Grand Jury Declines To Indict Officers Involved In Fatal Walmart Shooting Of Black Man With Toy Gun
A special grand jury declined to indict two officers in the racially charged case of a fatal police shooting inside a Dayton, Ohio Walmart store.
John Crawford III, 22, of Fairfield was shot and killed by police while holding a toy gun in the store.
[su_center_ad]Wednesday morning after meeting for two days and hearing accounts from 18 witnesses, a decision was made.
According to WLWT, Special prosecutor Mark Piepmeier said at least seven of the nine grand jurors had to vote for one of three possible charges for the officers to be indicted; murder, reckless homicide or negligent homicide, but that did not happen.
“All I can say about this case is that it’s a tragedy,” Piepmeier said. “It’s a tragedy for the Crawford family … and it’s also a tragedy for the police officers, who have to live the rest of their lives knowing that, even though they had a justified use of force, they took the life of someone that didn’t need to die.”
Walmart managers were told by an employee that Crawford was walking around with the air rifle, but the employee did not know if the gun was real or not.
Surveillance video from the store was shown to the public for the first time with the footage showing Crawford walking through the sporting goods area while talking on the phone. Crawford is seen picking up the air rifle from a shelf and continues to walk.
While Crawford is walking around the store with the air rifle, it’s sometimes over his shoulder and other times it’s down at his side.
According to a 911 caller, Crawford was waving the gun around and pointing it at customers, although that is not seen in the footage.
While Crawford is still on the phone, he turns toward a shelf, while the air rifle is in his right hand, as the officers come from his left.
Officers fired two shots and Crawford appears to stumble, then falls to the ground as the officers rush toward him.
Piepmeier showed the reporters the air rifle that Crawford carried and noted similarities between the actual rifle it’s modeled on.
“He didn’t commit a crime, he did nothing wrong,” Piepmeier said. “At the same time, the police officers have to be judged on everything they had.”
Ohio Gov. John Kasich said “After talking with the Attorney General and watching the video myself, I agree with his decision that a review by the U.S. Department of Justice is appropriate. This is a tragedy for the Crawford family and I share the concern of many in the community that this matter must be handled with the utmost seriousness and respect. I’ve consulted with local leaders, including leaders in the African American community, and I applaud the example they have set of calm, restraint and patience.”
Watch surveillance footage of the shooting:
Meanwhile, white men are walking around Kroger stores fully armed with actual long guns strapped on their backs and not one shot is fired at them. Another white man recently walked in front of a high school in Tennessee with a long gun while wearing a bulletproof vest. No shots were fired at the man who was obviously attempting to intimidate those around him. [su_csky_ad]
mea_mark September 24th, 2014 at 2:37 pm
If the officers are not negligent then the police department is for not training them correctly. Somebody is clearly at fault, this should not of happened.
tracey marie September 24th, 2014 at 2:43 pm
no warnings, no calls to get down on the ground, just shoot a black guy who is on the phone.
edmeyer_able September 24th, 2014 at 2:56 pm
The officers are clearly at fault, more Black men have been shot or killed in handcuffs, or w/toys in their hands then whites with semi automatics this year.
tracey marie September 24th, 2014 at 2:43 pm
This makes me sick to my stomach. The officer executed an innocent young man and the 9-11 caller should be charged with a crime as well. This young man was on the phone, did those white people really believe a dangerous criminal would be having a conversation with friends? Disgusting behavior that once again is considered a tragic accident because what is one more dead black man.
edmeyer_able September 24th, 2014 at 2:46 pm
Nothing but BS, deadly force was not justifiable in any manner what so ever.
Carla Akins September 24th, 2014 at 2:51 pm
I’ve read interviews with the original 911 caller, he flat lied on the phone and in subsequent interviews with police until he was shown the video. The caller needs to be brought up on charges. He created this situation.
tracey marie September 24th, 2014 at 3:58 pm
I said that a few times when all this came out, disgusting behavior by the caller and the cop.
Tammy Minton Haley September 24th, 2014 at 5:32 pm
i would suggest civil suits to the family–there will be little criminal justice here…
this is just an awful, awful story…senseless…
Snick1946 September 24th, 2014 at 8:27 pm
This hits home. I was walking after dark a few months ago carrying a cane for a temporary knee condition. Some ‘good citizen’ called the cops that someone was ‘carrying a gun’ through the neighborhood. I got stopped and the cop and I wound up having a laugh over it. He was one of the good guys. The whackadoodle who called in the complaint could have gotten me killed if one of the trigger happy young cops had responded. People need to be held accountable if they make false reports and prosecuted, The caller in this case needs some prison time.
