My initial reaction to the Mn shooting isn't like the rest. There isn't enough info out to be able to judge much but so far, it seems like a trigger happy cop to me.
Ever seen the video of the cop shooting a man after asking him to get his registration? Cop was later fired but this seems very plausible in this instance. I don't know the proper procedure but I would assume that it should be to secure the firearm after the citizen announced that he has one BEFORE asking him for his license.
Why in the hell does he need to see the passengers license anyway?
You'll hate this, but I agree.
Cops in Louisiana. Cops in Minnesota. Black outrage. Lesson? When a police officer tells you to be still, that's not the time to try to engage in a discussion. Be fucking still.
Officers told you have a gun and you're trying to get into your pockets while they hold you on the ground? Dead.
With this, I agree. The video looks like he may have been restrained enough that deadly force wasn't 100% necessary, but it's hard to say. And what is abundantly clear is that he definitely resisted arrest and he definitely continued to move when they straight up yelled at him "If you fucking move I swear to God".
Don't do that, and you live to tell about it.
You take the word of some woman who's ridiculously calm after her boyfriend was shot that he was "just" doing whatever? You have no idea what the officer said or saw in the moments prior to her starting to film. But ok, let's riot.
I've seen countless editorials from black people saying "we can get shot just for getting an ID or for complying."
This, I disagree on. I've seen a lot of people make similar comments. First of all, speculating on the psychology of this woman as her husband bled out next to her...you think you know how you would handle these situations, but you just don't. I've seen plenty of crime documentaries where the people who called 911 were called into question for being too calm about it when reporting the death. It is a way more common reaction than you'd think. Also, it's not clear that he was dead at the beginning of the video, and as that became clearer, she was clearly becoming more and more emotional.
More importantly: What did you want her to do there? Scream and yell and swat at the cops? I don't think getting extremely emotional would have made the situation better. It probably would have agitated the cop more and made it worse. I commend her for keeping cool and collected while documenting what transpired.
Bottom line, the way the Baton Rouge guy reacted was wrong. It got him killed. The way this guy (allegedly) and his wife reacted was right. He told the officer he had a firearm, which he was registered to carry. That's what the BR guy should have done from the beginning. The officer allegedly asked for his license and registration, and when he complied (something else the BR guy didn't do), the cop shot him. I honestly don't know what you or anyone else wanted him to do in that situation.
I could be completely wrong and it could come out that the wife's account is exaggerated or not exactly correct. I see no reason not to give her the benefit of the doubt and that her account is entirely plausible.
The cop is shouting/screaming/crying "I TOLD HIM NOT TO MOVE!" Maybe he's telling the truth. Her calm, collected telling of the story seems more coherent and more plausible to me.
Why no dash or body cam? I thought they were required now? It seems they always conveniently malfunction when it could either corroborate their story or disprove it...
144 Replies
32165 Views