Police teargas a candlelit vigil to prevent a dying man from receiving medical attention, June 18th, 2020
Dameon Chambers, known as Murphy Ranks, lived less than a block from where George Floyd died. He was a local musician, performing music influenced by his native Jamaica, but the activists of Floyd Square knew him most for his kindness and willingness to help.
Counterprotestor Keshawn Archer was known for just the opposite, harassing activists and threatening to kill people for weeks. Community members and protesters alike had reported him to authorities numerous times, but were denied and ignored at each turn. The Minneapolis Police Department refused to act, as a means of holding the city hostage and punishing it for daring to criticize them. The same tactic has been used by New York City Police, where it notably had a negligible difference in crime.
By Juneteenth, our national holiday celebrating emancipation, George Floyd Square was already a sacred and historical site. On that night mothers of those killed by police lead a candlelit vigil for their sons and all victims of police brutality. Archer was once again making threats.
Chambers, the man he was, tried to de-escalate, offering to take Archer anywhere he wanted if he would just leave these people alone.
Keshawn got into the back of Chambers’ truck and shot him in the head in the midst of a u-turn, sending the vehicle into the curb.
At 11:25 p.m., police responded to reports of a shooting on the 3800 block of Chicago Avenue South. When officers arrived, they were told an adult male shot himself and bystanders were performing CPR
MPD officers arrived at 11:25pm and immediately began teargassing the area. Teargassing the mothers of the dead and the neighbors of a dying man during a ceremony for the deceased. They searched the car and dropped clean evidence into the pools of blood on the asphalt. According to police, bystanders were performing CPR. Instead of helping, officers forced them to stop. They encircled Murphy Ranks, “protecting” him from help as they jabbed medics with billy-clubs.
10 minutes later, EMTs arrived. It was too late. Murphy Ranks had bled out on the street in the presence of aid. Aid forced to let him die.
Police lied in the report, stating officers responded to provide aid to the victim, but “encountered some instances where crowds are hostile and impeding with officer’s lawful duties.”
“Everything was peaceful when gunshots rang out which I didn’t recognize since so many fireworks were being shot off. A friend I was standing by pushed me behind a nearby car for safety. The crowd rushed to deescalate the conflict between two young black men & a young black woman. I heard that the man with the gun accidentally shot himself in the chest. The police arrived within 2–3 minutes in mass force. Probably 10–12 squad cars. The situation was under control before police arrived except the shooting victim lay bleeding out on the street & needed help. The police entered the intersection firing tear gas up the street at neighbors who had come out of their houses to see what was happening. Once they got to the victim, they circled around him facing out in a circle with billy clubs crossed over their chests. Police did NOT make any attempt to render any medical assistance. The crowd started shouting to police “Where are the paramedics?& This is a human being, help him!!! ” Finally the paramedics came after at least 10 more minutes and started CPR! They put victim in an ambulanc & Police left the scene in mass & the crowd dissapated peacefully”
— One bystander’s initial recollection of the events
We know the name of his murderer, there are perhaps dozens of witnesses. Since then there have been even more asks for the MPD to at least open an investigation, but they refuse.
I got a report that by July we eventually got a location from the MPD to bring Keshawn Archer to so he could be apprehended. But after locals waited there for hours with a murderer in custody, the police appeared and instead of taking Archer kicked down those holding him, laughing as they jumped in their vehicle and sped off.
Murphy Ranks and those seeking justice for him were not activists but locals.
They were not attempting to protest. They were simply trying to be good samaritans. That is what those paid with our tax dollars seek to punish.
Dameon Chambers was a father of four. A musician, a husband, and a well-loved community member. His widow Christine raised $6,608 for to lay him to rest in his homeland.
Rest In Peace and Rest In Power, Dameon “Murphy Ranks” Chambers.
