UPDATED: John Crawford was EXECUTED, and the cops are getting away with it.

[MohRokTah]

Last edited Wed Sep 24, 2014, 05:21 PM - Edit history (1)

Their execution of an innocent man was even caught on tape for the world to view:

http://www.vox.com/2014/9/24/6839953/video-john-crawford-walmart-police-beavercreek-ohio-toy-gun

Here's the full video:

[msanthrope]

1. Maybe not--

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025579780

[BlindTiresias]

4. I'll be surprised if anyone is punished.

[NutmegYankee]

10. I would be as well.

Police are almost never held accountable for a bad shooting. Too many people won't question their judgement, so many grand juries give them a free pass.

When I first saw this story on DU, I admit that I thought it was probably justified based on the facts at that time. Given the new evidence, it obviously is not.

[hlthe2b]

9. Bringing charges based on civil rights violations is going to be hard...

Not that I doubt for one minute that racial stereotypes were behind the reflexive decision to fire on him... Nonetheless, I fear this (and Ferguson ) are going to end with nothing more than a "scathing" report, a long toothless list of recommendations and no charges.

I hope that I am wrong.

[Comrade Grumpy]

11. That's all that's left, and it better happen. Or we could (and should) see another Ferguson.

If the system won't bring justice, taking it to the streets can turn up the heat on the system.

[MohRokTah]

12. Well, it took the cop less than a second after seein Mr. Crawford...

Before shooting him.

[hlthe2b]

14. which only PROVES he was trigger-happy (or adrenaline-pushed from what his lawyer will say was...

"fear for his life", having set up the 911 phone call to suggest that scenario.

Look, I absolutely believe that race was behind this killing, but it is not going to be easy to prove beyond 'reasonable' doubt.

The grand jury SHOULD have seen through this charade and at least charged him with manslaughter.

[CincyDem]

2. The point always missed in this story.

The toy guy is an item sold at WalMart.

The customer picked up an item from the shelf in the toy department and was shot for carrying it around in the store. "Brandishing" the weapon could be the simple result of shifting other purchased items he was carrying.

But, never forget, he didn't bring the item into the store (a la second amendment nuts)...he just picked something up that was offered by WalMart for sale.

Nobody can bring this kid back but WalMart needs to be held to some degree accountable for creating the situation.

Opps - I forgot - they're a corporate citizen. Laws that apply to you and me don't apply here. Nevermind.

[MohRokTah]

3. Ohio is also an Open Carry state.

So, even if the gun was real, Crawford would not be violating the law.

That the NRA has said NOTHING about this case is most telling of all. The NRA is obviously a racist organization.

[CincyDem]

5. Great f'ing point !

I guess the only reason for their silence is that they don't want to change their letterhead to NTRA. Obviously, it makes more sense to be allowed to carry a loaded weapon than one of those highly dangerous, completely unregulated toy guns.

What's the line...

If toy guns were outlawed, only outlaws would have toy guns.

I get it.

This just pisses me off sooooooooo much. We need to modify the Staples "That was easy" button for cops...when you press it you'll hear "I'm scared"...and then they shoot.

[MohRokTah]

6. IT always comes back to race.

IF not, then the ammosexual in this story would have been shot dead by a swarm of cops:

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/open-carry-activist-tennessee-school

[alcibiades_mystery]

7. Incredible

Or rather, all too credible.

[MohRokTah]

8. Yep, less than a second after he had Crawford in his view, the cop blew him away.

Shot him in the back.

No indictment.

[justiceischeap]

13. Let's not forget the witness who called 911 lied

http://countercurrentnews.com/2014/09/911-caller-admits-he-lied-about-african-american-shot-by-police-in-walmart/

His allegation that Crawford “was pointing at people. Children walking by,” was simply not true according to Michael Wright, the attorney for the Crawford family. He has seen the surveillance tape that both Walmart and the Beavercreek police are refusing to release to the public. In it, Crawford can be seen doing just about everything with the toy besides pointing it at anyone. Just before being shot by police, he was even using it as a cane.

But Ritchie told the 911 operator that he saw Crawford loading bullets into the supposed weapon. This, of course, is impossible, since the weapon doesn’t accommodate bullets of any sort.

Now Ritchie is told The Guardian newspaper Sunday that “at no point did he shoulder the rifle and point it at somebody.”

[Glimmer of Hope]

15. How can this not be murder? So disturbing.