North Charleston, SC Officer Charged with Murder

[Biggy]

Here is the vid. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSZnf9ypD-o

[jpmuscle]

Yea... That's not likely going to end well.

[BoringGuy45]

I'm not talking about this video. That dude is more crooked than a barrel of snakes. I'm just speaking in general.

Is it ever ok to shoot someone running away from you as an LEO?

Yes. All use of force, per Garner v. TN and Graham v. Connor among other decisions, is judged based on reasonableness and justification. If a suspect's escape is going to cause a grave danger to public safety, you can shoot to stop them. Assuming this guy went for the officer's taser, could the officer be justified in killing him? Maybe; he could argue that, if the deceased had gotten the taser, he could have subdued the officer, gotten the officer's gun, and then killed the officer. On the other hand, even if this guy went for the taser, after he turned and ran, would his escape create a public safety threat? Was it reasonable in this case to use deadly force? Juries are not allowed to judge the officer on exactly what was the absolute #1 best option in a use of force case; they can only judge on what was reasonable. If it is determined that, even if not the absolute best course of action, it was not outside a normal person's reasoning to use deadly force, then the officer will be acquitted. However, if it is determined that a reasonable and sound-minded person would not have even considered deadly force a justifiable option in this case, the best thing this officer could hope for is a voluntary manslaughter charge; at worse, he's looking at the needle.

[Voodoo_Man]

While the video looks pretty bad, it, in and of itself, can only be used for the context it provides.

It does look like a really crooked and bad shoot.

I was told, at an early stage in my career, that I should believe half of what I see and even less of what I hear.

I will continue to be skeptical and reserve complete judgement until things are brought to court

[SteyrAUG]

Here is the vid. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSZnf9ypD-o

That looks really bad. I can't think of a single reason to drop your taser near the individual you just shot and claimed was a threat. If the guy really DID go after his taser, it's completely plausible that it could still be in your holster or on the ground where the original encounter took place.

Innocent until proven guilty and all of that, but that really looks bad. Only wish the race baiters could keep race out of this incident. Would be completely unacceptable if the officer was black and the subject was white, equally unacceptable if they were both black and equally unacceptable if they were both white.

Getting damn sick of media racism.

[ABNAK]

CNN showed the film and slowed it down, zooming in right as the filming starts. It appears that something did indeed fall to the ground between the two (perhaps the taser?) just as the guy breaks away and starts running. So if there was a struggle for the taser as the cop alleges, and it fell to the ground but not in the control of either party then is the cop justified shooting the guy as he flees?

Another thing comes to mind: while the jury will no doubt be instructed to focus only on the events leading up to and including the shooting, you can't help but take into consideration the nonchalant manner in which the cop saunters over to the guy he just shot. He then trots back to pick up what fell on the ground (running to retrieve something but taking his time when initially going to the victim) and later is seen tossing something on the ground next to the guy. He must've thought twice about it because he eventually picks the object back up from the grass and puts it in his belt (thinking it must've been the taser). The cops reported that they administered CPR but were not seen doing anything to aid the guy who was shot.

My prediction? It won't be a first-degree murder conviction, it'll be a lesser murder or manslaughter verdict.

[C-grunt]

CNN showed the film and slowed it down, zooming in right as the filming starts. It appears that something did indeed fall to the ground between the two (perhaps the taser?) just as the guy breaks away and starts running. So if there was a struggle for the taser as the cop alleges, and it fell to the ground but not in the control of either party then is the cop justified shooting the guy as he flees?

My prediction? It won't be a first-degree murder conviction, it'll be a lesser murder or manslaughter verdict.

The courts have ruled that it is reasonable to believe that a violent attacker that incapacitates you might very well seriously injure you and kill you.

So if the suspect is fighting for or has your Taser then yes its a good shoot. If the officer believed the suspect still had his Taser as he was running away he could possibly have a case but in my opinion it would be thin. Knowing the guy dropped the Taser and is running away I say is a bad shoot.

Here (and I would believe pretty much everywhere) the detectives that come investigate the shooting dont just read your written report. The officer walks through the scene and plays it out there for the detectives. My guess is the officers story and the video have some major discrepancies.

My prediction: Not 1st degree as I doubt they have evidence of premeditation. Charge will be 2nd degree. He will have a story about the Taser shenanigans that at least one juror will find plausible and he will get convicted of manslaughter

[jmoney]

I'd assume that most if not all states allow the shooting of fleeing felons in certain situations. If I see some guy stabbing people and he starts running towards a school you bet he is gonna get shot in the back.

This guy is ****ed. He said the suspect took his Taser and is shown dropping it near the body.

I agree. It will be interesting to see how the case ends.

[Eurodriver]

Innocent until proven guilty and all of that, but that really looks bad. Only wish the race baiters could keep race out of this incident. Would be completely unacceptable if the officer was black and the subject was white, equally unacceptable if they were both black and equally unacceptable if they were both white.

Getting damn sick of media racism.

Agreed. Local news website: "White cop shoots black man"

"Cop shoots man" just doesn't sell, I guess.

[Voodoo_Man]

watched the video in HD, found it via google.

When the officer gets up you see prongs from a taser coming from his torso.

do not know what it means but an observation