Family of Jim Rogers continues push for justice one year after his death
The family of Jim Rogers and people who are supporting their push for justice met Thursday night on the same block where he was tased by police one year ago.
The family of Jim Rogers and people who are supporting their push for justice met Thursday night on the same block where he was tased by police one year ago.
The family of Jim Rogers and people who are supporting their push for justice met Thursday night on the same block where he was tased by police one year ago.
The family of Jim Rogers and people who are supporting their push for justice met Thursday night on the same block where he was shocked with a Taser by police one year ago.
Rogers, 54, died at the hospital the following day.
A year later, the message from Rogers’ family is the same — they want to see the officers involved charged.
“I’m angry, and we are all angry, regardless of the results of the grand jury. Why has it taken a year for this family to receive justice?” Devon Adwoa said.
Adwoa is part of the campaign, “Justice for Jim Rogers.” She spoke on behalf of Rogers’ family Thursday night, as a crowd gathered on the block where Rogers was tased.
Billy Joe, Jim Rogers’ uncle thanked the crowd for showing up for his nephew before they walked together to Friendship Park and set up a memorial for Rogers.
They started the walk in the same spot where Rogers was shocked with a Taser multiple times by police.
Police were responding to a report of a stolen bicycle. The owner of that bicycle told me last year Rogers took the bike for a ride around the block and returned it. Then, police arrived and tased him multiple times.
Following his arrest, he was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital where he died the next day.
The medical examiner's office ruled that Rogers' cause of death was acute global hypoxic-ischemic injury of the brain and said the manner of death was accidental.
Hypoxic brain damage, also called hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, is a severe consequence of global cerebral ischemia due to cardiac arrest or other causes.
“We are standing here today to, of course, commemorate Jim’s life that was taken from him by Pittsburgh police, Zone 5 police, but we are also still calling for what we’ve been calling for from the very beginning,” Adwoa said.
Five of the eight officers involved have been fired, but no charges have been filed.
“A firing means nothing when his officers can simply work at a different station and can simply be rehired,” Adwoa said.
Mayor Ed Gainey tweeted about Rogers on Thursday.
“Today my heart, my prayers, and my thoughts are with the family, friends, and everyone else whose life was touched by Jim Rogers. Jim was a son of Pittsburgh and deserved to live a life filled with dignity, joy, and safety,” Gainey said. “Today serves as a constant reminder of the importance of our work to make Pittsburgh a healthier, safer, and more equitable city for all of us. Please join me in a moment of reflection and prayer to honor his life and his legacy.”
We contacted the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office looking for any update on when they might release more information in this case.