A heartbroken Tennessee woman whose goddaughter was killed after being ejected from a speeding car during a police chase has pleaded with authorities to stop the practice.
asserted
goddaughter → kill → practice
Renisha Thompson, 31, was reportedly on her way to pick up groceries on Thursday when she unknowingly got involved in a high-speed pursuit.
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she → pick → pursuit
She was sitting in the passenger seat next to Justin Thomas, 32, who fled a traffic stop while driving his Cadillac, News Channel 3 reported.
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Channel → sit → Cadillac
The Memphis Safe Task Force chased the car before it crashed off South Third Street on Red Leaf Lane in South Memphis, the outlet added.
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outlet → chase → Memphis
Thompson, a cosmetologist, was killed after being thrown from the car.
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Thompson → kill → car
Her godmother, Shawn Crawford, blasted the authorities involved in the incident, and claimed they had a chance to capture Thomas ahead of the pursuit.
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they → blast → pursuit
'Her life was taken only because of this pursuit.
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life → take → pursuit
Y’all want to catch this guy, and y’all had the chance to block this driveway and get her.
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all → want → her
They had a chance to get him.
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They → have → him
He sat in this driveway.
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He → sit → driveway
My baby didn’t know what was going on.
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what → know → ?
She didn’t even know what she was getting into,’ she said.
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she → know → what
Thomas has been charged with vehicular manslaughter, possession of controlled substances, speeding and fleeing law enforcement.
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Thomas → charge → enforcement
He is in a critical condition in hospital, Action News 5 reported.
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News → report → hospital
Renisha Thompson, 31, was reportedly on her way to pick up groceries when the Memphis Safe Task Force chased the vehicle she was a passenger in
The officers were trying to get hold of driver Justin Thomas, 32, who authorities say fled a traffic stop while driving his Cadillac
The Memphis Safe Task Force and members of the US Marshal Service were conducting surveillance on Thomas after he allegedly fled from agents during an earlier traffic stop, Action News 5 reports.
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News → pick → stop
Thomas was seen getting into a car with Thompson and performed multiple U-turns in an attempt to lose agents, officials said.
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officials → see → agents
He refused to pull over when a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper asked him to stop, which led to the chase and the crash, the outlet added.
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outlet → refuse → chase
‘To me, it just looked like whoever was running from the police wasn’t paying attention,' a witness told the outlet.
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witness → look → outlet
‘[I] heard a big boom and there were pieces everywhere.
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I → hear → boom
I’m pretty sure neither one of them knew that that was gonna happen,’ the witness continued.
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witness → ’m → them
Thompson’s godmother said her goddaughter would have been alive if it wasn't for the pursuit.
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it → say → pursuit
Because that man was watched here before my baby even entered that car, he was already being watched,’ Crawford said, according to News Channel 3.
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Crawford → watch → Channel
She continued: ‘They could’ve got him before he even got her in that car, and if you’re on a high-speed chase and can’t catch that person, stop the pursuit.’
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you → continue → pursuit
Four other vehicles were damaged during the chase, while two others, including Thomas, were injured, Action News 5 reported.
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News → damage → Thomas
The chase ended in a multi-car crash which killed one and injured two others
Loved ones gathered for a vigil to remember Thompson on Sunday.
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ones → end → Sunday
Relatives described her as a kind, hardworking person who always showed up for others.
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who → describe → others
Renisha was our everything,' Crawford said during the memorial service.
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Crawford → say → service
'And when your everything is taken, it’s like you have nothing.
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you → take → nothing
You’re left with nothing.
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You → leave → nothing
But when they come out like they did today, showing love and support, we know we’ve got people behind us,' she added.
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she → come → us
Asked whether Thomas should be held accountable for her goddaughter's death, Crawford refused to comment, saying it was in God's hands, News Channel 3 reported.
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Channel → ask → hands
Thompson's funeral service will be held on October 23, according to Serenity Funeral Home in Memphis.
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service → hold → Memphis
This is the third time Thomas has fled from law enforcement, according to court records and affidavits reviewed by Action News 5.
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Thomas → flee → News
He was out on bond after being charged in July and August.
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He → charge → July
The Daily Mail has reached out to US Marshal Service and Tennessee Highway Patrol for comment.
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Mail → reach → comment
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