Australian Inquiry Finds Racism Behind Police Shooting of Indigenous Teen

An official inquiry in Australia has found that racism played a key role in the fatal police shooting of 19-year-old Indigenous teenager Kumanjayi Walker in 2019, calling out systemic discrimination within the police force.

Northern Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage, after a multi-year investigation, stated that Constable Zachary Rolfe, who shot Walker three times during an attempted arrest in the remote community of Yuendumu, held “racist views” and was attracted to high-adrenaline policing, with these attitudes normalized in his police unit.

Although Rolfe was acquitted of murder charges in 2022, the coroner’s findings highlighted that his conduct during the arrest increased the likelihood of a fatal outcome. The inquiry also found that Walker may have been denied a chance of survival as the local medical clinic was closed at the time of the shooting due to safety concerns over police operations.

The report described racist jokes and comments within the Alice Springs police station as widespread, underscoring a culture of institutional racism. Armitage emphasized that these attitudes were not isolated and reflected deeper issues within policing practices toward Indigenous Australians.

The coroner issued 32 recommendations, including the creation of a clear anti-racism strategy within the Northern Territory police, reconsideration of firearms policies in remote communities, and expanded health and youth support services for Indigenous communities.

Police officials have stated they will review the recommendations while expressing condolences to Walker’s family.

Walker’s death adds to the long list of Aboriginal deaths in custody in Australia, which has faced ongoing scrutiny for its treatment of Indigenous communities and the lack of accountability in cases involving police violence.

With input from Al Jazeera