OKLAHOMA CITY (KOCO/CNN) - Hundreds marched in the streets on Sunday to demand change after an officer shot and killed a deaf man.
A diverse group of people from American Indian Movement, Black Lives Matter and the deaf community stood on the steps of city hall in solidarity with the family of Magdiel Sanchez, rallying for justice.
Police say the 35-year-old Sanchez was shot to death by an Oklahoma City police officer after a hit and run accident involving Sanchez's father Tuesday night.
Police say Sanchez, who was deaf and nonverbal, was shot when he approached them with a metal pipe.
His family said he was standing in his front yard with his walking stick when it happened.
One witness said he screamed at officers that the man could not hear their commands, but an officer still fired.
"Not being able to communicate and not knowing what was about to happen - Those were his last moments on the Earth. To have so much fear in those moments, I think is utterly unacceptable and that's part of the reason I came out today," Dakota Raynes said.
Sanchez's family didn't speak on Sunday, but they released a statement through their attorney on Friday calling for the officer to be arrested.
They also want an independent investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the Justice Department.
The officer who fired the fatal shot is on paid administrative leave as the investigation continues.
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