIP Rajan. Condolences to the family

    Gun holder Sunday, 04 December 2022 06:15 PM

    If one tries to show off a weapon and try to be smart this what happens. Why did he take and display his gun? RIP

    Chumley Pinto Monday, 05 December 2022 04:10 PM

    Texas is still the wild west where the gun culture continues. The fastest draw always survive.

    Let us wake up to the reality Sunday, 04 December 2022 06:21 PM

    When the Europeans left us free after 400 years of ruling over us, they made sure that there are sufficient number of Christian Converts in the Sri Lankan population to “defend and look after the Western interests long after they had gone “. Now a police officer in the USA has shot and killed a Sri Lankan outside his own home without giving any warning at all. Literally he was shot like a dog. Now people in Sri Lanka would naturally get angry , so this is when the Converted Christians in Sri Lanka get into action to mitigate against the anger. These Christian converts would use their Churches, their Christian Schools, and the Media and would say “ Americans are good people this must be a mistaken accident” or they will say “ look at your own country Sri Lanka , Sri Lankan police also kill it’s own people”. This is why lot of us feel that the Sri Lankan Christian Converts are a PERMANENT threat to all Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims. Their loyalty is 100% to the White Race.

    Kps Sunday, 04 December 2022 06:44 PM

    On this incident before the command “ just drop the weapon “ he shoots down the victim. Very unfortunate

    SL- Texan Sunday, 04 December 2022 07:15 PM

    Texas law is....'right to carry firearms openly' doesn't mean everyone should carry AR-15 style ruffles to protect themselves, even though they think they are bring "protected" by the firearms. This story proves it! The Texas Democrats were trying to reverse this "law" but the Republicans do not want to give up their precious guns. This issue is very political wether we like it or not! If this happened to a Black man, there will be riots in Austin today, no doubt. I hope this story goes far more than a "hush up" and help save lives in the future. May this bring a positive outcome and may Rajan' life will save others! May there be "justice" to Rajan!

    saman Sunday, 04 December 2022 08:11 PM

    American gun culture at its best.

    Shane Sunday, 04 December 2022 08:20 PM

    The pitfalls of living in the worst country in the world.

    Kumar Monday, 05 December 2022 08:22 AM

    You think the US. is worse than Sri Lanka? Since I lived in the UK as a student and then working in Sri Lanka for 10 years during JR's term. I'd tell US. is best country in the world. Everybody gets a fair shake unless you carry a gun in threatening manner in public.

    Shelly Monday, 05 December 2022 01:08 PM

    Worse compared to SL? Such ignorance.

    Kumar Sunday, 04 December 2022 09:24 PM

    Usually, if you are dark skinned and carrying a gun you are a bad dude. I couldn't understand why this guy fired his gun twice towards his house. He could have called 911 and waited. Running out with a gun is not a good thing. You don't want to find out the hard way

    Mohan Sunday, 04 December 2022 09:47 PM

    He seems like a mentally ill person having a hallucination. Police seem to have acted irresponsibly. But, good for the man to die rather than suffering from a mental illness.

    sara Sunday, 04 December 2022 09:58 PM

    This is the biggest problem in the USA since they are allowed to have guns, and they take the law in their hand, why did not he call the cops if he find suspicious activity at his home or neighborhood ??

    Sisira Sunday, 04 December 2022 11:09 PM

    @Reza, He is actually anti Sinhalese Tamil Christian Convert scum D B S Jeyaraj. He is making such a provocative comment using a Muslim name to create tension between Sinhalese and Muslims . This bastard worked for the Indian Army again Tamils in Jaffna.

    dot Monday, 05 December 2022 02:04 AM

    This is a country where any action that seem not rigt is brought out into the open not shelved .Police or otherwise human error happens reacting to a situation ..but inaction or stopping the due process of fact finding helps those who grieve .

    Lanka Monday, 05 December 2022 03:29 AM

    If one carries a gun to protect himself, this proves him worm. Guns do not "protect" but guns do "kill"! May this be a lesson to others! RIP Rajan!

    Rahul Joshua Arunalal Patrick Monday, 05 December 2022 08:41 AM

    Bad time for the country and its people living abroad as well. Sad story of a local family reported from Australia too.

    DBS Tuesday, 06 December 2022 11:35 AM

    Sisira, you are right about me finally. Today Sri Lanka is begging the whole world because of people with your thinking, keep going. Racism is paying the high price.

    Punchi Thursday, 08 December 2022 04:55 AM

    Why was he having a AR15 firearm. Was it for the purpose fighting the Demilo Kamala Harris and her LTTE army based in the US

    M.Siddique Thursday, 08 December 2022 07:54 AM

    @Sisira: The sad and high-handed killing by the Police is absolutely deplorable. He had discussed with fellow residents about an intruder in the neighbourhood. But your comment about DBS is the most ludicrous and unfair comment about a highly respected and very objective journalist.

    Kumar Thursday, 08 December 2022 07:59 AM

    Sad to say that another Sri Lankan lost his life to Sheriff deputies near Fresno California. In this case the young man had mental problems and wanted to commit suicide. He got his wish when he tried to blowup his house and shot at sheriff deputies. They call it suicide by cop.

    Naman Tuesday, 13 December 2022 03:30 AM

    Time for the ex pat Sri Lankans to get back with all their wealth and be safe in the Peaceful Buddhist country.... esp Gota's son


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