Family, community leaders demand independent review after fatal officer-involved shooting

A substantial public-comment period at the Dec. 15 Evansville Common Council meeting focused on demands for transparency and accountability following the Nov. 22 officer-involved shooting that killed Everett (Ever) Nunn.

Family members and community advocates gave emotional testimony and urged the council to request an independent third-party investigation and wider public disclosure of bodycam footage and internal review materials to preserve public trust. Eager Lawson of the community asked directly that the council "fire Officer Helford and endorse his prosecution," saying trust in the Evansville Police Department is fractured.

Maria Groves, a daughter of the deceased, described watching the incident's aftermath and the trauma to family members. "My father was...shot six times for not following an order by the police officer in just 0.12 seconds," she said, and asked council to take actions that support accountability and policy change. Drayden, who identified himself as the son, asked the council for a public hearing where police leadership would answer questions on the record and for an independent review by authorities such as the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.

Speakers framed the requests as procedural and moral: full release of bodycam footage where allowed by law, a transparent independent investigation, and policy changes around use-of-force and de-escalation. Several family members said internal department processes and public statements so far had not satisfied their need for answers.