Advocacy groups: Death of black Ohio man by police avoidable

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FILE – In this Dec. 10, 2015, file photo, Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot Isaac, center, Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley, left, and Cincinnati City Manager Harry Black, right, discuss Isaac\'s appointment as the city\'s permanent police chief during a news conference in Cincinnati. Following the fatal shooting of robbery suspect Jawari Porter on Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016, Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot Isaac says 25-year veteran police Officer Anthony Brucato had no choice but to fire at Porter, and Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley says Porter was trying to kill Brucato, who suffered minor injuries. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

CINCINNATI – A homeless advocacy organization and a Black Lives Matter group are challenging the fatal Cincinnati police shooting of a black man with a history of mental illness.

The Hamilton County prosecutor called the shooting justified. The police chief said the white officer was under “vicious, violent attack” by a knife-wielding robbery suspect.

The Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition and Black Lives Matter Cincinnati have issued a joint statement saying Jawari Porter’s death was avoidable. They say police escalated the Sunday confrontation.

Video released Monday shows the 25-year-old Porter lunging at an officer in the driver’s seat of a police vehicle. Authorities say Porter was trying to stab him.

Court records show a judge last year found that Porter was mentally ill and incompetent to stand trial on assault charges. He was ordered into treatment.

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