Prosecutor asks for rare hearing into fatal shooting of Black teen by Delray Police

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Saying he wants to put public concern to rest, State Attorney Barry Krischer on Thursday took the unusual step of seeking a public hearing known as a coroner's inquest -- into last month's shooting death of 16-year-old Jerrod Miller by a rookie Delray Beach police officer. It is only the second time in Krischer's 12-year tenure that he has sought such a hearing. The first one was the July 2003 coroner's inquest into the hanging death of Belle Glade resident Feraris Golden.  After a two-day hearing, Circuit Judge Judge Harold Cohen ruled that a depressed Golden took his own life. Krischer said Thursday that -- as with the Golden case -- the community would be best served by a public inquiry into Miller's death. "The benefit of an inquest is that it's not secret. It's open to the public and everyone has an opportunity to participate if they have germane information," he said. Officer Darren Cogoni shot Miller as the teen drove a Cadillac through a courtyard at the Delray Full Service Center during a Feb. 26 school dance. Miller reportedly fled when Cogoni asked for the teen's license, according to witnesses. Records indicate Miller did not have a license. [more] and [more]
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Shooting prompts NAACP task force
Residents moved by the recent shooting death of a 16-year-old at the hands of police emerged Friday night as members of a new task force for the South Palm Beach County branch of the NAACP. Seeking solutions to the racial tensions between the area's black community and city officials, area residents packed into Pompey Park's community center and established The Delray Beach Task Force. The 27-member task force will work under the direction of the NAACP to address a law enforcement investigation in the death of Jerrod Miller, who was shot dead outside a school dance by a 23-year-old rookie Delray Beach police officer. [more]