SAN ANTONIO – The funeral and homegoing services for Damian Daniels, a combat veteran who was shot and killed by a Bexar County Sheriff’s Office deputy in late August, will take place in Alabama.
The Grassroots Law Project on Thursday announced the Rev. Al Sharpton will officiate Daniels' service at the Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo, Ala. at 10 a.m. Friday. Daniels’ family is originally from Alabama, according to the organization.
The organization said Daniels' home has turned into a phone banking site for veterans to call elected officials and urge them “to provide greater resources for veterans.”
The family’s attorney and civil rights lawyer Lee Merritt on Twitter called the site a veteran emergency response center.
Merritt said Daniels was “the latest victim of a silent war American police have launched against the mentally ill.” He added that the veteran “deserved better.”
On 9/11 we will be laying #DamianDaniels to rest in Montgomery, Alabama— the latest victim of a silent war American Police have launched against the mentally ill. Damian deserved better. From his home in San Antonio, TX we will build a veteran emergency response center. #itsonus pic.twitter.com/N1nyUuMnq4
— S. Lee Merritt, Esq. (@MeritLaw) September 10, 2020
The fatal shooting of Daniels is the latest criticism by activists and community leaders amid a nationwide push for racial justice and criminal justice reform following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
BCSO said deputies spent the first 30 minutes of their response to Daniels' home on Aug. 25 talking to him to de-escalate a situation before the struggle that led to the deadly shooting by Deputy John Rodriguez, 52.
Daniels' family said he suffered from mental health issues, and that he had his “first mental episode” the day of the shooting.
Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff this week released a critical letter regarding the criminal justice system, saying it “is systematically flawed to the extent that it fails to administer justice to the poor, the homeless, minorities, and to the mentally ill and drug dependent citizens.”
WATCH: Family of combat veteran fatally shot by BCSO deputy calls for Sheriff Salazar to step down