Zach Hammond’s parents tell Seneca City Council to push for release of video

SENECA – In a tearful speech to Seneca City Council, the mother of an unarmed teenager who was shot and killed by a Seneca police officer pleaded Tuesday with city officials to push state investigators for the release of all videos and audio recordings of the death of their son.

Angie Hammond also expressed the deep anxiety she and her husband, Paul, have felt at the lack of communication or consolation from city officials in the aftermath of the July 26 shooting of their son, Zachary Hammond, in a marijuana bust that targeted a passenger in his car.

“The virtual silence and inaction from the city of Seneca have left our family with an overwhelming sense of hopelessness,” she told the council during a public session at the start of its regular monthly meeting.

“On top of this hopelessness there is also the inability for us to properly grieve for our child because it seems that the investigation is in an indefinite state of suspension.”

Mayor Dan Alexander responded with a prepared statement on behalf of the city, offering condolences and prayers.

“The last six weeks have been long and difficult for everyone involved,” he said. “From the city’s standpoint, we have done nothing to slow that process down with law enforcement officials and released all the information that we’re allowed to under the law.”

The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating the incident and has refused to release the video shot from the dashboard camera the vehicle driven by Lt. Mark Tiller, who shot the 19-year-old because, according to police, he thought he was about to run over him with his car.

The Hammonds have produced evidence that they say suggests otherwise.

SLED responded to a Freedom of Information Act request from The Greenville News by saying releasing the video now could harm the investigation.

The Hammonds were supported at the meeting by about a dozen people, all wearing blue T-shirts that read, “Justice for Zach.”

“Look into our hands and you will see nothing to hold onto but the tears that they have accumulated through this terrible process,” Angie Hammond told the council, “a process that was initiated by the reckless and irresponsibility of a botched drug sting.

“You don’t have to be a supporter of Zach to concede to the fact that going into a public place with guns raised with potential multiple civilians present is just insane,” she said.

The incident happened in the parking lot of Hardee’s restaurant, on U.S. 123.

“This insanity is further magnified by the fact that the drug sting only yielded 10 grams of marijuana and left our family without a son,” she said, weeping. Their son’s date was charged with simple possession of marijuana.

Angie Hammond told the council that photos showed her son’s body uncovered in the parking lot after he was dead, with ants crawling on him, which she said gives credence to rumors of his body being desecrated by police.

“The irony in all of this is had we not fought for our son, it would have presumably got swept under the carpet,” she said. “It has been six weeks and we are now essentially in the same boat that we were when all this started.

“We implore you to push for the release of all of the videos and all of the tapes, in the interest of justice and transparency,” she said. “We feel that this investigation has been extended for Officer Tiller at the expense of our son.”

She also said she wants questions answered by city officials, not by a public relations firm. The city has contracted with Complete Public Relations of Greenville for $5,000 a month to handle media requests, according to John Boyanoski, president of the firm.

“We would also ask you to take a look at the police chief to see if he genuinely has the citizens’ best interests at heart,” Angie Hammond said. “We feel as if he’s been able to assert a narrative without providing any concrete facts.

“The only facts that we have acquired in this matter have been through our own diligent efforts.”

The family has hired a law firm to investigate and represent their interests, and the city also has contracted for legal advice in the case, according to Police Chief John Covington.

“Speaking on behalf of the city we empathize with you and offer our condolences,” Alexander told the Hammonds after her remarks. “No family, no city, no employees, no persons anywhere wants to experience such a tragic event. It affects everyone in our city, in our community and our families.”

Paul Hammond said afterward the words of sympathy came “a little late.”