In Memory Of: Black Women Who Died Unjustly

Tyisha Miller

On December 28, 1998, Tyisha Miller, a 19-year-old African American woman from Rubidoux California, was killed after family members called police officers to help them with their relative who was comatose and locked inside her car with the engine running and the radio on. Tyisha was said to have been shaking and foaming at the mouth, and had a .380 semi-automatic pistol in her lap. When the four Police officers arrived at the scene and were informed by family members of the presence of a gun in the car, they approached the vehicle with guns drawn. After trying to get a response from Tyisha, they attempted to force entry into the vehicle in order to get the young woman the medical attention she needed. As one of the officers was attempting to remove the gun, Tyisha reportedly sat up and grabbed the weapon, at which point the officers opened fire 23 times, hitting Ms. Miller with at least 12 bullets, including 4 in the head. The officers involved, three white and one Hispanic, were placed on administrative leave and claimed they had acted in self-defense.