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James Boyd’s Brother: His Life Mattered

Juan Labreche / Associated Press
Andrew Jones listens to opening statements on Monday, Sept. 19.

The jury is deliberating whether two former Albuquerque police officers will be convicted of second-degree murder after shooting and killing James Boyd, a homeless man with mental illness in 2014.

Boyd’s brother Andrew Jones wrote in an email that it was painful to watch his brother killed again and again as the video was replayed in court. Boyd won’t be forgotten, he wrote, and that gives him some comfort. His life mattered. 

Boyd had been camping in the Sandia Foohills for about a month before a neighbor called police. There was a standoff for hours as more and more officers responded to the call, until there were 19 total at the scene.

The court will be closed on Monday for Columbus Day. The jury will continue deliberations on Tuesday, Oct 11. 

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Here is Jones' full statement: 

"On behalf of my family, I would like to thank the special prosecutor, Ms. Randi McGinn and her trial team, for their tireless fight for justice for my brother James Matthew Boyd. He mattered. His life mattered. And we very much appreciate that the officers had to publicly answer for killing him. It has been very painful to watch my brother being killed again and again on video. As I wait for the jury’s verdict, I have been able to reflect on what I have witnessed as a result of my brother’s tragic and needless death. While, I will always miss him, it gives me some comfort knowing that my brother will not be forgotten. As a result of this trial, we now know that the City of Albuquerque trained its officers to use anticipatory force, to kill in anticipation of what a citizen might do and so a truth has come out to explain the root cause of so many wrongful deaths at the hands of officers in this city." 

Marisa Demarco began a career in radio at KUNM News in late 2013 and covered public health for much of her time at the station. During the pandemic, she is also the executive producer for Your NM Government and No More Normal, shows focused on the varied impacts of COVID-19 and community response, as well as racial and social justice. She joined Source New Mexico as editor-in-chief in 2021.
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