Civil rights attorney Ben Crump announced that he will represent the family of Leneal Frazier, a Black man who was killed in a crash involving a Minneapolis police car.
Frazier was the uncle of Darnella Frazier, the teenager who filmed the death of George Floyd in May 2020.
According to a report by CBS affiliate WCCO on Wednesday, a Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) officer was chasing a carjacking suspect that ended in in a three-car accident with two other drivers. Leneal Frazier of St. Paul, Minn., was one of the drivers.
The MPD officer and the other driver, who was identified as Brian Cummings, were transported to a nearby hospital to be treated for their injuries. Fraizer, 40, died from his injuries en route to the hospital.
“The Frazier family and the Minneapolis community are mourning the loss of yet another Black life because of the irresponsible actions and failings of the Minneapolis Police Department,” Crump said in a statement.
“We expect a timely and transparent investigation by the Minneapolis State Patrol. The Frazier family deserves answers and accountability as they try to make sense of this terrible, and preventable tragedy.”
In a statement, MPD spokesperson John Elder said that the Minneapolis State Patrol will conduct a reconstruction and investigation of the crash.
Darnella Frazier said in a Facebook post that she was in shock following news of her uncle’s death.
“I asked my mom several times ‘he died??’. I couldn’t accept what I was hearing and still can’t . Some things just take time to process. I’m still in shock and it haven’t fully hit me yet,I broke down in tearsI was hoping it was a dream…but it’s not and this is reality,” she wrote.
Frazier garnered international media attention after filming former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on the neck of Floyd for more than nine minutes. The video led to Chauvin being found guilty on all charges in the murder of Floyd. He was later sentenced to 22.5 years in prison.
Crump represented Floyd’s family during the legal proceedings following his death.