The Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS) fined the security officer who shot Banko Brown $1,500 for multiple violations on the day of the incident.
According to the BSIS, Michael Earl-Wayne Anthony was carrying a concealed firearm without a permit. During the incident, he was also not donning the required insignia indicating that he was employed as private security.
On April 27, Brown, a 24-year-old Black transgender man, was shot and killed at a Walgreens in San Francisco. Anthony confronted Brown as he was exiting the store on suspicion of theft.
The citation issued on July 24 stated that Anthony was “involved in a shooting while on duty while wearing a sweatshirt that did not have bureau-approved patches on each shoulder that stated ‘private security’ and listed Anthony’s employer’s name.”
In addition, the report stated that Anthony was “carrying a concealed firearm in a zippered pouch on the tactical vest he was wearing over his sweatshirt,” a weapon distinct from the one he used to shoot Brown.
Brown’s death prompted a public uproar in response to what many deemed an unnecessary murder. Hundreds of protestors converged on Market Street in the days following the deadly shooting.
According to Brown’s friends, he was a trans man and an active community organizer who had battled housing instability for over a decade.
Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club issued a statement in which they stated, among other things, that they did not know all of the details, going so far as to term this a “murder”, but his death was “tragic and senseless.”
Banko’s Murder: A Call to Address Systemic Issues for Trans Safety
“Banko’s murder is also a reminder that ensuring the safety of our trans siblings requires us to address systemic issues such as poverty, homelessness, and anti-Black racism, not just declare our acceptance and love for trans people.”
Additionally, the group reported that transgender individuals in San Francisco are 18 times more likely to be homeless than the general population. Although less than 6% of San Franciscans are Black, more than half of those incarcerated in San Francisco are Black.
Read also: Connecticut Pastor Fatally Struck by Stamford Police Car
