Arthur Keith Case: Organizations Condemn Lack Of Transparency

CLEVELAND — Two Cleveland community groups expressed "deep disappointment" over a Cuyahoga County Grand Jury's decision not to bring charges against a police officer who shot and killed Arthur Keith.

Keith, 19, was killed on November 13, 2020 when a Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority officer shot him once in the back at the King Kennedy complex. The bullet exited through Keith's chest, according to Senior Attorney General Anthony Pearson. Police said Keith pointed a gun at officers, prompting the officer to fire. A gun was found near Keith's body. His DNA was on the weapon, investigators said.

Attorneys for Keith's family said the 19-year-old was running away when police shot him. Pearson said video surveillance only showed the aftermath of the shooting, not the incident itself, a claim disputed by Keith's family.

Keith was once a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio. The organization condemned the "shocking lack of transparency" in the investigation into Keith's death when it issued a joint statement with the Cleveland Peacemakers Alliance.

"Why wasn’t this officer – and all Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority officers – wearing a body camera? Why has video footage not been released? Why were some cameras not functioning? Why weren’t more witnesses – including some whose accounts differ from the official version of events – interviewed? And how was it that Arthur was shot in the back, per an autopsy report?" the joint statement asked.

Young people, like Arthur, deserve more from the legal system, the organizations said in the joint statement.

"Our sympathy goes out to Arthur Keith’s family. We acknowledge and respect our legal system – and its limitations. Justice for Arthur Keith was not done," they said.