I've seen the video.
Hard to say if the shooting was accidental or not.
however, based on my observations of the video, he did quite abruptly blow this man away, but he also appeared to be surprised at what happened.
at 1:55 the officer clearly appears surprised by the discharge of the firearm.
It could have been either that he improperly handled the firearm or that he thought he had drawn his tazer (assuming he was so equipped) and in the adrenaline rush of the moment, fired expecting a "zzzzzzzzttttt" and instead getting a distinctive "POP".
If i were on the Jury in this particular case, after hearing the evidence of both sides and reviewing this video... i probably would have a hard time ruling this a "premeditated murder" however, when i first heard "involuntary manslaughter" i was suprised.
I know nothing about the case other than what i have seem on the above referenced video. so im not in a position - as the Jury would have been - to cast a verdict.
but upon my inspection of the video i would say that the transit cop appeared shocked or surprised by what had happened.
to me, that indicates an accident.
however, accident or not, a man is dead, his family now without him, and an officer's career and life ruined.
accidents kill people every day, the particularly troubling thing about this is that you expect a higher level of professionalism from a LEO than to accidentally discharge his weapon... least of all into the back of a disarmed and mostly subdued individual.
a sad situation.
Justice is a very funny thing... I'm 100% sure that if this officer had received any sentence other than the death penalty there would have been rioting.
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