Mother of man shot by police: Case not about race

In this Oct. 2, 2014 photo provided by Officer Calbert Gillett Maricopa County Sherrif's Office Media Relation Unit, Rumain Brisbon poses for a mugshot in Phoenix. The mother and girlfriend of Brisbon, an unarmed drug suspect fatally shot by a Phoenix police officer who mistook a pill bottle for a gun, do not want the incident to become about race. The deadly shooting Tuesday, Dec. 2, of Brisbon, 34, demonstrates the challenges law enforcement agencies face at a time of unrest over police tactics. Phoenix police say the officer, who is white, feared the suspect was armed during their struggle, but some critics say the officer went too far. Despite the department's efforts to be transparent with information, protesters marched Thursday night, Dec. 4. (AP Photo/Officer Calbert Gillett Maricopa County Sherrif's Office Media Relation Unit) In this Oct. 2, 2014 photo provided by Officer Calbert Gillett Maricopa County Sherrif's Office Media Relation Unit, Rumain Brisbon poses for a mugshot in Phoenix. The mother and girlfriend of Brisbon, an unarmed drug suspect fatally shot by a Phoenix police officer who mistook a pill bottle for a gun, do not want the incident to become about race. The deadly shooting Tuesday, Dec. 2, of Brisbon, 34, demonstrates the challenges law enforcement agencies face at a time of unrest over police tactics. Phoenix police say the officer, who is white, feared the suspect was armed during their struggle, but some critics say the officer went too far. Despite the department's efforts to be transparent with information, protesters marched Thursday night, Dec. 4. (AP Photo/Officer Calbert Gillett Maricopa County Sherrif's Office Media Relation Unit)

By Associated Press December 5, 2014 4 min read

PHOENIX (AP) – The mother and girlfriend of an unarmed drug suspect fatally shot by a Phoenix police officer who mistook a pill bottle for a gun do not want the incident to become about race.

“This had nothing to do with race,” Nora Brisbon told The Arizona Republic when talking about the death of her son, who was black. “This is about Rumain and the wrong that was done to him, and I want people to focus on that. If they want to rally, let’s support him positively.”

The deadly shooting Tuesday of Rumain Brisbon, 34, demonstrates the challenges law enforcement agencies face at a time of unrest over police tactics.

Phoenix police say the officer, who is white, feared the suspect was armed during their struggle, but some critics say the officer went too far. Despite the department’s efforts to be transparent with information, protesters marched Thursday night.

About 150 marched through the streets of downtown Phoenix to police headquarters, while calling for an end to what they say is a nationwide epidemic of police brutality.