GA - Rayshard Brooks, 27, fatally shot in Wendy’s car park, Atlanta, 12 Jun 2020 *officer charged*

[Keefer]

I think you are hung up on whether or not the tazer was a "deadly weapon"
That doesn't matter.
What matters in court is whether or not the cop felt Brooks actions were a deadly threat to anyone's life or may cause serious harm to anyone's life.
A baseball bat is not considered a "deadly weapon" either, but if a cop sees someone beating another with the bat, and the suspect runs away, if the cop feels like the suspect will harm someone else, then he can shoot him.

I hear you, but Brooks was running away and the officers partner was in pursuit is well. I admit that I was not there and this completely in hindsight, but I would be afraid for my personal safety just not my life. I am also not a trained police officer. As I mentioned in another post I think the officer reacted the way he was trained, that is to drop his taser and transition to his pistol when faced with deadly force, I just do not think in this instance and these circumstances, so far, That he faced deadly force. I actually feel for the officer too, believe it or not.

 

[SugarQueen]

Let’s visit fantasy land for a moment. In THIS case,at what point would the officer be expected to decide to let Brooks go home?
Should they send every drunk driver home? Even a convicted felon, who is violating probation?

 

[Keefer]

I saw LE interviewed about this NYPD decision, and pretty much now it means that criminals are free to do their thing if they don't see any uniformed police officers around. Up until now, they would have to worry that someone nearby might be an undercover officer, but now, nope.

I think we will have to wait and see before we could conclude that. The commissioner hinted at some other changes too.

 

[Keefer]

Let’s visit fantasy land for a moment. In THIS case,at what point would the officer be expected to decide to let Brooks go home?
Should they send every drunk driver home? Even a convicted felon, who is violating probation?

I think it was at the officers discretion. In hindsight it would have been better. In other cases no. But, things are going to change and frankly I don’t know how they will effect dui’s.

 

[Trident]

Joe Ested, a former law enforcement officer and founder of the nonprofit Police Brutality Matters, said an officer must see imminent danger either to himself or to someone else for deadly use of force to be justified.

"When we look at this, the video, you see the subject running away," he said. "There's no life at risk at that time — at all.

"Even a subject running away that has a weapon — unless the weapon the subject has results in death, you still are not able to authorize the use of deadly force."

Two experts say use of deadly force against Rayshard Brooks unwarranted

Don't criminals/perps always shoot then run away? Of course their back would be turned. That's what I saw.

IN MY OPINION

 

[Sundog]

duplicate

 

[JerseyGirl]

I hear you, but Brooks was running away and the officers partner was in pursuit is well. I admit that I was not there and this completely in hindsight, but I would be afraid for my personal safety just not my life. I am also not a trained police officer. As I mentioned in another post I think the officer reacted the way he was trained, that is to drop his taser and transition to his pistol when faced with deadly force, I just do not think in this instance and these circumstances, so far, That he faced deadly force. I actually feel for the officer too, believe it or not.

Is that what happened? I was wondering where that other taser went. Now I question why that officer didn't use his taser instead of the pistol to shoot Brooks multiple times, which landed in his back and buttock. I also question how long the officers allowed Brooks to lie there after those shots, still alive, before they went to get a piece of cloth to help him.

 

[Rocky1]

I hear you, but Brooks was running away and the officers partner was in pursuit is well. I admit that I was not there and this completely in hindsight, but I would be afraid for my personal safety just not my life. I am also not a trained police officer. As I mentioned in another post I think the officer reacted the way he was trained, that is to drop his taser and transition to his pistol when faced with deadly force, I just do not think in this instance and these circumstances, so far, That he faced deadly force. I actually feel for the officer too, believe it or not.

We're not so sure if the cop felt his life was in danger or not. He may have felt that after Brooks used the tazer on a cop, then he'd use it on the public, or worse. We don't know yet, It hasn't gone to court. When it goes to court, although I am sure he will testify he felt his life was in danger, it's not up to him to prove he felt his life was in danger, it's up to the prosecution to prove it wasn't.

