By Nick Valencia, CNN
(CNN) -- A vigil for a teen who died in police custody
turned violent in Durham, North Carolina, with riot police using tear gas and
batons to disperse the crowd.
At least six people were arrested at the Thursday night
march to protest the death of 17-year-old Jesus Huerta, according to police.
"I could not be more proud of the restraint and
professionalism demonstrated by our officers," Durham Police Chief Jose
Lopez said in a statement to the media, adding that injuries to those marching
were minimized because of his officers' actions.
"There was a march. The peaceful intent did not exist.
We used the best practices in law enforcement," he said at a news
conference Friday.
Huerta's sister, Evelin Huerta, said a federal investigation
is needed.
"The actions of the Durham Police Department, led by
Chief Lopez, last night were a tried-and-true tactic to intimidate and spread
fear in our community," she said. "We call on Chief Lopez to resign
immediately in light of his leadership that put dozens of armed police on the
streets to scare residents and turned a memorial vigil into a war zone last
night. We will not be intimidated by Chief Lopez and the Durham Police Department's
tactics."
Protesters threw bottles and rocks at police officers and
vandalized police property, Lopez said, defending his officers' reaction to the
vigil.
The Durham Police Department says Huerta died on November 19
from a self-inflicted gunshot while handcuffed in the back of a police cruiser.
The teen was being taken to the police station by Officer Samuel Duncan about 3
a.m. for a second-degree trespassing violation.
The chief said at the news conference that gunshot residue
tests were conducted on Huerta and the arresting officer, and the North
Carolina State Bureau of Investigation "found that Huerta was wearing
gloves and that his gloves had a saturation of gunshot residue on it. Officer
Duncan's revealed that he had no gunshot residue on his hands," Lopez
said.
The gun used was not a police firearm, Lopez has said in the
past, but state authorities are still investigating where the weapon came from,
according to local media. Duncan is on paid administrative leave pending the
investigation's conclusion, local media reported.
Huerta's family, along with local activists, allege police
foul play in the death of Huerta, who was affectionately called
"Chuy" by his loved ones. Huerta's family has submitted a formal
petition to local authorities for archives into the investigation, according to
local media.
"People can see that we actually support him and that
we need justice for Durham because it's not fair that this is happening, like
the police is not giving us answers," Evelin Huerta told CNN affiliate
WTVD.
A separate vigil held last month by the family also turned
violent and ended in arrests. The family has said it plans to hold a protest on
the 19th of every month.
"Personally, I don't believe one word of what the
Durham Police Department has stated," local activist Lamont Lilly wrote in
an article published shortly after Huerta's death. "It seems to me, and
many others throughout the city, Durham police officers are simply covering
their tracks with a concocted story that makes no physical or logical sense
whatsoever."
Between 150 and 200 Huerta supporters marched Thursday from
Durham City Hall to the parking lot of police headquarters. Some carried
banners that read, "Fue Matado Por La Policia" or "Murdered By
Police."
Others in attendance alleged police brutality and the use of
excessive force by officers at the vigil.
"They didn't really look like batons or night sticks,
but they were thinner and longer and they were reaching over the banner,
whacking people with them," protester David Kaplan told CNN affiliate
WTVD. "They were clearly upset with the fact that people were out
expressing themselves and upset at the fact that it appears they murdered a
17-year-old child."
At least one demonstrator suffered minor injuries, and no
officers were injured, the police chief said.
In a prepared statement, police said, "Permits are
required for such events, but police officials extended compassion to the
family by allowing the event. Police officers made several efforts to contact
event organizers to ensure a peaceful event, but event organizers refused to
speak with the police. The march became violent after participants left police
headquarters and returned to downtown."
Images from the scene showed smoke billowing as riot police
launched tear gas at the crowd. Some demonstrators wore masks to cover their
faces.
"WTH Durham police? #racerelations," Monique
Vasquez said in a tweet about the clashes. She told CNN her office was near
Thursday night's incident.
Responding to Spanish-language reporters at the news
conference, Lopez said that as a Hispanic, he had trouble believing the
allegations among the Hispanic community that Durham police unfairly target
Latinos.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation has looked
into three deaths in five months involving Durham police officers, and two of
those killed were Latinos, according to CNN affiliate WRAL.
A similar case in July stoked skepticism in Jonesboro,
Arkansas, when Chavis Carter, 21, died from a close-range gunshot while
handcuffed in the back of a police car.