California rally demands arrest of killer cop

Militant/Eric Simpson

PARADISE, Calif. — Protesters here continue to demand the arrest of cop Patrick Feaster who shot Andrew Thomas in the neck, severing his spinal cord, as he climbed out of his car following a wreck Nov. 25. The Jan. 9 rally, above, took place across the street from where Thomas was shot. Thomas’ wife Darien Ehorn was thrown from the vehicle and died.

Instead of administering first aid to her, police video shows Feaster walk right past Ehorn as she lies in the street, pull his gun and shoot Thomas, who died of his wounds three weeks later.

Thomas’ friends have organized a series of protests demanding Feaster be fired and charged. They also demand the recall of Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey for refusing to prosecute Feaster. Before Thomas died, Ramsey said he was going to charge him with drunk driving and vehicular manslaughter in the death of Ehorn.

“No officer should go up on an accident with their firearm drawn,” Richelle Zuniga, rear/center with the bake sale sign, told the Militant. She knew Thomas growing up. “They are supposed to be there to help. The DA shouldn’t be covering up for his officers.”

The young protesters had organized a bake sale earlier that day to raise money for Thomas’ funeral expenses.

— ERIC SIMPSON