http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2014/10/listen_sc_cop_who_shot_man_while_reaching_for_his_wallet_tells_his_side.html

12/4/2014 2:01:11 AM

There's direct video, AND the kid didn't die.

There's no way they can spin this as him trying to steal the cop's gun.

12/4/2014 2:35:32 AM

Randomly shooting at a gas station should be enough to put the cop in jail.

12/4/2014 5:48:16 AM

the black cop that shot the mentally ill white guy in the cul-de-sac was charged.

12/4/2014 5:58:16 AM

This is exactly the problem with the gun laws in this country, for police and also civilians for that matter; they basically encourage people to shoot to kill. If in this case, for instance, the cop had fatally shot the victim, then there would be no opposing testimony, and despite the video, he could cook up whatever story he wanted to as evidence to persuade people that he felt that his life was in danger.

12/4/2014 6:19:08 AM

^I'm sorry to disagree with you, but if I have to pull my firearm and fire it...whatever I'm shooting at is causing me to fear for my life and they will be the ones going down, not me. I don't shoot at legs and arms because I don't live in the movies. Center mass until they go down.

12/4/2014 6:50:25 AM

^absolutely correct.

12/4/2014 6:59:17 AM

Let's hope when you pull your gun you refrain from unloading in a gas station.

12/4/2014 7:12:31 AM

Quote :

"This is exactly the problem with the gun laws in this country, for police and also civilians for that matter; they basically encourage people to shoot to kill."

I wish I had a gif readily available to convey the stupid in this post.

12/4/2014 9:30:58 AM

shots to the leg are fatal if it hits major arteries


anytime you are shooting you are shooting to kill, not all gunshots however are fatal

12/4/2014 5:19:55 PM

Ask Sean Taylor about being shot in the leg. There are very few places to shoot a person and not risk killing them.

12/4/2014 5:21:28 PM

Quote :

"I'm sorry to disagree with you, but if I have to pull my firearm and fire it...whatever I'm shooting at is causing me to fear for my life and they will be the ones going down, not me."

Being serious and not trying to troll or be rude but I think this statement is the kinda problem. I don't feel that a police officer's fear for their own safety is justification for shooting. Fear is subjective and irrational.

It's a hard job and the people who do it put their lives on the line, and that should be appreciated, lauded, and financially compensated. But there is also a huge amount of power and authority there and that needs to be in check. I think the police need to be not thinking just about their safety but also what happens if they exceed their authority and do kill someone. Currently the reluctance to prosecute police officers means that the consequence for making this huge of a mistake doesn't really exist.

As terrible as this will sound police must understand that they have to assume the risk that they might be injured or killed by taking those extra efforts to deescalate a situation.

12/4/2014 6:08:40 PM

i'd also ad that cops should be held to a higher standard

12/4/2014 6:28:46 PM