IL - 'Why ... Did You Shoot?' Witness Asked Officer Who Killed Rekia Boyd

[Tawny]

There is a very damning statement made by Servin in the Chicago Sun Times article - imo. Was trying to copy it but it is blanked out at every access. No one else seems to carry the statement.

That's weird, I wonder why that is. If you find it, please let me know. I'm highly interested in this.

 

[tlcya]

is this the statement?

A little later, Servin stood before reporters in the lobby of the courthouse, saying justice had been served.

“I always maintained it was an accident what occurred to Miss Boyd,” Servin said. “Miss Boyd and her family, they have my deepest sympathies.”

Servin said the shooting is something that will stay with him for the rest of his life. But he stood by his actions.

“Any reasonable person, any police officer especially would have reacted in the exact same manner that I reacted, and I’m glad to be alive,” Servin said. “I saved my life that night. I’m glad that I’m not a police death statistic.”

http://chicago.suntimes.com/news-ch...r-found-innocent-fatal-shooting-unarmed-woman

 

[Tawny]

"I saved my life that night"

WHAT

 

[MyBelle]

From a similar article in post #15 -

Porter said that while he had no doubt Servin shot Boyd, he didn't think prosecutors adequately proved that Servin acted recklessly — one of the requirements for finding someone guilty of manslaughter.

Imo, there was no real prosecution here, so no real need for a defense was necessary.

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/201...e-officer-who-shot-rekia-boyd-on-trial-monday

The prosecution filed charges that didn't stick. Can't blame that on the defendant or the cops. The bigger question is whether the message will be received that if you flash something in a menacing manner pretending it to be a weapon, the person you are flashing it at does have a right to defend themselves. Being provoked into firing first isn't a reckless action, it is a defensive action.

More and more Americans living in urban areas are arming themselves. Chicago spends millions every year just trying to ensure kids get to and from school safely.

JMO

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/story/26623927/chicago-schools-getting-more-safe-passage-workers

 

[Tawny]

The prosecution filed charges that didn't stick. Can't blame that on the defendant or the cops. The bigger question is whether the message will be received that if you flash something in a menacing manner pretending it to be a weapon, the person you are flashing it at does have a right to defend themselves. Being provoked into firing first isn't a reckless action, it is a defensive action.

More and more Americans living in urban areas are arming themselves. Chicago spends millions every year just trying to ensure kids get to and from school safely.

JMO

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/story/26623927/chicago-schools-getting-more-safe-passage-workers

Anyone can claim "they pretended to flash a weapon at me". Better have a witness or be able to prove that if you try to use that in court.

 

[Woodland]

"I saved my life that night"

WHAT

That's the statement - no such thing happened and no evidence was put forward to suggest that. He might have been able to say 'I thought I was saving my life', but put forward an action that did not happen as truth.

I equally dislike -

" ...But I also explained to the family, if this is what they needed for closure, to be charged, I hope they got what they're looking for."

Thumbing his nose at them imo, after claiming he saved his life that night.

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/201...e-officer-who-shot-rekia-boyd-on-trial-monday

Servin has zero remorse for his actions that killed an innocent bystander. Imo.

 

[Tawny]

But hey, someone jokingly pretended their cell phone was a weapon so SOMEONE deserved to die that night, clearly. >.>

 

[MyBelle]

But hey, the someone jokingly pretending their cell phone was a weapon so SOMEONE deserved to die that night, clearly. >.>

Quite an outcome for a joke.

JMO

 

[Tawny]

The articles state that the guy was ON his phone talking to his cousin when Servin pulled up.

Do people often hold their guns to the side of their heads before pointing them at people to shoot them? No. Servin was looking for trouble. Otherwise, why was he so ready to shoot? He had his weapon right next to him, locked and loaded. If he was just pulling up to politely ask them to keep it down, why did he need to be armed for that?

Let's keep blaming the victims here, eh?

 

[Tawny]

BTW, Cross claims he never waved his phone around like it was a weapon. Which makes sense because he was TALKING ON IT at the time. Pointed with it maybe? Like plenty of normal people do on a day to day basis without it being a menacing gesture.

OMG it gets better. The "testimony" that he waved his phone around was HEARSAY

"Baymon testified that she spoke with Boyd's close friend Ikca Beamon the night of the shooting, as Boyd was on life support. Baymon claims Beamon told her that Cross pretended his phone was a gun and whipped it out "just to spook [Servin].""

Beamon told Baymon and then Baymon testified about it. Lovely.

