SALT LAKE CITY -- Protestors rallied at Library Square in downtown Salt Lake Monday night, demanding justice for Dillon Taylor. The 20-year-old who was shot and killed by police nearly two weeks ago, in South Salt Lake at a 7-11.
There were about a dozen protestors marching the streets asking why police haven't released any more information about what happened the night Taylor died. His aunt, who was more like his mother, was at the protest and said all she wants is answers.
"His dreams were to be a dad, his dreams were to have a family, someone he could come home to every day, his dreams were to be normal," said his aunt Gina Thayne.
Taylor had a baby on the way.
Thayne said the 20-year-old was looking forward to a life with his new family, but that all came crashing down the night of Aug. 11 at a 7-11 in South Salt Lake when he was shot and killed by a Salt Lake City Police Officer.
Since then, protestors, many who didn't know him, have shown up in support of his family, wanting the same thing they do, answers.
"I just feel like if the cop is innocent then they would release the footage and the 911 call, why are they waiting so long to release all that information? Especially for the family -- they want to know those things," said Fatima Badran, who organized the protest.
Most of those who rallied are trying to draw a parallel between what happened here and in Ferguson where Michael Brown, an unarmed teenager was killed by a police officer.
"We have an unfortunate incident where Dillon Taylor lost his life but I cannot stress enough, that this is not Ferguson. This is a complete independent situation," said Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank last week.
Police still aren't saying whether Taylor was armed or not but they did say he was wanted on a probation violation in connection with a felony robbery -- information some say is an attack on his character.
"I don't think he deserved to die by a police officer. So often times the media likes to bring up the character of the individual involved and what that does it persuades a lot of backwards people that these were actually criminals deserving of what they got," said Chris Manor, a protestor.
Taylor’s aunt said he was like a son to her and while he may have had a rough life, losing his parents six years ago, the soon-to-be dad didn't deserve to die.
"Justice means they learn how to control their firearms. If the tables were turned and Dillon would have jumped the gun or hurt one of them, he'd be sitting behind bars, he would have to pay the consequence. These guys have to be responsible for their actions as well," Thayne said.
