what the fuck even happened there? The only thing I can say for sure is no matter what the caption says the dude that got his shit ruined was not being particularly cooperative.
Yes, there are some tactical issues and its a miracle those rounds didn't over penetrate and hit his backup but I can't tell enough from the video to say if it was a bad shoot. The officer that fired had some interesting verbal commands.
#3 could play a small part in this, considering the cop apparently knew that the perp had shot a cop before? Maybe? I think it likely would with me. But, that shouldn't get in the way of the protests. This officer should not have taken that into consideration when this guy was obviously getting out of the car quickly and throwing his hands up, on a dark street, after being uncooperative and moving his hands around in the car. The cop was being prejudiced because of the citizens checkered past.
http://heavy.com/news/2015/01/jerame-jerome-reid-bridgeton-police-shooting-dash-cam-footage-youtube-video/1. The Dash Cam Video Was Just Released
The incident that resulted in Reid’s death occurred on December 30, 2014, but the footage of the actual shooting wasn’t released until this week. Both officers involved in the shooting have been placed on leave while their department investigates.
Officials have released very little of their findings so far, however. According to NewJersey.com:
Officials have released very little information as to what transpired that night. The Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office, which is handling the investigation, has only said that †… a handgun was revealed and later recovered,†and that both officers Days and Worley “discharged their duty weapons†resulting in Reid’s death.
However, it is worth noting that following the shooting, the driver Leroy Tutt was taken into custody and then released without charge.
The Bridgeton police chief has expressed his support for the officers.
2. Protests
New York City Protesters, Eric Garner Protesters, Manhattan Protesters, Eric Garner Riots, Ferguson
An activist holds up a sign during a protest December 4, 2014 in Washington, DC, against the police deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri and Eric Garner in Staten Island, New York. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)
Protests over the wrongfulness of Reid’s death began almost immediately. Within the first week there was a mile-long march that echoed the sentiments of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, the two black men killed by police that gained loads of media attention in 2014.
The Bridgeton march began at the site of the shooting death. Cries included, “Hands up, don’t shoot.â€
Reid’s wife has also approached a lawyer to investigate.
According to Yahoo! News:
A Philadelphia lawyer, Conrad Benedetto, said he has been hired by Reid’s wife, Lawanda, to investigate. He said in a statement the footage “raises serious questions as to the legality and/or reasonableness of the officers’ actions that night†because Reid was shot as he raised his hands.
3. Reid has a Violent Past
It’s worth noting that Officer Days might have had a right to be weary of Reid.
Reid had a history of shooting at cops, and Days was one of the arresting officers when Reid had fired at them before.According to The Press of Atlantic City:
Superior Court records and reports in The Press show that Reid, then called Jerome Reid, was 15 years old when he fired three shots at a trio of state troopers in Atlantic County in March 1994. Reid eventually was sentenced to 15 years in state prison on a charge of criminal attempted homicide.
4. Police Have had Complaints Against Them
The South Jersey Times reported that in the past:
… residents had filed seven municipal court complaints against Days since 2013 and two against Worley in that span for alleged abuses of power; all the complaints were dismissed.
5. Courts are in the Officers’ Favor
DOMA supreme court decision
U.S. Supreme Court members (first row L-R) Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, Chief Justice John Roberts, Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy, Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, (back row L-R) Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Assoicate Justice Stephen Breyer, Assoicate Justice Samuel Alito and Associate Justice Elena Kagan pose for photographs in the East Conference Room at the Supreme Court building October 8, 2010 in Washington, DC. This is the first time in history that three women are simultaneously serving on the court.
In regards to the video and how the situation was handled, it falls under a ruling that cases like this where there is a weapon present cannot be viewed in hindsight.
The Supreme Court said in the Graham v. Connor case:
“With respect to a claim of excessive force, the same standard of reasonableness at the moment applies: “Not every push or shove, even if it may later seem unnecessary in the peace of a judge’s chambers,†violates the Fourth Amendment. The calculus of reasonableness must embody allowance for the fact that police officers are often forced to make split-second judgments – in circumstances that are tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving – about the amount of force that is necessary in a particular situation.â€
Legal experts speaking specifically about the Reid case agree.
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