 

[tresir2012]

Disguised or dual-purpose? The Law around stun guns, are they legal and other legal considerations

This is the law in the UK. A taser or stun gun is classed as a firearm in the UK and it is illegal to be in possession of one. Obviously, I don't know the classification in the US or Georgia but that info would probably help in this case. If I find similar about Georgia law, I will post it.

 

[SugarQueen]

I think it was at the officers discretion. In hindsight it would have been better. In other cases no. But, things are going to change and frankly I don’t know how they will effect dui’s.

I can’t possibly believe it is a better idea to let a violent, convicted felon who is violating his probation go on his merry way.

 

[tresir2012]

Is that what happened? I was wondering where that other taser went. Now I question why that officer didn't use his taser instead of the pistol to shoot Brooks multiple times, which landed in his back and buttock. I also question how long the officers allowed Brooks to lie there after those shots, still alive, before they went to get a piece of cloth to help him.

The videos are in the timeline I just posted and they are in post 1 also.

 

[Trident]

I can’t possibly believe it is a better idea to let a violent, convicted felon who is violating his probation go on his merry way.

In today's environment, isn't that the norm? Right is wrong and wrong is right. Criminals need their rights upheld while officers and the rest of us can bear the brunt and keep our mouths shut.

IMO

 

[CSIDreamer]

double post - but I will add I think the DA will charge the officer - the Atlanta Mayor has made a stand.
JMO

I agree. It's purely political. Jmo

 

[JerseyGirl]

I still can't believe that a police officer, in the middle of a crowded fast food parking lot, would open fire, potentially injuring or killing other innocent people.

 

[tresir2012]

I can. It's simple. The cop felt Brooks was a threat to his safety, so he tazed him. He could have very well skipped that part and just shot him while Brooks was punching him, and legally so according to the supreme court. If the cop "felt" Brooks was a threat to the public's safety, he could have shot him in the back, and legally so.

I don't think the cop used his taser did he? I thought they were attempting to arrest him when he punched one of them and started fighting them then they all rolled on the ground and he stole the taser and aimed it at them as he ran. It was as he realised they were taking him into custody that he changed and assaulted them. He clearly knew his warrant was out there.

 

[tresir2012]

I still can't believe that a police officer, in the middle of a crowded fast food parking lot, would open fire, potentially injuring or killing other innocent people.

They are paid to do that. That's why they are armed. The video doesn't show crowds of people around or in between them.

 

[tresir2012]

Posting links about stun guns in Georgia.

5 things to know about Georgia’s new stun gun law

https://www.atf.gov › file › d...PDF
Georgia - ATF
(2) "Firearm" includes any handgun, rifle, shotgun, stun gun, taser, or other weapon which will or can be converted to expel a projectile by ...


So posters can read up on the law themselves.

I guess if you don't want cops armed then citizens would also have to give up their arms. Could that ever happen?

 

[Rocky1]

I still can't believe that a police officer, in the middle of a crowded fast food parking lot, would open fire, potentially injuring or killing other innocent people.

If you view the bodycam footage, and pause at the .49 second mark, you'll see the rear of Wendy's parking lot where he was shot and then you'll see woods behind it. It's not like there were people standing in the line of fire. I think there was a truck that was struck in the rear quarter panel, but nobody was injured.

 

[razzledazzle]

Safety Concerns

The TASER device is a non-lethal, weapon.

Taser - Wikipedia

With all due respect, this article says "less-lethal" not non-lethal.

 

[SugarQueen]

Is that what happened? I was wondering where that other taser went. Now I question why that officer didn't use his taser instead of the pistol to shoot Brooks multiple times, which landed in his back and buttock. I also question how long the officers allowed Brooks to lie there after those shots, still alive, before they went to get a piece of cloth to help him.

If you watch the video the officer fires his taser when Brooks first first starts to run. I believe it was stated in here that it cannot be used again right away.