Is Oakland going to Riot?

[zinfamous]

Oh Snap!

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/07/bart-verdict.html

Former Bart transit officer convicted of involuntary manslaughter in racially-charged shooting case

July 8, 2010 | 4:08 pm
A former transit police officer who fatally shot an unarmed man at an Oakland train station was convicted of involuntary manslaughter Thursday, capping a racially charged case that raised fears in the Bay Area of possible violence after the verdict.
Prosecutors accused the ex-officer of intentionally firing his handgun as he tried to handcuff Oscar J. Grant III on New Year’s Day 2009. Johannes Mehserle, 28, tearfully testified that the shooting was a tragic accident caused when he mistakenly grabbed his firearm instead of an electric Taser weapon during a struggle with Grant.
The shooting was captured on video by several witnesses. Mehserle, who is white, fired a single round into the back of Grant, who was black and was lying face-down on the station platform. Mehserle resigned a week after the shooting.
The killing provoked protests and violence in Oakland. The case, which has drawn comparisons to the videotaped beating of Rodney G. King that ultimately triggered riots in Los Angeles in 1992, was moved to Los Angeles for trial amid concern about the extensive media coverage of the killing in the Bay Area.
Many civil rights activists considered the case a test of how the justice system treats police officers accused of abusing minorities. The trial also captured the attention of law enforcement officers who feared that a guilty verdict could raise the stakes for cops who make mistakes.
-- Jack Leonard in Los Angeles, Maria L. LaGanga in Oakland and Maura Dolan in San Francisco

Involuntary manslaughter is about as bad as being acquitted, in the minds of Oakland's citizens. So the jury was convinced that an officer (transit officer, mind you), is capable of mistaking his hand gun for a tazer.

 

[thepd7]

P&N much?

 

[zinfamous]

P&N much?

I'm trying to quit, actually.

but I do sense a lock coming.

 

[paulney]

No, because they have to be back by 7:45 to watch Lebron.

 

[dfuze]

It's Thursday, what else is there to do?

 

[zinfamous]

No, because they have to be back by 7:45 to watch Lebron.

but that's early here. plenty of time to watch lebron then go bust some stores and torch some cars.

 

[Slew Foot]

but that's early here. plenty of time to watch lebron then go bust some stores and torch some cars.

Thats sounds like a regular day in Oakland. Just repalce Lebron with "the Warriors".

 

[paulney]

Just keeping it real.

 

[0roo0roo]

its about fair.
he shot the guy in front of a jeering crowd, not sure how thats being a standard dirty copper type "murder" scenario. you do that kinda thing in the shadows andplant a gun on the guy not shoot him in front of witnesses, so yes..epic f*ckup. anyone that claims he just wanted to kill a black dude that day is kidding themselves.

anyways.. OJ simpson...deal with it oakland.

 

[QueBert]

Only a police officer could say "I mistook my service pistol for a tazer and accident shot a person in he back" And basically be let go. While I don't condone rioting, I can see where peoples anger is coming from here. If he didn't know the difference between a gun and a tazer, seeing how he had extensive training. Lock the fucker up, it's manslaughter. And I love how the police were fearful if he had been found guilty it would raise the stakes for cops who make mistakes.

What he did wasn't a mistake, and if it was the dude was never competent enough to be a police officer in the first place.

 

[zoiks]

So they found him guilty of involuntary manslaughter. Riots begone.

 

[JD50]

Only a police officer could say "I mistook my service pistol for a tazer and accident shot a person in he back" And basically be let go. While I don't condone rioting, I can see where peoples anger is coming from here. If he didn't know the difference between a gun and a tazer, seeing how he had extensive training. Lock the fucker up, it's manslaughter. And I love how the police were fearful if he had been found guilty it would raise the stakes for cops who make mistakes.

What he did wasn't a mistake, and if it was the dude was never competent enough to be a police officer in the first place.

You must have extensive experience handling both a taser and a pistol to make such matter of fact statements, would you mind enlightening us?

 

[Pocatello]

No justice, no peace!

