Dec 24, 2024 Story by: Editor
Missouri Governor Mike Parson has commuted the prison sentence of Eric DeValkenaere, a former Kansas City police detective convicted of involuntary manslaughter for the fatal shooting of Cameron Lamb, a 26-year-old Black man.
In a press release issued Friday afternoon, Parson announced his decision to free DeValkenaere, along with details of other commutations and pardons granted. The governor provided no specific explanation for his decision but had previously signaled his intention to address the controversial case before leaving office next month.
DeValkenaere, who is white, was serving a six-year sentence after being convicted in 2021.
Incident Details
On December 3, 2019, DeValkenaere responded to a police radio call about a driver speeding through city streets. The driver, Lamb, had pulled his pickup truck into a driveway and was backing into a garage.
Without wearing a police uniform, DeValkenaere entered the property by knocking down a makeshift fence. Just nine seconds later, he fired the fatal shot at Lamb, who was seated in his truck and had just made a phone call.
DeValkenaere claimed he acted in defense of his partner, alleging that Lamb pointed a gun at them. Police reported finding Lamb hanging out of the truck’s driver-side window with a handgun near his left hand. However, prosecutors argued that the gun had been planted.
Court Rulings
Jackson County Judge J. Dale Youngs convicted DeValkenaere of second-degree involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action, ruling that the officer had no legal right to enter Lamb’s property and that the shooting violated the Constitution.
The conviction was later upheld by an appeals court, and the Missouri Supreme Court declined to review the case. Additionally, a federal judge in a civil case determined that DeValkenaere violated Lamb’s constitutional rights.
DeValkenaere’s commutation, signed by Governor Parson, places him on parole, subject to conditions set by the Parole Board.
Criticism of the Decision
Governor Parson’s decision has drawn sharp criticism, particularly from those who note his reluctance to address wrongful conviction cases involving Black men.
“While Eric DeValkenaere gets to spend Christmas with his family, the three children of Cameron Lamb will never see their father again,” said House Minority Leader Ashley Aune, a Democrat from Kansas City. “There is no justice here.” Source: Missouri Independent
