Thread by @KariPlog

BREAKING: @AGOWA has charged three Tacoma police officers in the killing of Manuel Ellis last year. @knkxfm

Matthew Collins: second degree murder
Christopher Burbank: second degree murder
Timothy Rankine: first degree manslaughter

Here's a statement from the police union representing the Tacoma police officers.

I'm focusing on broadcast and filing to NPR, so I've been quiet on Twitter. But I will be sharing some updates from a news conference with the family and their attorney at 3 p.m. Heading to the Eastside Community Center now. Listen to All Things Considered starting at 3. @knkxfm

I'm waiting for a news conference with James Bible, an attorney for the family of Manuel Ellis, following the news from @AGOWA that three Tacoma police officers will be charged with felonies related to Ellis' death. Updates to come. @knkxfm

Still waiting. In the meantime, here's a statement from Tacoma's Interim Police Chief Mike Ake. #ManuelEllis

It seems there are other family members of people who have been killed by police officers here for the news conference. Among them is Katrina Johnson, cousin of Charleena Lyles, who was killed by Seattle police in 2017. knkx.org/post/seattle-p…

Presser is beginning. Members of @tacoma_action and Manuel Ellis' family present while James Bible is giving remarks. Stand by for highlights.

Bible begins by noting the historic nature of these charges from @AGOWA: "But the reality is you don't want to be first in this kind of way." #ManuelEllis

Bible says he feels compelled to talk about who Ellis was. He was a brother, an uncle, a son. He says he's been missed at the family's dinner table for more than a year. Here's more about Ellis' life from @OtherWillJames knkx.org/post/who-was-m… #ManuelEllis

"We have to talk about the system that enables officers to commit murder," Bible says. "That's just as important as the criminal charges." #ManuelEllis

Bible condemns the early narrative, set by police. He says the Pierce County Sheriff's Department "did such damage to this investigation" that investigators had to start over. The first account, which Bible says was contradicted by video evidence, came from now-Sheriff Ed Troyer.

Troyer is the subject of a separate criminal investigation launched by @AGOWA last month. knkx.org/post/state-att…

Bible draws comparison between Ellis' case and murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. But, he says, Tacoma isn't like Minnesota because officers there spoke up about what happened to Floyd. "Law enforcement in this town, in this county, they rely on people not having cameras."

Bible says the Tacoma City Council "has been too quiet on this." He says justice has "already walked out those doors. ... the moment Manuel's soul left his body."

Manuel Ellis' mother, Marcia Carter, speaking now. When asked to state her name for the record, she says "I'll tell you who I am. I'm Manny's mom."

Marcia Carter: "We are not fighting against flesh and blood. We are fighting against principalities in high places."

"My son was used as a sacrifice. ... God chose him. ... Because he wanted to expose the corruption."

Ellis' mother says her heart is heavy. She credits today's charging decision to the work of her daughter, Ellis' sister Monét Carter-Mixon. She says "her voice is Manny's voice."

Marcia Carter has made it a point to repeat her son's name many times during her remarks this afternoon: "This is about Manuel Elijah Ellis. This is his work."

Bible: "One of the biggest mistakes those officers made, besides murdering a man, was murdering Monét Carter-Mixon's brother." He said we wouldn't be here as a state if it wasn't for Monét. #ManuelEllis

Monét Carter-Mixon speaking now. She says the charges "are a blessing." But she adds that "the work is far from over." "It was us that demanded the governor get Pierce County (Sheriff's Department) off of this investigation."

Ellis' brother, Matthew, speaking now: "This fight is far from over. ... We're going to keep fighting. Our brother's name will live forever, especially in Washington state. And around the world."

Members of @tacoma_action speaking now. I was with them this morning when the charging decision went public. I'll share more from our one-on-one conversation in reporting to come.

Christopher Paul Jordan of @tacoma_action says "independent investigations save lives." He condemns Pierce County Sheriff's Department for violating the rules of I-940 after Ellis was killed last year. Jordan was on a state task force that ultimately led to new police reforms.

I talked to Jordan recently at a bill signing for those reforms. knkx.org/post/manuel-el…

Bible says he wants people to "remember Manny as more than someone who was lynched." #ManuelEllis

He's playing a video that captures moments from Ellis' life.

I shared this earlier, but sharing again: reporting by @OtherWillJames. knkx.org/post/who-was-m…

UPDATE: the Pierce County Sheriff's Department says the officers have been arrested. #ManuelEllis

More on the officer arrests from the Washington State Patrol. All three voluntarily turned themselves in this afternoon. #ManuelEllis