Lakeland Religious Leaders Appeal For Calm Following Teen's Death

LAKELAND, FL — Local religious leaders in Lakeland have asked the public to remain calm and not rush to judgment following Wednesday's police-involved shooting death of 17-year-old Michael Jerome Taylor. The Lakeland International Ministerial Alliance discussed the shooting on Friday at First Institutional Baptist Church.

"We are asking for the public to remain calm, and not rush to judgment but rather let the investigation take its course," Rev. Eddie Lake of New Bethel AME Church told reporters on Friday. "We are praying for the family of our deceased brother and the officers involved. Moreover, Lakeland is a stronger community together, and we will not allow outside influences to create unnecessary evil in our city and our community."

Lake, who serves as president of the group made up of pastors and clergy primarily from the northwest area of Lakeland, asked for witnesses to come forward with any recordings of the incident.

"We stand in solidarity to insure that every voice will be heard," he added. "With God's help, we will make it through this together."

Meanwhile, Lakeland Police Chief Larry Giddens told Spectrum Bay News 9 that he believes the shooting was justified.

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"This person ignored multiple verbal commands. All that suspect had to do was follow those commands and the next 46 seconds wouldn't have happened, and he wouldn't have lost his life tragically," the chief told the news crew. "I believe that the tactics that they used that night based on everything that they were dealing with — the time, the location, the space, the number of people — I think our officers did a very, very good job."

Lakeland police have released video of the "large chaotic scene" outside Salem's Gyros & More early Wednesday morning moments before Taylor was shot by police. He later died at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. See also Lakeland Police Release Video Of 'Chaotic Scene' Before Shooting

Giddens said earlier that multiple officers opened fire on Taylor as the teenager was driving a stolen Camaro through the crowded restaurant parking lot at the corner of North Florida Avenue and Memorial Boulevard around 2:21 a.m.

"While the officers were there dealing with over 200 patrons in the parking lot, they noticed a black Camaro that was stolen and has been confirmed stolen out of Winter Haven," explained Giddens.

"It was a large chaotic scene — lots of people in the parking lot," said the chief. "The driver of the vehicle noticed the officers approaching. He aggressively began to speed through the parking lot, driving at one of our officers, placing them in fear for their life along with all the other patrons that began to scatter."

The shooting has sparked protest and concern by some members of the Lakeland community.

The Lakeland officers involved in the shooting incident were later identified as Officer Markais Neal, Officer Joseph Novis and Officer Raj Patel.

Photo courtesy Lakeland Police Department