Mario Woods death anniversary sparks discussion on police reform
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A woman's screams were followed by gunshots that ended the life of Mario Woods exactly one year ago today.
RELATED: Woods supporters march on Hall of Justice demanding to DA
Mario Woods was shot and killed by San Francisco police. He had a knife. The case remains open and under investigation.
One year ago Friday, Mario Woods' shooting death at the hands of police was captured on cellphone video. His mother Gwen says the support she's received has bought her a kind of calm. She says what's missing is justice.
"Pretty much, we're begging for you to throw us a bone, and I don't think any grieving mother should have to beg for some type of Justice I just don't," said Gwen Woods.
San Francisco police shot Woods 20 times. Woods was armed with a knife. police said he had just stabbed someone--that he refused to drop the knife and was acting erratically.
"The knife wasn't a threat to the officers," said San Francisco Police Commissioner Joe Marshall. "And in many ways it jump started the current reform underway in San Francisco."
These reforms include deescalation training and less lethal force.
Woods' death is still being investigated by the San Francisco District Attorney's Office. No officers have been charged.
Protesters outside the Hall of Justice want District Attorney George Gascon to take action.
"We're here to say you have to charge the murderers, the killer cops, the murders we can not wait any longer," said Christina Gutierrez who was part of the Frisco Five hunger strike.
"We know that it's taken a long time, primarily because we are under-resourced," said Gascon. He says once a new unit is established in his office, the goal by 2017 is to have officer-involved shooting investigations take 90-180 days to complete.
RELATED: Video shows fatal police shooting in SF
Gwen agrees that an investigation is a necessary step towards healing. "It sends a message that our children'ts lives, they matter. They matter," said Gwen.
