Cell phone video appears to contradict officer accounts in Kajieme Powell killing

[La Lioness Priyanka]

But the cell phone video released Wednesday appears to contradict Chief Dotson’s story and his officer’s police reports. In the video, the two officers arrive on the scene in their signature police SUV responding to the 9-1-1 call from the store owner. Powell appears to be pacing as described by numerous witnesses though it is difficult to make out his words. When the officers got out of their vehicle, Powell clearly yells, still pacing about. Witnesses said the suspect yelled, “Shoot me now. Kill me now.” Powell then approaches the officers with both hands at his side and clearly further away than “three or four feet,” when the two officers fire nearly a dozen shots

http://www.salon.com/2014/08/21/cell_phone_video_appears_to_contradict_officer_accounts_in_kajieme_powell_killing/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

Yes, what were we saying again, about justifiable force/not racist at all etc????

[frazzled]

1. I made myself finally watch

And it made me cry. I don't cry that easily.

I think we've gone crazy--crazy from fear, crazy from hate and ignorance, crazy from guns. I think the entire nation needs to undergo some kind of group sensitivity training.

To me, this tape was anything but "exculpatory." Here was a crazy guy who could easily have been tasered or even brought to the ground by the group of cops. They could have batted the steak knife away with a billy club. They could have done lots of things. But they jumped out of their car with guns pulled and they shot him repeatedly within seconds.

He was crazy. They were crazier. We're all crazy. I'm crying again.

[Fred Sanders]

2. People need to watch the video because the police report account and the reality are at big odds.

[Logical]

4. Cops want NO risk! Shot no matter what! nt

[mindwalker_i]

5. He didn't need to be tasered

The cop could have gone up to him and asked what was wrong, then gotten him some help. Instead the cop went for his dick.

[moriah]

11. A mentally disturbed, agitated guy with a knife telling people to get the fuck away from him....

... BEFORE cops arrived?

You really think Officer Friendly was going to make headway when the crowd surrounding and videotaping it couldn't?

[Horse with no Name]

7. Me too

and they cuffed him

[zazen]

3. it's like shooting a guy who'd just stolen two sodas who's now standing on the ledge of a building

He's clearly distraught, and when he leans toward them--maybe to jump, to get help, to lash out but not in any way that was seriously physically threatening--they complete the suicide for him. Nice.

[Travis_0004]

13. you dont think a guy walking towards you with a knife in hand is threating?

[frylock]

16. absolutely..

are there better, non-lethal methods of engaging him prior to resorting to shooting him? absolutely.

[Horse with no Name]

6. If this shit keeps up

they are going to ban cellphones or cameras on cellphones.

Just watch.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

8. Doubt it. Corporations won't tolerate that

[frankieallen]

9. wow, does not look good for the cops.

and, why the fuck would you kill the guy when you have tasers? That kid didn't have a gun, a taser would of brought him down as fast as the bullets did, without killing him.
He could of just been having a really bad day.

[Travis_0004]

14. they didnt have tazers

[cbdo2007]

10. Yep, shot in the leg would have changed everything here....not a 12 bullet rainstorm.

[Travis_0004]

12. Cops dont shoot in the leg

If he is not a threat dont shoot.

If he is a threat then shoot center of mass.

[cbdo2007]

15. I know, that's the problem.

[frylock]

18. and be sure of doing it within 15 seconds of arriving on scene..

that's more than enough time to assess the situation. better still, just roll past in your squad car and dump your magazine into the perp. time is money.

on edit: yes jurists, this is . I don't need another hide because of a misunderstanding.

[Nye Bevan]

17. This is exactly why all cops need to wear cameras, all the time (nt)