Who’s next?
Timothy Thomas
Cincinnati, OH 2001
Shot point blank in the chest after being pursued on foot in an arrest attempt for non-violent offenses (mostly traffic violations)
The offending officer joined the chase late and was unaware of the circumstances
Thomas was believed to be reaching for gun in his waistband.
Further investigation determined he was actually trying to pull up his baggy pants
Officer tried and acquitted on charges of negligent homicide
An internal police investigation found the officer had lied on his incident report and had not followed department firearm procedures, nor had he given the “suspect” sufficient time to respond to his order before shooting
Michael Brown
Ferguson, MO 2014
Shot 12 times
Many conflicting witness testimonies led to no indictment in this case though some of the shots suggest they happened while the “suspect” was in a bent over position
Samuel DuBose
Cincinnati, OH 2015
Shot in the head during a traffic stop and the cop tried to frame the dead man for his own murder claiming the vehicle was used to lunge at him – video shows the vehicle lunging after the shot is fired
Walter Scott
North Charleston SC
2015
Shot in the back and video showing the cop trying to frame the dead man by planting a weapon on his body
LaQuan McDonald
Chicago 2014
17 year old shot 16 times in the street while walking away from the officers
Tamir Rice
Cleveland Ohio 2014
12 year old playing alone in an empty playground with a toy gun — shot by a cop who reportedly should not have even been on the force much less carrying a real weapon
Timothy Russell
and Malissa Williams
Cleveland, OH 2012
Shot 24 and 23 times respectively, during a 137 round barrage of bullets into their vehicle following a twenty minute chase based upon a report of a weapon being fired from their vehicle. No weapon was found, no weapon had been discarded during the pursuit. Six officers fired from the force, six others suspended, one retired, and one tried and acquitted on charges of manslaughter having gone Wild Wild West during the incident, standing on the hood of his cruiser firing shots into the victims’ vehicle.
Oh – the original “shots fired”? Forensic reports stated the “suspects” car was prone to backfiring.
The city paid each of the victims’ families 1.5 million to settle wrongful death lawsuits.
Freddie Gray
Baltimore 2015
Spine broken in three places and voice box crushed
Originally, they said he did it to himself — so far all cops tried have been acquitted
The city paid 6.4 million dollars to Gray’s family in a civil settlement
Amadou Diallo
New York 1999
Shot 41 times
Bullet wounds even in the soles of his feet
Four cop suspects
All not guilty
Alton Sterling
Baton Rouge, LA
July 5, 2016
Shot while already pinned to the ground with his hands and arms incapacitated
yet word is they’re saying he was reaching — with what? Plus, the body cameras of both officers mysteriously fell off at about the same time. Yeah. Okay.
Orlando Castile
Minneapolis, MN
July 6, 2016
Killed in a traffic stop, had permit for concealed carry and was shot for having a gun.
Does that make sense?
Trayvon Martin
Sanford, FL 2012
and Eric Harris
Tulsa, OK 2015
Killed by wanna-be cops as if getting killed by a real cop isn’t bad enough
At least the offender in Tulsa, Robert Bates, turned himself in for arrest. He’s now serving time for second degree manslaughter.
George Zimmerman remains a free man, having been acquitted and has subsequently taunted Trayvon’s parents as recently as May 2016.
He also sold the murder weapon for $138,900 to an undisclosed buyer who apparently thinks it’s some sort of trophy.
Meanwhile, in April of 2015, in a Cincinnati suburb,
a white man WITH a gun in his hand, threatening to shoot a police officer as he rushes toward the officer, is still alive.
Hmm. Go figure that.
Michael Wilcox had killed his fiancé and his best friend, was being pursued, was located and stopped, exited his vehicle, rushed toward police officer Jesse Kidder, demanding to be shot, “Shoot me! Shoot me!”, and the cop wouldn’t do it.
At one point, while backing away from the suspect, the cop actually stumbles and falls — the suspect doesn’t stop approaching — still not shot.
This incident was also recorded. The encounter lasts about three minutes.
It took less than 30 seconds for Alton Sterling to be shot after being pinned to the ground.
Remember that this video evidence movement began in California when tape surfaced showing
Rodney King
Los Angeles 1991
Brutally beaten but not killed
Four cop suspects
All officers acquitted
Apparently, even if you see it with your own eyes through the lens of another’s camera, it still doesn’t mean anything.
Also remember for every one you see, there are several more you don’t see.
Who’s next?