The video speaks volumes ... not the least of which is that it appears the police were not justified in using deadly force under these circumstances !
It was reported to police that the man had a self inflicted wound from a firearm which he presumably still had.
Police thinking when confronted with a firearm is something like this "gain control over the weapon so it can not be used to injure officers or others including the victim himself."
And of course the best way to do that in this instance as concluded by the responding officers is to unleash a barrage of gun fire until he drops out of the wheelchair - now medical personnel can SAFELY attend to his self inflicted wound !
Oh, and then there was the single errant gunshot at the outset - I know it's a little annoying detail but why was it fired, by who, the police? - and where ?
And, of course there's the standard fallback rationale, "we gave him orders to comply and he didn't".
Did he even understand English? Was he deaf or hearing impaired? Was he able to speak? Did his wound make communication impossible?
I suppose those were all ruled out by police early on in their shoot or don't shoot assessment. Indeed, it's not like they were already pre-disposed to shoot having one shot already fired at the scene, were they?
In shifting his body position in the chair several times I can imagine the victim having made the fatal mistake and having had the misfortune to touch his gun with these cops ready to shoot in front of him.
It's a terrible and sad day for the victim's family but also for all of the cops who day in and day out do their jobs well, with distinction and with honor.
Go here for more details and actual video:
man in wheelchair killed by police
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