 

[waggy]

that is what was deserved. now real questions should be is he going to get 2+ years (since a gun was involved it can add 10 years) or probation?

 

[SSUSeaWolf]

Only a police officer could say "I mistook my service pistol for a tazer and accident shot a person in he back" And basically be let go. While I don't condone rioting, I can see where peoples anger is coming from here. If he didn't know the difference between a gun and a tazer, seeing how he had extensive training. Lock the fucker up, it's manslaughter. And I love how the police were fearful if he had been found guilty it would raise the stakes for cops who make mistakes.

What he did wasn't a mistake, and if it was the dude was never competent enough to be a police officer in the first place.

They were not properly trained on using a taser from what I read.

 

[Terabyte]

They were not properly trained on using a taser from what I read.

If that's the case, fail to the Bart PD. :thumbsdown:

 

[Kadarin]

Oakland is a shithole and I don't give a fuck whether they riot or not.

 

[MJinZ]

Can we just ship all the poor black criminals to crappier parts of the country instead taking up nice space in California?

I recommend Alaska.

 

[TehMac]

It's Thursday, what else is there to do?

yea, heaven forbid they get jobs.

Only a police officer could say "I mistook my service pistol for a tazer and accident shot a person in he back" And basically be let go. While I don't condone rioting, I can see where peoples anger is coming from here. If he didn't know the difference between a gun and a tazer, seeing how he had extensive training. Lock the fucker up, it's manslaughter. And I love how the police were fearful if he had been found guilty it would raise the stakes for cops who make mistakes.

What he did wasn't a mistake, and if it was the dude was never competent enough to be a police officer in the first place.

I'm beginning to lose track of all the dumb things you say. Good thing(?) vbulletin's trackers do that for me.

So far you've said 11,432 stupid things. Maybe we can get you a medal soon.

 

[QueBert]

You must have extensive experience handling both a taser and a pistol to make such matter of fact statements, would you mind enlightening us?

I have pretty extensive handgun experience, I have only 2 encounters with a tazer. I can safely say 100% that I'd never get the 2 mixed up. If it's that difficult to tell the difference this kind of shit would happen more often. I would hope even if they only have limited training on both, that a fucking police officer would be more knowledgeable than I am. If I'm wrong though, it's just further proof that I shouldn't trust a cop any further than I can throw him. This dude obviously couldn't handle pressure in the heat of the moment, not exactly a prime candidate to be a cop. The scary part is a week passed before he resigned. He should have been fired before the 1st day was over.

 

[Supersonic64]

The blacks of Oakland will just use this guy as an excuse to riot and then rape and pillage their own town.

LOL

 

[JD50]

I have pretty extensive handgun experience, I have only 2 encounters with a tazer. I can safely say 100% that I'd never get the 2 mixed up. If it's that difficult to tell the difference this kind of shit would happen more often. I would hope even if they only have limited training on both, that a fucking police officer would be more knowledgeable than I am. If I'm wrong though, it's just further proof that I shouldn't trust a cop any further than I can throw him. This dude obviously couldn't handle pressure in the heat of the moment, not exactly a prime candidate to be a cop. The scary part is a week passed before he resigned. He should have been fired before the 1st day was over.

So you have no experience handling them both at the same time? More importantly, have you ever been in a situation like that? Things happen fast, it's no excuse for what happened, but it was obviously a mistake.

You can't "safely say" that you would never get the two mixed up when you've never been in a situation like that, just like you can't say that "it wasn't a mistake", so please just stfu.

 

[JD50]

that is what was deserved. now real questions should be is he going to get 2+ years (since a gun was involved it can add 10 years) or probation?

Agreed, sounds like the justice system worked this time.

 

[mizzou]

*gets some popcorn and will refresh liveleak all night*

 

[Terabyte]

In the end, he killed a man. I don't think anyone can prove, without a doubt, that it was an accident or not. No one knows what really happened besides the cop. So, the verdict seems proper.

The rioting that might happen is stupid. You know someone will probably get hurt. It may involve another cop, and the cycle will just continue...