Today a Chicago police officer was found guilty of 2nd degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery.
Ughm, as one who followed this trial, it was a fair verdict of his peers. Arguably, it could be said he couldn’t get a fair trial, as this was a very in-the-news case. But, the video was damning as it told a completely different story than he shared.
Yes, the 17yo did pop open the knife badass style; but, it was clear that he, in his deranged mind, seemed to ‘safely’ be straddling the line as he walked swiftly.
Who knows, but him and God, where he would have gone, what he would have done had the scene continued to play out?
It was clear that before the officer arrived on the scene, his colleagues appeared to be in position, no immediate threat to any of them, perhaps waiting for the taser team to arrive.
I’m not making excuses for the 17yo. He was no stranger to the law; but, that has nothing to do with this case. No one knew his history when he was gunned down like a mangy dog. It was quite off-putting that no one offered aid to see if he even had a pulse.
Just shoot and stand? If that’s policy, it definitely needs to be reviewed. Btw, after 16 shots, it was determined that he was still alive when the medical team arrived.
But, on the stand, the officer said he saw the 17yo walk towards him. That was the huge description that the video refuted. If in the heat of the moment that is what he processed, it’s unfortunate. In hindsight, I’m sure he realizes it would have been better to get out and retreat to the other side of his patrol vehicle, as the other officers appeared to be doing.
Did the 17yo have plans to walk a few more steps, drop the weapon, hands up, demonstrating game over, you win?
We’ll never know.
Was he wrong? For sure. It is not smart to ‘play’ in such serious matters.
Was he a ‘suicide by cop’ victim? I’m inclined to ponder this as a possibility, as he was grieving the loss of his grandmother, who had raised him the majority of his years in and out of foster care. SBC would make him a hero and his family instantly $5 million wealthier. We will never know.
Perhaps, he had no plans to die. After all, most of the video showed him walking away, seeking unhealthy attention. We will never know.
But, what we do know is that someone shot 16 times, the last few trying to shoot a knife?
If there’s a silver lining, there will be no revolt in the streets this evening; because, justice was deemed rendered as bail was revoked; and, the police officer was remanded into custody.
Btw, it is hard to believe that all officers aren’t armed with tasers or other weaponry to disarm a suspect, especially those showing mental-health issues.
I won’t say more. It was clearly an overuse of force, considering kneecaps don’t like bullets; but, this was an upper body onslaught. Two shots in the knee area might have been heard.
I hate it for everyone involved.
Life is so full of mystical irony. I end with this:
An officer who’d been on the force for 17 years…
…now has a 17yo son without an active father in his life…
…just as the 17yo troubled young man he shot, had a dad who was in prison most of his life…
Lastly, the shooting occurred in 2014…another 7.
Peace.