Another cop shooting

[Hayabusa Rider]

Please multiple witness practically saw the police officer execute the unarmed teen.

It may come to pass that we find that the officer is as bad as some are convinced of, then it may not be the case. "Witnesses practically seeing" is an oxymoron. They saw or didn't see, and what people see vs what they thought they saw is often difficult to determine. That's why a process of discovery exists. Now I realize that no process is perfect but some are far worse than others. I won't pick a side in advance and if I ever find myself accused I would want the same process that I expect others to enjoy. I guarantee that if karma came into play and you found yourself in a similar situation you'd cry like a baby if you got what you'd give.

 

[DCal430]

F*** the police are basically gangs now, killing people indiscriminately. Thugs with weapons really. People need to worry about the police officer next to them, deciding to take them out.

 

[Dari]

What was the cop doing behind a gas station? Taking a siesta?

 

[Catriona]

F*** the police are basically gangs now, killing people indiscriminately. Thugs with weapons really. People need to worry about the police officer next to them, deciding to take them out.

I disagree. There are thousands of dedicated, conscientious law enforcement officers, local, state and federal, who put their lives at risk every day to protect us all. And I, for one, am damned glad they will show up if I call 911.

This particular cop either was poorly trained or lacked the mindset necessary to do his job correctly. Or both. And he has been dealt with appropriately.

 

[The Merg]

He moved way too fast (I'm serious), that looked odd as hell. I'm sure he was nervous and just wanted to grab the wallet he couldn't find in his back pocket, but being jumpy like that when you're up against one of the worst police forces in the entire world is a really dumb move. Should've just said it was in his car.

I agree there. While the guy didn't dive/jump into the car or make a furtive gesture, his quick movement into the car is probably what freaked out the officer. When asking a guy for his license, I'm sure an officer doesn't expect a guy to suddenly turn around quickly and go back into his car. Most guys keep their wallet on their person, especially if they are exiting their vehicle to go into a store. So the cop says, "Let me see your license." and the guy turns around quickly and reaches back into the car (and from the point of of the camera, possibly under the seat, but that's hard to see clearly).

The officer, while justified at that point at pulling out his firearm and challenging the subject, needed to have a clear view of a weapon before firing. Obviously, the subject did not have a weapon and possibly only had his wallet in his hand. Once again, the officer would need to justify why he fired. Did the wallet appear to look like a weapon (and while that sounds dumb, it is not out of the question as depending on how people hold an item and their other actions regular items can appear to be a weapon)? Even if he could articulate that he believed the subject had a weapon, being able to justify why he kept firing after the subject put his hands up is basically impossible.

- Merg

 

[Triumph]

I agree there. While the guy didn't dive/jump into the car or make a furtive gesture, his quick movement into the car is probably what freaked out the officer.
- Merg

And I'll point it out again, if that is all it takes to cause a cop to panic, which is exactly what that cop did...

Panic is a sudden sensation of fear which is so strong as to dominate or prevent reason and logical thinking, replacing it with overwhelming feelings of anxiety and frantic agitation consistent with an animalistic fight-or-flight reaction.

Then he shouldn't be a cop. So either there is something wrong with the training/mindset of police, or something wrong with their applicant screening process.

Panicking is the reason he shot the guy, but it is not a valid excuse.

 

[The Merg]

And I'll point it out again, if that is all it takes to cause a cop to panic, which is exactly what that cop did...

Panic is a sudden sensation of fear which is so strong as to dominate or prevent reason and logical thinking, replacing it with overwhelming feelings of anxiety and frantic agitation consistent with an animalistic fight-or-flight reaction.

Then he shouldn't be a cop. So either there is something wrong with the training/mindset of police, or something wrong with their applicant screening process.

Panicking is the reason he shot the guy, but it is not a valid excuse.

Not in disagreement there. Although saying there is something wrong with the screening process might not be accurate either. Panic can occur for a multitude a reasons. The question is why did it overcome this officer at this particular incident. Even war hardened vets can be prone to panic as well. The goal is to find out what triggers it and working on ways to prevent it (or more realistically, manage it).

- Merg

 

[Bitek]

Actually, it was Richard Pryor in the early seventies.
" I-- am-- reaching-- for-- my-- wallet, don't wanna be no MF'ing accident".

Shows you how long this has been common.

Hope the idiot ex-cop goes to jail, and the dept has its ass sued off.

G/L in prison being a white excop in for shooting an innocent black man.

 

[Bird222]

He moved way too fast (I'm serious), that looked odd as hell. I'm sure he was nervous and just wanted to grab the wallet he couldn't find in his back pocket, but being jumpy like that when you're up against one of the worst police forces in the entire world is a really dumb move. Should've just said it was in his car.

I agree there. While the guy didn't dive/jump into the car or make a furtive gesture, his quick movement into the car is probably what freaked out the officer.

Bullshit!

 

[The Merg]

Bullshit!

So why do you think the officer panicked?

I think I was able to articulate why the officer did what he did. I didn't say that I agreed with the outcome (as I don't). However, I do see why the officer started to panic.

- Merg

 

[Bird222]

So why do you think the officer panicked?

I think I was able to articulate why the officer did what he did. I didn't say that I agreed with the outcome (as I don't). However, I do see why the officer started to panic.

- Merg

Because he was poorly trained and possibly has an added fear of black men. That man did not move quickly. Sure he didn't move in super slo-mo, however he went back in his truck like anyone normally would.

 

[The Merg]

Because he was poorly trained and possibly has an added fear of black men. That man did not move quickly. Sure he didn't move in super slo-mo, however he went back in his truck like anyone normally would.

Watch the video again. The subject taps his back pocket, I assume to get his wallet and then realizes that it is not there. He then quickly turns around and goes into the vehicle. At least, that's how I saw it. Your definitiion and my definition of quick are obviously different.

