A crowd of people gathered around the Modesto Police Department to call for the firing and prosecution of officer Joseph Lamantia, who fatally shot 29 year-old Trevor Robert Seever on December 29, 2020.

Family and community members are outraged at the grossly mishandled situation and call for the firing and prosecution of officer Lamantia.

“Just like there are good cops, there are bad cops, and this one is a bad cop,” said Seever’s aunt. She also added that in the midst of learning more about her nephew’s death, it has been revealed that in Lamantia’s 12 years working in the department, he has shot 5 people, killing 4. In 2016, he beat someone to death showing that, clearly, this is not Lamantia’s first incident in which his use of excessive force has ended a life. 

After handing out pamphlets and flyers, the group marched up 10th street and headed towards the district attorney’s office on 12th street, chanting things like “hands up, don’t shoot”, “say his name…Trevor Seever”, “how do you spell murder….MPD” and many others. 

Flyers of Trevor Seever and his story were hung on the glass door of the district attorney’s office using chewed up bubble gum. 

Kyle Seever, Trevor’s brother, read a heartfelt letter while in tears. This letter was directed at the district attorney. “The purpose of the 911 call was to ask Modesto PD to serve and protect a member of the community. It was not for officer Lamantia to kill my brother…It makes me sick to my stomach to wake up everyday and know he’s not here but even more sick that the officer that did this is on paid leave.”

Stephon Clark’s mother, SeQuette Clark, drove all the way from Sacramento to show solidarity and remind everyone of AB 392, or the Stephon Clark law, that Governor Newsom signed into law last year. 

This law changes the word “reasonable” to “necessary” in regards to police using excessive force and shooting, meaning that it is more difficult for cops to be justified when being tried for having killed civilians in court. 

“It seems to me that this case will be applicable to AB 392, [but] it is up to you to remind your county officials, city officials that there is a law to prevent the death of people by the police,” said Clark. 

Colby Friday’s mother, Denise Friday, came down from Stockton. Her son was killed by Officer Wells on August 16, 2016. No charges were brought up as the DA believed the case was justified. 

Carey Smith-Downs, James Earl Rivera Jr.’s mother, carried around a giant framed poster of her son’s deceased body, explaining that that was how she last saw her son when she was asked to identify him. 

“We stand in solidarity with [the Seever family], we ain’t going nowhere. It’s been 10 long years for me, and I walked and when I couldn’t walk no more I crawled, and when I couldn’t crawl no more I started rolling and I am here, today, to let you know I feel your pain,” cried Smith-Downs. 

According to Kyle Seever, Trevor had just recently graduated from San Jose State and was on his way to achieving his dream job. He refereed at his local high school in his free time and was at the peak of his life when it was taken from him. 

The family asks that the community sends letters to the district attorney. They are prewritten, all you have to do is send them. The letters along with more information regarding Trevor and how you can help can be found here, justice4trevor.com. 

Another protest demanding justice for Trevor will occur February 13, 2021 on Briggsmore and McHenry in Modesto at noon. More information can be found on their Instagram @_justice4trevor. Please remember to bring your masks and practice social distancing protocols.