LA transit cop found guilty of manslaughter

[Joe234]

LA transit cop found guilty of manslaughter

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66763A20100708


(Reuters) - A white transit police officer was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter on Thursday in the videotaped shooting death of an unarmed black man last year that triggered a night of rioting in Oakland, California, local media reported.


The defendant in the racially charged trial, Johannes Mehserle, 28, testified that he mistakenly drew his pistol instead of his electric Taser weapon and shot Oscar Grant, 22, while trying to subdue the victim during a New Year's Day 2009 confrontation.


But prosecutors said in closing arguments that Mehserle "lost all control" and intentionally shot Grant because the victim was resisting arrest.

[dxh]

LA transit cop found guilty of manslaughter

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66763A20100708


(Reuters) - A white transit police officer was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter on Thursday in the videotaped shooting death of an unarmed black man last year that triggered a night of rioting in Oakland, California, local media reported.


The defendant in the racially charged trial, Johannes Mehserle, 28, testified that he mistakenly drew his pistol instead of his electric Taser weapon and shot Oscar Grant, 22, while trying to subdue the victim during a New Year's Day 2009 confrontation.


But prosecutors said in closing arguments that Mehserle "lost all control" and intentionally shot Grant because the victim was resisting arrest.

This was not in LA, was in Oakland. I am glad he is getting charged, that whole event is still really clear in my mind and it was truly f'd up.

[xhepera]

This was not in LA, was in Oakland. I am glad he is getting charged, that whole event is still really clear in my mind and it was truly f'd up.

Indeed it was. Did you see that video? I was completely aghast when I saw that. Any lesser verdict would have been a travesty of justice. As it is, I think the jury gave him the benefit of the doubt.

[dxh]

Indeed it was. Did you see that video? I was completely aghast when I saw that. Any lesser verdict would have been a travesty of justice. As it is, I think the jury gave him the benefit of the doubt.

I did see multiple videos of it. Gut wrenching.

[Mr. Snuffleupagus]

Glad I moved out of Oakland before that shooting. How he didn't get charged with murder I don't know (I'm not a lawyer). Hope the riots aren't too bad...people might be pissed he only gets 2-4 years...

[Jwalker]

He should have gotten murder, that thing was ****ed up. It's like shooting people for Jay walking.

[Curtisp]

Taser always positioned on "weak" hand draw side, gun always on strong side..no way, any cop ever trained screws that draw up. Take it from someone who has trained LEO's in tactics.

[NonServiam]

Taser always positioned on "weak" hand draw side, gun always on strong side..no way, any cop ever trained screws that draw up. Take it from someone who has trained LEO's in tactics.

Agreed. I haven't seen the video, but the death can be attributed to one of two things. Outright unjustified murder or negligent homicide secondary to poor training. I believe there was another instance of an officer drawing his firearm and shooting a man when he intended to draw his taser. That officer also had his taser and sidearm on his strong side.

[Curtisp]

Agreed. I haven't seen the video, but the death can be attributed to one of two things. Outright unjustified murder or negligent homicide secondary to poor training. I believe there was another instance of an officer drawing his firearm and shooting a man when he intended to to draw his taser. That officer also had his taser and sidearm on his strong side.

I will assume you are a "trained" LEO. You should never have anything but your primary and/or your BUG on the strong side.

[NonServiam]

I will assume you are a "trained" LEO. You should never have anything but your primary and/or your BUG on the strong side.

Correct. I don't even keep my asp on my strong side. I just cross-draw it.

[Curtisp]

Correct. I don't even keep my asp on my strong side. I just cross-draw it.

Thank you for your service, NonServiam. Stay safe.

[Joe234]

This was not in LA, was in Oakland. I am glad he is getting charged, that whole event is still really clear in my mind and it was truly f'd up.

Apparently Reuters had the headline wrong. I copied
and pasted it. They fixed it now.

[Owens187]

I remember when that happened. Look at the video - a straight out execution.

[GoVegan]

I have to agree. The guy was lying face down when he got shot.

[Joe234]

The trial was in LA. That's what the headline meant.
LA being the origin of the story. It wasn't separated
from the headline.