Keith Childress was facing sentencing for
NINE FELONY counts.
1. Burglary, first degree (F2)
2. Armed Robbery (F2)
3. Kidnap (F2)
4. Aggravated Assault (F3)
5. Armed Robbery (F2)
6. Kidnap (F2)
7. Aggravated Assault (F3)
8. Theft (F6)
9. Theft (F6)
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/201...-of-multiple-crimes-but-family-wants-answers/
Those nine felony convictions are all the "answers" the family and friends need to "understand" why he acted the way he did, fleeing and resisting apprehension, and getting himself killed.
Now, a simple review of sentencing guidelines says he was facing in excess of 30 years in prison. He was 23. He fled. He was desperate. He has a history of very violent behavior, including kidnapping-- so hostage taking was a concern. He had stolen guns previously. He was under surveillance for days to make sure he was the "right" suspect, and the arrest was planned carefully so that other innocents were shielded as much as possible during his arrest. He may have been despondent and planning suicide by cop. He refused TWENTY FOUR commands to cooperate with his arrest, and continued to come at police, while hiding his hands. There is body cam video.
These officers will not be charged with anything. The family of this criminal deserves nothing if they try to file for "damages." Anyone can see that this was a well organized, legally carried out surveillance and apprehension of a violent convicted criminal, that ended badly for the suspect
by his own choices. He had
many chances to be taken back into custody alive-- he intentionally provoked officers, IMO.
It simply didn't matter whether he had a cell phone, a lollipop, or a gun in his pocket, since he wouldn't cooperate or show his hands. He wasn't an innocent citizen sitting in a coffee shop sipping a latte-- he was a fleeing fugitive, convicted of 9 very violent felonies. Police did exactly the right thing, IMO.
Interestingly, posters elsewhere claiming to be family members were on various social media making all sorts of complaints and comments that don't line up at all with official police statements. Such as police fired "dozens" of rounds, and "about 10" hit Keith.
Family has raised a little over $1000 in their online fund. It will be less than $1000 by the time the fund hosts take their cut. Not even enough for a spartan funeral, so not many supporters (23 last time I looked).
I also find it quite telling that there is no groundswell of activist support for Keith Childress. Various reasons for that. But IMO, one reason for that is that this is a pretty clear cut situation where police acted appropriately and lawfully when they had to shoot this perp. Only the news media and a few outliers seem to think that there is a problem with how this unfolded. Police kept a lot of people in that neighborhood safe from the desperation of a fleeing fugitive, and for that, I'm thankful.
It's too bad such a handsome young man with a big smile chose a criminal lifestyle of violence and crime, and fleeing responsibility. The end for him was quite predictable, IMO. His life could have been much different, but he made his choices.