after the cop told him to drop a toy gun and he took off running.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2007/nov/07/7west/“After careful consideration, we concluded that the evidence does not establish a prosecutable violation of the federal criminal civil rights statutes,” Mark J. Kappelhoff, chief of the Criminal Section of the department’s Civil Rights Division, wrote in a letter dated Oct. 31."
This is a horrible headline that attracted my attention. The reason I'm posting is because of the responses to this article. Check the link. From the 1st several responses I knew I would have to post this. Some of these responses from Memphis are unreal. Blame the parents. Blame the kid. Anyone but the police. The police who are supposed to have the training and expertise to know a truly dangerous situation from one that isn't.
FOR FUCKING CHRIST'S SAKE, HE WAS A 12 YEAR OLD.
A typical response:
Posted by Memphis_Is_Bad on November 7, 2007 at 6:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Of course there was no wrong doing. The child aimed a gun at an officer and didn't drop it when told. I hate to see how much taxpayers will have to pay for investigations into a case with no merit.
Another:
Posted by bribri on November 7, 2007 at 8:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder if there would be such outrage if this would have been a black cop who killed the kid. Would Al Sharpton still try to get involved? Anyway, it is such a shame that the mother is trying to bank off of this from filing a lawsuit. I would hope that a jury would be intelligent enough to realize that if they awarded the mother any money, the city would have to cut back on all budgets including police and fire protection to pay her. It would be a shame for a home to burn down because the fire department had to cut back on their payroll. I completely support the police officer involved. All he did was doing his job.
OH,A 12 YEAR OLD WHO DIDN'T DO WHAT HE WAS TOLD...IMAGINE THAT!!!!!!
This kid was probably scared shitless, and did the only thing he knew to do, Run away. So a cop, knowing that he wouldn't be harmed, because the kid is running away, decides to shoot him, because, you know, he had a gun. A fucking toy gun, but no matter. And tell my why a cop wouldn't know this was a kid?? Wouldn't it be better or err on the side of life? But this is all hindsight, maybe the cop really thought he was in danger, but the total lack of compassion is what's really getting to me.
Another thought, these people without any sympathy or compassion for the kid or his family, repugs all, don't see the irony that a cop shoots a kid with a gun, but will defend to the death anyone's right to carry one.
Sorry guys, this makes me sick.
Rant over.