Now an LEO is charged with murder here...

[Stephanie B]

What I heard, in watching the video, was a fast series of shots, a pause, and then a single shot. The conclusion I jump to is that the officer deliberate aimed the last, killing shot.

Between that and the apparent planting of evidence, maybe not even Johnnie Cochran could beat this rap.

 

[socrates007]

I agree that the sheer calmness of the officer during and after the shooting, including the retrieval of what may be his taser, gives me the impression that this officer may be way too used to pushing the rules/laws of engagement when interacting with civilians in the real world. THAT bothers me a lot.

We may finally starting to see what has been in plain sight for decades. We'll see as time passes...

I couldn't agree more with you. The officer seemed to have no soul/concern for what he just did - taking the life of a human being. I don't care if there was a struggle before the shooting. The video shows that an UNARMED man was fleeing the officer when the officer shot that man to death. Even more disturbing, is that the officer looked to plant an object near the victim. Why would he feel the need to do that if he was justified in his shooting? That part really bothers me and makes me believe that this officer is guilty of murder.

Here is a link to a video where you can see the officer placing an object near the victim: [ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xs4HFCgvLo[/ame]

 

[socrates007]

35 years behind a badge for me. Absent something not seen on the video, on the surface this would not appear to be a justified exercise of the use of deadly force policy of my agency. The facts should determine the outcome of all this, but that video is compelling/damning. I feel both for the victim and his family and for all the good women and men in law enforcement who will suffer the backlash that is usually forthcoming after an unfortunate incident like this.

I am very glad to hear comments like yours and some others where officers of the law see that a case like this is not a justified use of deadly force. When I hear people, especially law enforcement officers, defending this case it makes me think that America is almost a police-state type system. That is not the America I want, and I hope it is not the America that anybody wants to see here.

 

[John F.]

Originally Posted by GatorFarmer:

"if someone showed contempt for the law, its processes and those charged with enforcing it then they had to be prepared to accept the consequences."

YEP. EXACTLY. That murderer will need to be prepared to accept the consequences for HIS actions, precisely as, and for the reasons outlined above.

Originally posted by RSanch111:

"Best thing he can do is post bond and get out of the country and fight with the Kurds in Afghanistan and hope that a nice Kurdish girl who can cook likes the cut of his jib."

I respectfully suggest he has forfeited the right to any pleasant existence whatsoever, however brief, along with any choice in the matter. You don't want to know what I think "the best thing he can do" is...

We spend our lives scrupulously obeying laws, working hard, paying taxes, treating others well and getting stepped on by anti-gunners, professional victim groups and corrupt politicians in the process. This guy commits very obvious murder and people want to give him a break just because he's wearing a uniform?

So were the Einsatzgruppen and Totenkopfverbaende.

They shot a lot of people in the back, too, IIRC.

John

 

[m1gunner]

Fox has the dash cam video from the police car up now.

It shows the stop and goes out of frame once the driver ran. Audio can be heard if you turn the sound up

 

[jrd1976]

I'm not taking up for this officer; however, everyone deserves a defense. That's why we don't drag every accused out in the street and shoot them. I may not believe the defense offered, but one should be given. And when it is, it should be very interesting.

A lot of people still believe Darren Wilson, O. J. Simpson, George Zimmerman and Casey Anthony were guilty, but the verdicts were either no prosecution or not-guilty. In other words, we wait for the wheels of justice to turn and we have to live with what our fellow citizens decide, especially if we don't agree with them.

A lot of people will use this incident to say "this is what has been happening all along" and be incited by national leaders. I believe this incident is the exception. I trust the good citizens of South Carolina to find out because we will have to live with whatever they decide.

 

[socrates007]

This is a classic "good" shoot of a fleeing felon under the common law as existed in the United States since its inception and existed even earlier under English law.

The same constitutional and legal framework that spawned the right to bear arms spawned the fleeing felon rule. An attack on the fleeing felon rule is tantamount to an attack on our entire legal system and especially the right to bear arms.

You have to be kidding me. That is one of the sickest things I have ever heard. The right of the people to bear arms is NOT the same thing as killing an unarmed person who is simply fleeing - and who is not a threat. To equivocate those two is not only highly irrational, it is immoral.

You can't find a stronger supporter of the 2nd amendment than myself. But, I in no way support the fleeing felon rule WITHOUT QUALIFICATIONS. If the perp is a threat to an officer, or even a citizen for that matter, and is also a threat to the public at large (i.e. - has a weapon, etc.), then the fleeing felon rule has its place. But, to say that it should apply unilaterally and without any qualifiers is horrible.

If that is your perspective and it sounds like it is, then I can not say that I support you in any way. I am not alone in that thinking - that the fleeing felon rule needs limitations/qualifiers. Here is a link that talks about this topic: `Fleeing Felon` Law Allows Police To Be Judge, Jury And Executioner - tribunedigital-sunsentinel

 

[socrates007]

I'm not taking up for this officer; however, everyone deserves a defense. That's why we don't drag every accused out in the street and shoot them. I may not believe the defense offered, but one should be given. And when it is, it should be very interesting.

A lot of people still believe Darren Wilson, O. J. Simpson, George Zimmerman and Casey Anthony were guilty, but the verdicts were either no prosecution or not-guilty. In other words, we wait for the wheels of justice to turn and we have to live with what our fellow citizens decide, especially if we don't agree with them.

A lot of people will use this incident to say "this is what has been happening all along" and be incited by national leaders. I believe this incident is the exception. I trust the good citizens of South Carolina to find out because we will have to live with whatever they decide.

Well, his own lawyer didn't want to defend him. He removed himself from the case. I don't care whatever the people of S.C. decide, this cop murdered a fleeing unarmed man - period!

I hope God serves justice to this ****, with or without the legal system.

 

[socrates007]

YEP. EXACTLY. That murderer will need to be prepared to accept the consequences for HIS actions, precisely as, and for the reasons outlined above.

Originally posted by RSanch111:

"Best thing he can do is post bond and get out of the country and fight with the Kurds in Afghanistan and hope that a nice Kurdish girl who can cook likes the cut of his jib."

I respectfully suggest he has forfeited the right to any pleasant existence whatsoever, however brief, along with any choice in the matter. You don't want to know what I think "the best thing he can do" is...

We spend our lives scrupulously obeying laws, working hard, paying taxes, treating others well and getting stepped on by anti-gunners, professional victim groups and corrupt politicians in the process. This guy commits very obvious murder and people want to give him a break just because he's wearing a uniform?

So were the Einsatzgruppen and Totenkopfverbaende.

They shot a lot of people in the back, too, IIRC.

John

Perfectly said.