Police officer's Facebook page celebrates death of black activist: 'Love the happy ending’

MarShawn McCarrel, 23, took to social media before taking his own life in Columbus, Ohio

MarShawn McCarrel, 23, took his own life Monday in front of the Ohio Statehouse. (MarShawn McCarrel/Facebook)

A police officer has been suspended from his duties after posting a comment on social media that appeared to celebrate the death of a Black Lives Matter activist who killed himself.

Fairborn officer Lee Cyr was placed on administrative leave after senior officers were informed of a post that appeared on his Facebook page, next to a story about the death of MarShawn McCarrel II. Mr McCarell shot himself on the steps of the state capitol in Columbus earlier this week.

“Love a happy ending,” read the comment.

Police say Mr Cyr was off duty when the comment was posted.

“When we were made aware of a Facebook post that was linked to a Fairborn police officer, an internal affairs complaint was initiated,” Fairborn Police Chief Terry Barlow told the Dayton Daily News.

“Posts that may discredit the police department are against police. We take this seriously. We will ensure the professional standards of the department are upheld.”

Mr McCarrel was a committed activist who organised events to help feed homeless people and guide young people in his community. He was also a leader of protests in Ohio after Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson shot and killed unarmed teen, Mike Brown in 2014. He was apparently struggling just before his death and wrote on social media that his “demons won” on the day he died.

Mr Cyr’s post was one of many disturbing attacks on the post about Mr McCarrel, according to the newspaper