Follow-up from today's news
Copied from KOIN.com today (10/24/05)
Officer, Deputy Cleared In Fatal Shooting Of Unarmed Man
Grand Jury Heard From 40+ Witnesses
OREGON CITY, Ore. -- A grand jury has cleared a Sandy police officer and a Clackamas County deputy in the fatal shooting of an unarmed, naked man.
Fouad Kaady was killed Sept. 8 near Sandy after allegedly going on a bizarre string of criminal acts.
Police say the 27-year-old was involved in three hit-and-run crashes, he kicked a man in the chest and was seen running naked and acting irrationally. He crashed his own car, which caught fire and burned.
Police say he was combative, and tasers did not subdue him. Kaady was shot after reportedly jumping on a squad car.
The grand jury heard from more than 40 witnesses before deciding Monday that the police would not face criminal charges.
According to the district attorney's office, the seven-member grand jury was not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that there was evidence that a crime had been committed by the officers. They made no other determination.
Throughout the secret grand jury proceedings, family and friends rallied outside the courthouse. They say Kaady was hurt and needed help from police.
One thing that isn't mentioned in this article is that at the time of the shooting, the subject had jumped from the car, stated "I'm going to kill you", and was lunging at the officer/deputy.
"IF true and complete...
Ordinary citizens that shoot clearly unarmed persons who are not a threat to safety, get convicted of murder and sent to prison for a loong time. Will these cops?"
Would it be a good shooting if an ordinary citizen shot an unarmed naked man who had committed three hit-and-runs, assaulted another citizen, threatened others, was growling and hooting like an animal, had laughed off less-lethal attempts to incapacitate the subject, jumped onto the citizen's car, then jumped down, stated "I'm going to kill you", and then lunged at the citizen?
GunGoesBoom, I used your quote as an example of several in this thread, not to single it out. I would wholeheartedly agree with your statement in many instances, and have great respect for your posts and positions. I just want to see people wait to let the legal system run it's course before we start villifying Law Enforcement Officers without all the facts. Simply being an LEO does not make you a Jackbooted Thug, nor does it take away your right to defend yourself.
That said, many people (for example, Mr. Kaady's family and friends) who will still regard this as a bad shooting, regardless of what the GJ found. However much I disagree with their - or anyone's - opinion, I respect their right to disagree with me.
AN