Shared from the 3/28/2019 Centre County Gazette eEdition

Community mourns after Osagie shooting

Picture

Via rememberingosaze.com

A WEBPAGE was set up to remember Osaze Osagie after he was shot dead by police on March 20.

STATE COLLEGE — On Saturday, March 30, Osaze Osagie will be buried after he was shot dead by State College police on March 20 after he allegedly confronted officers with a knife after they

arrived at his home to serve him

a mental health warrant.

The community is left

with many questions and concerns. The Osagie family is left in grief and the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave as per department policy. Meanwhile State College police still have a community to keep safe and Pennsylvania State Police continue its investigation into the matter. The community waits to see what comes from the investigation as they mourn the loss of one of their own.

REMEMBERING OSAZE

A webpage titled “rememberingosaze.com” has been created in Osagie’s memory and allows for donations made to the family and to set up a scholarship in his honor.

The site shares that Osaze Osagie is survived by his parents Sylvester and Lyunolu Osagie, a sister and two brothers. It said that Osagie was born in New York and attended Corl Street Elementary School, Park Forest Middle School, CLC Charter School and State College Area High School.

The site also shares that Osagie was diagnosed with autism while attending Penn State University, and he eventually had to withdraw when his mental health challenges became too difficult to manage.

It continues to explain that since his diagnosis ten years ago, Osagie struggled with his mental health but was able to work and volunteer with various organizations in the community.

Osagie is described as a “gentle person” and a “quiet young man, soft-spoken, and personable.”

A tribute from his sister Ebinose reads: “Osaze Osagie was my big brother and my first friend. Even though he was dealing with a lot, he was the most kind-hearted individual I’ve ever known. His faith was so visible despite everything that he was going through, and he was always able to make you laugh and smile at any moment. I miss him more than ever.”

A SAD AND TRAGIC DAY IN STATE COLLEGE

The events that lead to Osagie’s death unfolded on a bright March afternoon on the first day of spring after a long winter in Centre County.

The community is still in shock after a multi-person homicide occurred this past January not far from the scene of Osagie’s death.

There are still questions about what happened during that night in January and now the community has held yet another candlelight vigil, and again wait for more answers from police about a member of their community who died a violent death.

What is known so far is that on March 20 borough police came to Marvin Gardens apartments on Old Boalsburg Road at 1:45 p.m. looking for the 29-year-old Osagie to serve him a mental health warrant, which allows law enforcement to take into custody a person who exhibits signs that he is likely to harm himself or others.

According to a state police search warrant affidavit, Osagie’s father contacted State College police because he was concerned about his son’s recent erratic behavior and worried he might be off his medication. He also showed police text messages that indicated Osagie threatened to harm himself and others, according to the search warrant.

When police arrived at his apartment, Osagie allegedly confronted officers with a knife and ignored commands to drop it. Osagie allegedly then came after the officers and one officer shot and killed him. According to the search warrant state police seized several 9 mm casings and a taser from the scene.

The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave pending the results of an investigation by state police, who were immediately called to the scene to take over the investigation.

On March 22 Centre County Coroner Scott Sayers said in a press release that Osagie died of multiple gunshot wounds and that an autopsy determined that the manner of his death was homicide.

District Attorney Bernie Cantorna said on March 21 that the Troop G Major Crimes Unit is now leading the investigation and that all evidence has been sent to a state police crime lab.

Cantorna, whose office will determine whether charges will be filed, vowed a “thorough and complete investigation,” and said he would “report back fully” on its conclusions.

“The matter will be investigated no differently than any other death case that has occurred in Centre County,” Cantorna said. “It will not be until that process is complete that we can reach conclusions on what occurred, the use of force and the appropriateness of that use of force.”

A COMMUNITY RESPONSE

Later that night, on March 21, a vigil organized by the Penn State Student Black Caucus, Central PA Showing Up for Racial Justice and four other groups was held in State College. More than 100 people stood in the rain that night to mourn the loss of Osagie.

The next day, Friday March 22, a group of people came marching down Allen Street toward the State College Public Works Building chanting, “Show me what democracy looks like. This is what democracy looks like.” They entered the State College Public Works Building, which holds the borough police station, and marched around the building continuing their chant. “We are not. We are not. No justice, no peace. No racist police.”

Police officers kept on eye on the protesters as they marched through the building and offered them pleasantries like “hello” and “thank you,” as the group chanted.

Borough Manager Thomas Fountaine said that they welcome the peaceful protest.

“We appreciate their sentiment and are concerned about their views,” said Fountaine. He added that the borough is keeping the Osagie family in their prayers, along with the officers involved and their families. “We are hanging in, and doing the best we can.”

The group handed out paper work that read #WeAreNot.

Council President Evan Myers said Osagie’s death was “tragic” and that he believes turning the investigation over to state police was appropriate.

“Any situation like this is extremely tragic and certainly my heart goes out to (Osagie) and his family,” Myers said. “I also understand the difficulties of police work. As far as this situation, I don’t know what happened. It was immediately turned over to the state police for a fair and independent investigation and I think that was a wise decision.”

In an email, Mayor Don Hahn echoed Myers’ remarks.

“This is a tragic event. My heart goes out to everyone involved,” Hahn said. “Everyone involved in this incident needs to be treated with dignity and respect, and they deserve the benefit of thoughtful conclusions based upon trustworthy facts.

“I commend the decision to refer this matter to an outside, independent investigation, and I look forward to the results.”

At a media briefing on March 20, Fountaine said the borough is committed to an “honest and independent” investigation.

“This is indeed a sad and tragic day in State College. Our heartfelt sympathies are with the victim’s family and also we continue to have the officers and their families in our thoughts and prayers,” Fountaine said. “As we have done in the past, State College Borough is committed to an independent and transparent and open investigation of this incident involving State College police officers. Our goal and commitment to the community is to ensure we have an open, honest and independent investigation to thoroughly understand what did transpire today.”

Police Chief John Gardner said it was “with a heavy heart” that he delivered the news of the shooting death and alluded to another deadly shooting in State College this year, when a Benner Township man shot and killed three people and injured another before taking his own life.

“As you know this community has been rocked the past six weeks by incidents that are unfathomable for this community and for that my heart goes out to all those victims,” Gardner said.

See this article in the e-Edition Here