Wayout September 24th, 2014 at 3:32 pm
I have heard that this was a case of “Swatting”. The person who made the call should be prosecuted.
tracey marie September 24th, 2014 at 3:58 pm
and the cops, they chose to shoot the black guy instead of handling the situation.
whatthe46 September 24th, 2014 at 4:30 pm
problem is, there was no “situation.”
tracey marie September 24th, 2014 at 5:38 pm
true, but all they did was go on the phone call…they chose to esculate the non situation into an execution
Khary A September 24th, 2014 at 3:47 pm
I’m done…screw it you win. I truly can’t see this situation ever being resolved so I’m done. I’m done trusting, I’m done expecting better of “certain” people,I’m done putting my hand out there blindly to a people that by their constant examples of behavior and through time immemorial has shown a less than gracious behavioral trait to “me”. All the seemingly foolish ideas of fealty to country and compatriot, The oaths of brotherhood proclaimed proudly, none of it matters because it is clear to me now in every way that my life and the life of my gene-kin are worth less, at least in the eyes of the other. So in the interest of honest self examination, can we just stop this cruel game? My back can’t hold anymore knives in it.
Is all this hurtful? Yes. Am I angry? No…I don’t have the energy for it anymore. My anger came from hope for better and I see now that hope is the most foolish of personal attributes. Can I be blamed for this declaration of realization, probably…from what I can see of this society I can be blamed for just about everything. The killing goes on and on, day to day. Not unlike the weather really. Oh sure a few cry out for justice,the general populace on the whole doesn’t care enough really to do anything about it and then the True masters of this society calls them foolish and throws it in their faces and the cycle continues. Why do this at all?
So it’s the life of a pariah for “me” then until one of us decides to step away from the table and play a different game. I “hope”it comes soon because I for one am tired of trying to make “change” in the face of entropy…aren’t you?
I hate myself for saying these things but I despise myself for believing them now.
juicyfruityyy September 24th, 2014 at 4:07 pm
Civil suits needs to be brought against the cops and the racist who made the phone call.
whatthe46 September 24th, 2014 at 4:29 pm
so, it’s actually legal and no cause for concern when a white man carries a real long gun into walmart, but illegal for a black man to have a fake gun in walmart? gotcha.
edmeyer_able September 24th, 2014 at 4:36 pm
Just saw this post from Addicting Info. looks like the DOJ will be reviewing this case.
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As a result of this decision, the US Department of Justice has declared that it will review the case. No Attorney General’s office wants a DoJ review, particularly not when it is a high-profile case such as this one. The prosecution likely hoped that a quick decision would allow them to sweep this under the rug. Instead, now it has put them under the microscope.
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2014/09/24/grand-jury-decides-officers-in-ohio-walmart-slaying-will-not-be-charged/
Shades September 24th, 2014 at 8:10 pm
When an innocent man is shot dead, it’s SOMEBODY’S damn fault.
searambler September 24th, 2014 at 8:20 pm
” … and it’s also a tragedy for the police officers, who have to live the rest of their lives knowing that, even though they had a justified use of force, they took the life of someone that didn’t need to die.”
Well isn’t that a steaming pile of bullspit. Because they DIDN’T have a justified use of force. This kid WASN’T a threat. He DIDN’T have a real gun. He WASN’T threatening anyone in the store. The guy who called it in admitted he LIED. Yes, these cops will live with this for the rest of their lives. Knowing they royally screwed up and murdered an innocent young man for no good reason at all. They acted out of fear and ignorance and bad training…..
Skydog2 September 25th, 2014 at 4:14 am
Regardless of your race, point a rifle at police and you’ll be shot.
Carla Akins September 25th, 2014 at 5:15 am
Except he didn’t point a rifle at police or anyone else. He picked up a toy at Walmart.
Pere Ubu September 25th, 2014 at 5:22 pm
Did you miss the fact that he pointed a gun at nobody, or did you willfully ignore that in favor of “BLAH BLAH POLICE BLAH BLAH”?