Ferguson

[Wingnut]

I say voluntary manslaughter, I don't believe he intended to kill mr. Brown when he stopped him for suspected robbery, I believe we'll find Mr.brown attacked him and the cop pulled his firearm shooting the victim, but emotion may have taken over causing him to pull the trigger 5 more times (remember, not emptying his weapon, his gun probably holds 12-15 rounds). But we will have to wait to see. I think the cops going to have a hard time getting out of jail time, but then again, It wouldn't surprise me if it was self defense, 6'4" and 292 lbs, that's a BIG F'n dude! It is going to take 6 rounds to stop that man, we're not talking about an average size person here.

[MuggyWuggy]

http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2014/08/18/john_oliver_on_ferguson_missouri_and_police_militarization_video.html

More sources of info...

[NovusOrbis]

I say voluntary manslaughter, I don't believe he intended to kill mr. Brown when he stopped him for suspected robbery, I believe we'll find Mr.brown attacked him and the cop pulled his firearm shooting the victim, but emotion may have taken over causing him to pull the trigger 5 more times (remember, not emptying his weapon, his gun probably holds 12-15 rounds). But we will have to wait to see. I think the cops going to have a hard time getting out of jail time, but then again, It wouldn't surprise me if it was self defense, 6'4" and 292 lbs, that's a BIG F'n dude! It is going to take 6 rounds to stop that man, we're not talking about an average size person here.

It would have to be manslaughter if they did charge,because it was definitely negligence on the cop's part and it doesn't fit the criteria for murder. Even then it would be difficult for the plaintiff because they would be pulling at strings because there was no real( or strong way to prove that) Men's Rea, he would have protection through strict liability, self defense/defense of another, Excited utterance, and Declaration against interest on the plaintiff's representative. Plus there's little real evidence, mostly just visual. It would be hard to press a case against the officer unless the plaintiff's party was able to make it super emotional to try and sway the jury's opinion.

Sorry for all the law terms. Political science, law, and history are my favorite subjects!

[Rass]

Ok I'll chime in on this. I really don't know. I hear on one side the teenager had his hands up and begging not to shoot. If that is true then the police officer should get charged for murder.

Next I hear the police officer and the other man (he is 18 so considered an adult)  were in an altercation. The police officer told him to move he didn't listen and they started wrestling. One thing led to another and then he shot him several times. The final shot was to the head while he was falling forward. If this was the case he was defending himself. If the person would have listened to the police officer he would still be alive.

Again I don't know the true story. I feel bad for all people/families involved. But as much as this hurts me I have to agree with the artist formally known as taysby let the investigation (by an outside source) be performed before we pass judgement.

[Kaworu, the Fifth Child]

Chimimg in and saying, from what I've heard, I'm gonna bet manslaughter or murder in the second degree. Self defense is not applicable here- shooting an unarmed man in a fistfight six times with intent to maim(possibly kill) steps out of self defense.

[MarduArrow]

Unless the guy is twice as big as you.

Even then, six shots is excessive

[Spencer Addington]

Unless the guy is twice as big as you.

The guy shouldn't be a cop if he's 3'2 146lbs.

[Wingnut]

Unless the guy is twice as big as you.

Even then, six shots is excessive

If a 6'4" 292 lb man is coming at you, it absolutely could take 6 rounds to stop him depending on the firearm, a 9mm may not stop him, a .40's gonna take some serious lead, .45, probably not 6 rounds, but if 3 hit him in the arm (I believe they did), you really can't count those, that is not going to stop a person (mentally it may, but physically it's NOT going to stop a 290lb guy). Just in my experience having grown up around firearms. This information may not be factual as I have not looked for resources to back me up, if there is information otherwise, I am not close minded to it.

[MuggyWuggy]

Couldn't you just shoot someone in the leg if they were charging at you from a distance? Shouldn't you be trained in firearm accuracy if you're law enforcement ??

[MuggyWuggy]

Doesn't he have a baton, mace, taser etc???

[Anoobass]

I usually stay out of these arguments to avoid offending people but I have to say this to u muggy.  You make it seem as though someone with firearm training could hit a dime at 100 feet with a pistol.  Fact of the matter is, it's far easier said than done.

Let's explain it like this.  If people's aim were so impressive, why would a bulletproof vest make any difference, why not just aim for the head?

The reason why is because the head is a smaller target than the chest.  Ask any person with firearm training and they will tell you, "aim for the mass."  In other words, aim where you have the best chance to hit someone.  You don't aim at someone's legs because that's not advisable, smaller target = harder to hit.

[Wingnut]

Doesn't he have a baton, mace, taser etc???

Other officers on the scene are saying that he wasn't at a distance, that Mr.Brown was going for the officers gun, this would put him in close proximity, if he WAS going for his gun, the officer is not going to reach for his tazer leaving the gun wide open to be grabbed. If Mr.brown WAS I fact going for the gun, the officer has every right to believe that the gun is going to be used to cause  him harm and has every right to defend himself. Now, I agree with Taysby, we REALLY need to see what comes out during the trial. There are WAY different stories coming from one side (which is a relatively high crime rate society which leads me (opinion only) to think high "victim" society) and then we have the side of the police (which is a militarized police with an offensive trait instead of a defensive trait with a history of cover ups and covering each other in situations that would land you and I in jail (again, opinion and stereotyping the below average police force on duty today, I know that the average officer has good intentions and does his job for the right reasons).

[MuggyWuggy]

There were no other officers on the initial scene, so we can throw your first statement out

If there was an officer on the scene in addition to Wilson we would have much more info as of now

[Mattao19]

Has the officer made a statement about it?

[MuggyWuggy]

A phone interview with the friend of his wife is the closest statement they have


http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/18/us/missouri-teen-shooting/index.html?c=&page=2

And still eyewitness accounts report brown running away from the officer.

All of these reports claiming Brown charged the officer seem far fetched. Would you charge at a cop with a gun?

How does one think they would get away with killing a police officer???! Why aren't these questions people ask themselves.