Story By: Les Steed, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash
This is the moment cops laugh and joke with a black knifeman standing in his own doorway seconds before shooting him dead.
Dad of one, Hasani Best, 39, was gunned down after a 45-minute standoff with police that lead to his death at an apartment in Asbury Park, New Jersey, in the US, at around 9pm on 21st August.
Best, who was reportedly from the Bronx in New York, was arguing with a woman at a residence in the 900 block of 4th Ave in Asbury Park and was reported by a neighbour who told dispatch that the couple “were known to get into physical fights” and that it “sounds physical”.
When officers arrived the woman was outside and Best had barricaded himself in his room in the upstairs apartment in Asbury Park, in New Jersey.
During 45 minutes of negotiation through the door Best emerged with a knife that he refused to drop.
He can be heard throughout the bodycam video shouting and being agitated while police stand outside the door with riot shields and their guns drawn.
The negotiations were going well toward the end of the video with Best and the officers joking about cutting Sgt Sean DeShader’s hair.
He then emerges with a steak knife and officers, who have their guns drawn, tell him to put it down to which he repeatedly challenges them “are you going to shoot?” and accuses them of whispering.
He shows his face out of the door and brandishes a knife and demands his phone, which the officers offer in exchange for him putting the knife down.
At 10:10 pm Sgt. Sean DeShader of the Asbury Park Police Department fatally shot him.
Best can be heard saying “I’m gonna stab him”, pointing the knife toward Sgt DeShader, who fires twice and the cops rush the apartment and drag the downed Best down the hall.
Mr Best was pronounced dead at 10:31pm.
His family said they have been left in the dark about what happened by police who released the footage on Tuesday, September 22.
The investigation is on-going and no further information is being released at this time.
His family has called for the officers to be charged following the shooting.
Best’s mother, Carol Sanders told reporters: “They (police) didn’t have to take his life.
“They was laughing and joking with him one minute and then they shot him through the door, through his chest and in his stomach, and killed him.”
“It was not justified, at all. It wasn’t justified. No, he didn’t deserve that.”
Speaking at the press conference Best’s son Dayvon White said he was speechless over his father’s death.
He said: “I’m completely distraught.”
He added: “A person like him, I thought he would live forever.”
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