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Family Of Slain Teen To Meet With Justice Department Representatives

Steven Goode

March 11, 2010

The family of Jashon Bryant, who was shot and killed in 2005 by city police Det. Robert Lawlor, is scheduled to meet Thursday in Washington, D.C., with representatives of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Lawlor subsequently was charged with manslaughter in the 18-year-old's death. Lawlor, who told police that Bryant had a gun, was acquitted in December by an all-white jury. No gun was found during the investigation.

Bryant's mother, Cynthia, said during a gathering outside the family's Bellevue Street home Wednesday evening that the family intends to ask the Justice Department to investigate the way the jury in Lawlor's trial was chosen and whether her son's civil rights were violated.

The family will be accompanied by Scot X. Esdaile, president of the Connecticut chapter of the NAACP, and their attorney, John C. Brittain.

Cynthia Bryant said that just getting a meeting in Washington is a victory.

"I'm glad we got this far anyway," she said. "At least we're getting there. We got to Washington. Anything after that is out of my control. But I'm just praying."