Man Killed By ICE Agent Was Unarmed; Detroit Cop Changes Story

DETROIT — An officer on scene of the 2015 fatal shooting of Terrance Kellom in a Detroit home changed his story, reports say, now saying Kellom was unarmed and on his knees when shot by an ICE agent. This goes against the previous narrative which claimed Kellom, 20, was armed with a hammer and threatening authorities.

Kellom's family's attorney, Nabih Ayad, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in 2017 over the April 27, 2015 shooting, the Detroit Free Press reported. "He didn't have a hammer; he had no deadly weapons... There was no basis to shoot and kill him," he told the outlet, referring to Officer Darrell Fitzgerald's disposition.

The lawsuit claimed $50 million in damages, Michigan Radio reported.

Michigan Radio said police initially claimed Kellom dropped through a hole in the ceiling and rushed them with a hammer. His family, who was present, the outlet reported, said he was led downstairs, unarmed, and shot.

The shooter was ICE agent and former Detroit cop Mitchell Quinn, who was a part of the Detroit Fugitive Apprehension Team, reports say.

Michigan Radio reported the lawsuit as saying Quinn has a history of violence. He was accused in 2008 of aiming a loaded gun at his ex-wife's head. He was suspended by the Detroit police and hired by ICE half a year later, the outlet reported.

Fitzgerald was on the scene when Kellom was shot, he said in a disposition.

Here's a portion of Fitzgerald's disposition transcript, as obtained by the Detroit Free Press.

Ayad offered excerpts from his December deposition of Officer Fitzgerald:

Fitzgerald said Kellom "was on his knees when I saw him."

Ayad then asked Fitzgerald: "Did you see him holding anything?"

Fitzgerald: "No, I did not."

Ayad: "Now after you seen him fall forward to the ground did you see anything in his hands then?"

Fitzgerald: "No, I didn't."

Ayad: "Did you see any hammer that evening at the house?"

Fitzgerald: "No."

Kellom's family is attempting to get the Wayne County prosecutor to reopen the case.

Laura Moody, the Chief of Staff for the attorney general, told the Kelloms that she couldn't ensure an outcome, but "I can promise that this case will be reviewed," the Free Press reported.