A funeral service for 19-year-old Nigel Beckford in Boynton Beach, Florida, concluded with chaos on Saturday as sheriff's deputies arrested several mourners, with family members alleging excessive force. The incident occurred as a group of attendees were leaving the funeral.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office's gang unit reported observing individuals driving recklessly and attempting to take over an intersection. During a subsequent traffic stop, deputies discovered four stolen firearms. Five men were arrested at the scene.
Video footage captured by Beckford's aunt, Shanna Burks, showed deputies handcuffing the individuals. Burks can be heard in the video pleading with officers, stating, "We just came from the graveyard! Ya'll dead a** wrong! Ya'll dead a** wrong! We just buried my nephew, coming from the graveyard. Have sympathy!"
Witnesses reported that the situation escalated when officers appeared to fire rubber bullets at a group of mourners who were reportedly standing within 25 feet of law enforcement, a violation of Florida law after a verbal warning. The arrested men, identified as Dylan Jayantione Stragh, Dwight Jamallantion Stragh, Cardell Valcourt, Jaedin Akwuame Stoveall, and Malik Lanard McGraw, were booked into the Palm Beach County Jail on charges including reckless driving, resisting an officer with violence, battery, and inciting a riot. They were later released on bond.
Burks claimed that officers were aggressive, punching the young men and placing knees on their necks. She also stated she sustained bruises when an officer allegedly fired rubber bullets at her and others who were observing the arrests. "This right here was so uncalled for. This show[s] you law don't give a damn we couldn't even grieve in peace at all yesterday," Burks wrote on Facebook.
Nigel Beckford died on August 8 after being found with multiple gunshot wounds. He underwent surgery and later died from his injuries. A 17-year-old male has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder with a firearm and discharging a firearm from a vehicle in connection with Beckford's death. The motive for the shooting and the relationship between Beckford and the alleged shooter remain unclear.
The Daily Mail contacted the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office for comment on the incident following the funeral.