If you ever wonder if it's a good shoot or a bad shoot, just ask yourself if you would be going to prison if you had done the shooting.
I say this, because except for qualified immunity, the cops operate under the same statutes as we do.
That got him ventilated by Deputy Triggerhappy.
Go find the bodycam, Airman Fortson didn't do anything to get shot. No furtive movement. He was simply at the door of his domicile with a firearm in his hand. A prudent response to someone unexpectedly pounding on the door.
This is the kind of police shooting that gets me aligned with the defund the police because Deputy Triggerhappy has already claimed self defense, and I am certain the Okaloosa Sheriff's Department (of shots fired acorn fame) will soon affirm that all relevant training and procedures for the use of deadly force were adhered to.
I'm strongly of the opinion that your home should be sacrosanct from officer safety because, if no other place, you have the most right to be there.
I've also long held that as interchangeable representatives of The State that officers must actually receive fire before shooting, not just feel threatened.
The State came to Airman Fortson's door and had him killed because he was armed.
Was he outside his residence? No.
ReplyDeleteWas he committing a crime? No.
Was he threatening the officer? No.
Is being armed a crime? No.
Did the officer have a warrant? No.
Did the officer witness a crime? No.
Did the officer actually witness anything that would indicate an emergency or other exigent circumstances while approaching the door? No.
Bad shoot. The officer's fear, perception and interpretation of circumstances exist in his own headspace, and are not consistent with reality.
I'm in agreement with you on this one. Answering the door armed when you get a knock in the night is cerainly well accepted behavior here in Texas.
ReplyDelete-swj