As I stated, I don't think the shooting was good, but I can see why the officer first drew down on the subject. From that point afterwards, the officer failed to see that situation was not a deadly force situation.

The officer lacked training or failed to learn from his training. To then jump to the belief that he has a fear of black men is just an unsubstantiated conjecture. For all we know, his best friend, wife, or family members could be black.

- Merg

 

[PingviN]

More victim blaming.

When a woman gets raped, "she shouldn't have worn that skirt".

When a wife gets beat, "she should have left him".

When a black guy gets shot by the police, "well he should have....(insert pretty much anything)".

It's pretty pathetic don't you think? It's not just you either, it's a cultural thing.

No, it's not victim blaming. I'm simply pointing out that the guy acts in a way that is unexpected and jerky, that's a bad idea when you're confronted by a police officer that is well within his rights to assume you might have a weapon. I don't disagree with the cop being fired and charged, but the guy acted in the same way as someone actually reaching for a weapon would. The officer responded way too fast though.

"I don't have my wallet on me, it's in my car" is the correct response when you don't find your wallet on your person.

It's not the same as blaming a rape victim for her clothing. It's not the same as blaming a wife for staying with an abusive husband.

 

[ivwshane]

No, it's not victim blaming. I'm simply pointing out that the guy acts in a way that is unexpected and jerky, that's a bad idea when you're confronted by a police officer that is well within his rights to assume you might have a weapon. I don't disagree with the cop being fired and charged, but the guy acted in the same way as someone actually reaching for a weapon would. The officer responded way too fast though.

"I don't have my wallet on me, it's in my car" is the correct response when you don't find your wallet on your person.

It's not the same as blaming a rape victim for her clothing. It's not the same as blaming a wife for staying with an abusive husband.

Oh but it is the same thing.

 

[Darwin333]

Notice how many shots were fired point blank and how he only hit the guy once in the hip. Pistols suck, even with a trained man using it. Also, I would have shot the guy as well. He dove back into the car quickly. I'd assume he was going for a gun for sure.

So wait, the guy exits the vehicle without a gun even though he knew the police were coming but when the cop asks him for his ID and he gets back into the car you would assume he is going for a gun???

If the guy wanted to shoot the cop wouldn't you think he would have grabbed the gun before getting out of the car?

And pistols don't suck if you use them properly. The way that cop was running around while firing makes it hard to hit shit with anything. Personally I find it much easier to aim with the pistol much closer to my body than with my arms fully extended like the cop in the video but maybe thats just me.

 

[PingviN]

Oh but it is the same thing.

No, it's not. See where this is going?

 

[WHAMPOM]

No, it's not. See where this is going?

To the deep end of De'nile? Well on your part Pinge.

 

[Darwin333]

Cant totally blame the cop other than hes a really bad shot lol. Shitty situation that could easily read "Cop gunned down after traffic stop" had the guy actually gone for a gun.

Or even worse, he could have pulled out a bazooka and blown up the entire gas station killing all kinds of people!!!

FFS, yeah the guy was jumpy but he was following the officers commands. There was absolutely zero reason for the officer to fire his weapon, none, zilch, zip, nadda. His department and the district attorney agree with me on that issue which is why the guy went free and the cop was fired and booked on charges.

 

[WHAMPOM]

So why do you think the officer panicked?

I think I was able to articulate why the officer did what he did. I didn't say that I agreed with the outcome (as I don't). However, I do see why the officer started to panic.

- Merg

AX Cop wannabe? Why do you think it was panic? Why not racist reflex?

 

[MixMasterTang]

Do any of the people who are of the opinion that the person who got shot was even a little bit at fault answer me this question: If it was a 5'7" smoking hot female with some daisy dukes on, would the officer have shot her and would she be partially to blame if she did get shot?

 

[The Merg]

AX Cop wannabe? Why do you think it was panic? Why not racist reflex?

What is AX Cop?

Racist reflex? Never heard of that before.

As for why I think it's panic is because of his physical reaction. That was the definition of panic. You also never hear him make one comment that would insinuate the issue was race related. Even after the subject was shot, the officer goes over to make sure he's okay and requests an ambulance. While that doesn't make up for shooting the subject, it does show some of the cop's mindset.

- Merg

 

[The Merg]

Do any of the people who are of the opinion that the person who got shot was even a little bit at fault answer me this question: If it was a 5'7" smoking hot female with some daisy dukes on, would the officer have shot her and would she be partially to blame if she did get shot?

Not sure if this is directed at me, but no I don't think the subject was at fault. The cop mis-read the situation and raised the level to deadly force, when it need not be that.

- Merg

 

[bshole]

What is AX Cop?

Racist reflex? Never heard of that before.

As for why I think it's panic is because of his physical reaction. That was the definition of panic. You also never hear him make one comment that would insinuate the issue was race related. Even after the subject was shot, the officer goes over to make sure he's okay and requests an ambulance. While that doesn't make up for shooting the subject, it does show some of the cop's mindset.

- Merg

It was race related. If it was a white man in business attire, the cop would never have shot.

 

[shortylickens]

You didn't even watch the clip. There was no "jump" into his truck. Thank god for dash cam because people like you are willing to lie so cops can shoot unarmed black men.

Kid? This guy was 35 years old. Obviously you have no respect to the victim. Going to call him "boy" next??

You cant see age all the time.

How do you think Traci Lords managed to do all those pornos?

 

[The Merg]

It was race related. If it was a white man in business attire, the cop would never have shot.

So he would have shot a black female that did the same thing?

Like everyone else here, we're just surmising as to the reason the cop over-reacted in this situation. For all we know, he had too many 4-hour energy drinks and was completely on edge.

- Merg