Photos: Rally demands reform after jury finds police-involved death was suicide
Terrance LaFromboise, Galbreath’s older brother, helps lead a Blackfeet song outside the Missoula County Courthouse next to UM students O’Shay Birdinground, left, and Zach Rides At The Door, center, on April 29 in remembrance of LaFromboise’s brother after a coroner’s inquest into Galbreath’s death. “The Missoula Police Department is creating a ‘perfect storm’ culture that targets people of color,” LaFromboise said. “When you have a system that upholds racist systemic policies [you’re] going to continue seeing people of color being targeted by police.”
Cole Wells, a member of the Galbreath family, reacts as he and other family members watch dash and body-cam footage of the night Galbreath died presented by county officials during a coroner’s inquest on April 29 from the altercation Aug. 12, 2021, between Brendon Galbreath, a member of the Blackfeet Nation, and Missoula Police Officer Garrett Brown. It took the Galbreath family almost a year to see footage from last summer’s incident which ended in an officer-involved shooting.
Missoula County Attorney Matt Jennings addresses the jury during opening remarks of a coroner’s inquest looking into the death of 21-year-old Brendon Galbreath at the Missoula County Courthouse on April 29. Attorney Jennings cross examined Missoula Police officers and state detectives related to the Aug. 12, 2021, Galbreath case.
Missoula Police Officer Garrett Brown stares at a TV showing dash and body-cam footage from his Aug. 12, 2021, altercation with Brendon Galbreath during a coroner’s inquest at the Missoula County Courthouse on April 29. Brown, who worked as an officer in Denver, Colorado, before moving to Missoula, was the only officer to make first contact with Galbreath last summer. After reviewing evidence, the jury found the incident to be a suicide, clearing officer Brown of any homicide liability.
Phillip Small-Ray, a member of the Blackfeet Nation, bows his head during a community-led rally outside the county courthouse on April 29 following the coroner’s inquest of Brendon Galbreath’s death. Growing up in Browning, Small-Ray said he “had similar experiences with law enforcement” like Galbreath did. “As a person of color, Missing and Murdered Indigenous [People] is a reality I have to live with,” he said.
Community organizer and activist Zuri Rodrigues Moreno speaks in front of rally attendees about their time working alongside the Galbreath family as they demanded transparency about the death of Brendon Galbreath after an altercation with Missoula police on Aug. 12, 2021. Rodrigues Moreno co-led the rally outside the county courthouse with Andi Hoelzel following the coroner’s inquest on April 29.
Friends and family of Brendon Galbreath gathered at the Missoula County Courthouse on April 29 in a show of support and solidarity with the family. Attendees brought flowers and signs remembering the life of young Galbreath.
University of Montana student Zach Rides At The Door wears a shirt in remembrance of Brendon Galbreath outside the Missoula County Courthouse on April 29. Rides At The Door was Galbreath’s classmate during their time in elementary school in Browning.
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After a coroner’s inquest looking into the shooting death of a 21-year-old man following a h…
