SALT LAKE CITY — Bernardo Palacios’ mother clung to his casket Wednesday, as she cried out for her son. Palacios was killed May 23, 2020 during a fatal officer-involved shooting.
The Salt Lake City Police Department released the body camera footageof the shooting Friday, igniting family, friends and people in the community to protest.
Palacios’ family and friends set up a memorial near where he was killed at 300 West and 900 South in Salt Lake City.
Wednesday, friends, family and community members came together for Palacios’ funeral. Throughout the afternoon, people chanted “justice for Bernardo” and signs were handed out, as people were asked to protest on behalf of Palacios.
“On May 23rd my whole heart got ripped out. And it’s with you Bernardo. You have it,” Palacios’ sister said as she fought back tears.
Friends and loved ones shared stories of Palacios and his kind personality, love for art and music, as well his love for his family.
“I wish he could be standing here,” his brother said as he asked Palacios to give him, along with his mom and sister strength through this time.
A petition online demanding Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall and Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown fire and charge the officers involved in the fatal shooting of Palacios has more than 25 thousand signatures.
Both Mendenhall and Chief Brown declined to comment on the petition, as the investigation is ongoing. Spokespeople for both leaders referred FOX13 to comments made on Friday regarding the officer involved shooting.
“I believe with all my heart, the Salt Lake City Police Department has the best officers in the country. I trust our training. I trust in the investigative process we have in place to investigate officer-involved critical incidents. Most importantly, I trust our officers. I love the women and men in the Salt Lake City police department. And I stand behind them,” Chief Brown said in part.
“As a sister and a mother, what I saw and heard in the video is genuinely disturbing and upsetting. I know that an independent investigation is occurring right now, and we will learn more about the tragic events in the coming days. Due process is a fundamental right in the united states, and as a mayor I am cautious about stating any opinion that could lead to accusations of an unfair and biased investigation for the sake of our officers and the sake of Mr. Palacios-Carbajal’s family, but I urge expediency in this process so that everyone can get the answers that they deserve in a timely manner. Transparency and accountability is being demanded of police departments across this nation and I will always demand it of ours as well as I know they demand it of themselves as well,” Mayor Mendenhall said in part.
There is an investigation ongoing, led by Unified Police, as well as several independent review boards.
