NAACP and Coleman family meet with police to talk about May 19 shooting

The family of Brandon Coleman wants to know why the man who pulled the trigger on the 25-year-old on Ann Street last month is not behind bars.

The man who shot him claims it was in self defense.

It was estimated that over 100 people attended a public meeting Tuesday night set up by the NAACP and the Coleman family.

Lorenzo Lawson, a community member who attended the meeting, told ABC 17 News he believes an arrest should have been made the night Brandon Coleman was shot.

He also told ABC 17 News the shooter was a felon and should have been arrested for using a gun.

Police would not confirm the whether the shooter was a felon.

Others who left the meeting said it was very unproductive and that police would only say they’re investigating the shooter’s claims he fired in self defense.

But many community members said they think the shooter should be held in jail during the investigation.

“They’re wanting detailed answers, which we can’t provide right now,” said Sgt. Joe Bernhard, with Columbia police.

But the Coleman family told ABC 17 News they weren’t giving up.

“We’ll see if they make an arrest and see what other actions we can take to see if we can get our arrest and get justice,” said James Patrick, Coleman’s cousin.