 

[MyBelle]

BTW, Cross claims he never waved his phone around like it was a weapon. Which makes sense because he was TALKING ON IT at the time. Pointed with it maybe? Like plenty of normal people do on a day to day basis without it being a menacing gesture.

OMG it gets better. The "testimony" that he waved his phone around was HEARSAY

"Baymon testified that she spoke with Boyd's close friend Ikca Beamon the night of the shooting, as Boyd was on life support. Baymon claims Beamon told her that Cross pretended his phone was a gun and whipped it out "just to spook [Servin].""

Beamon told Baymon and then Baymon testified about it. Lovely.

Evidently the Judge didn't find Mr. Cross' claim about the telephone to be credible.

It's over. The Judge's decision is final.

JMO

 

[Tawny]

Evidently the Judge didn't find Mr. Cross' claim about the telephone to be credible.

It's over. The Judge's decision is final.

JMO

I'm pretty sure we're still allowed to talk about it even after the decision is made.

 

[SStarr33]

BTW, Cross claims he never waved his phone around like it was a weapon. Which makes sense because he was TALKING ON IT at the time. Pointed with it maybe? Like plenty of normal people do on a day to day basis without it being a menacing gesture.

OMG it gets better. The "testimony" that he waved his phone around was HEARSAY

"Baymon testified that she spoke with Boyd's close friend Ikca Beamon the night of the shooting, as Boyd was on life support. Baymon claims Beamon told her that Cross pretended his phone was a gun and whipped it out "just to spook [Servin].""

Beamon told Baymon and then Baymon testified about it. Lovely.

http://chicago.suntimes.com/news-ch...day-police-involved-shooting-death-rekia-boyd

During cross-examination by defense attorney Darren O’Brien, Beamon admitted she told a nurse at the hospital where Boyd died that it was Cross’ “fault.”

If Cross and Stevenson hadn’t mouthed off at the officer, Servin “wouldn’t have gone into defense mode,” she said.

Beamon couldn’t recall if she might have told others that Cross had reached into his pants in an effort to “spook” Servin.

However, she did remember Cross coming up to Servin afterward, exclaiming, “Man, why the f – - – did you shoot me?”

 

[Tawny]

They weren't aware he WAS an officer though, and it's no crime to mouth off to some random person who pulls up to you in their car. Like Cross said, he thought Servin might have been looking for drugs or something, so he basically told him to get lost.

That seems reasonable, IMHO.

 

[MsFacetious]

:thud:

I shouldn't be surprised....

 

[MyBelle]

They weren't aware he WAS an officer though, and it's no crime to mouth off to some random person who pulls up to you in their car. Like Cross said, he thought Servin might have been looking for drugs or something, so he basically told him to get lost.

That seems reasonable, IMHO.

Cross wasn't shot because he mouthed off. He was shot because he made a menacing gesture and provoked Servin into shooting.

JMO

 

[Tawny]

Cross wasn't shot because he mouthed off. He was shot because he made a menacing gesture and provoked Servin into shooting.

JMO

Yes, a menacing gesture by moving a cell phone away from his own head and pointing or "waving" it.

Right.

Also, still not a crime, and not a reason to shoot someone. He had no weapon.

 

[MyBelle]

Yes, a menacing gesture by moving a cell phone away from his own head and pointing or "waving" it.

Right.

Also, still not a crime, and not a reason to shoot someone. He had no weapon.

The Judge concluded a menacing gesture can be a valid reason to shoot someone. Now, some people would conclude that it is never a good idea to direct a menacing gesture at a stranger but I'm sure others will do so.....and they'll continue to get shot.

JMO

 

[Tawny]

The Judge concluded a menacing gesture can be a valid reason to shoot someone. Now, some people would conclude that it is never a good idea to direct a menacing gesture at a stranger but I'm sure others will do so.....and they'll continue to get shot.

JMO

That puts the blame squarely on the person who got shot, the victim. Not to mention, "menacing gesture" is WIDE open to interpretation. In some regions, a thumb's up is considered a menacing gesture.

The judge may have said it was "reason" enough, but I'm not convinced the judge was very impartial.

 

[MyBelle]

That puts the blame squarely on the person who got shot, the victim. Not to mention, "menacing gesture" is WIDE open to interpretation. In some regions, a thumb's up is considered a menacing gesture.

The judge may have said it was "reason" enough, but I'm not convinced the judge was very impartial.

Blame rests with Cross. He made the menacing gesture. He's lucky he wasn't killed. Has he taken responsibility for initiating the event that resulted in his friend's death? I doubt it.

JMO