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Officials: Lancaster couple hit patrol cars, ran over officer's legs before shot dead by police

By Glenn Counts, wsoctv.com
By Glenn Counts, wsoctv.com

WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS — A couple from Lancaster is accused of crashing into several patrol vehicles in West Memphis, Arkansas over the weekend before being shot to death by police.

Megan Rivera and De’Angelo Brown were shot and killed by authorities, officials said.

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The news came as a shock to the victims' families. Although the couple had been out of contact for days, family members said they did not expect to receive a call Friday saying they had been killed.

"So we're just trying our best to get through it," said Rivera's sister Ashley Todd.

Police said the couple did not stop as directed and slammed into several police cars, so officers shot at the car and killed both inside. The couple was reportedly driving a car that had been stolen from Columbia.

"Yeah, they could have done something to spare their lives, but they did their job too," Todd said.

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Officials also said an officer's legs were broken during the incident after being struck by the couple as they fled.

The families still have a lot of unanswered questions.

"You had them bound in and so how were they going to get away from you I don't understand what they were thinking," said Brown's aunt, Eddie Clyburn.

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According to family members, Rivera was most likely behind the wheel because Brown, who had very bad vision, suffered from glaucoma and cataracts.

“We need justice. We need closure. It's just a tragedy,” Brown's sister, Tierra Clyburn, said.

Rivera's family told Channel 9 she had undiagnosed mental health issues.

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