Albuquerque cops assault and kill camping homeless man

[Reece]

A video showing Albuquerque cops assaulting, shooting and killing a mentally ill homeless man who was illegally camping has sparked outrage and calls for greater oversight of the consistently brutal police department.

ProgressNow, a New Mexico-based progressive advocacy group noted that while “Albuquerque’s new police chief, Gordon Eden, announced Friday that he had determined officers who shot and killed a homeless camper on city property on March 16 were justified in their actions… a video from the scene released by the department on the same day shows officers negotiating a peaceful surrender with the subject, then attacking him with a flashbang grenade as he walks towards them on their command.”

When 38-year-old James Boyd then retreated from the bombardment, he was shot with live rounds and later died. The killing is just the latest in a series of incidents of police brutality perpetrated by the Albuquerque department. As ProgressNow reported:

The Albuquerque Police Department has been under federal review by the U.S. Department of Justice since 2012 when the agency’s record of shooting 25 suspect – 17 fatal – garnered national attention. The department has added 11 more shootings to that list since the end of 2012. Albuquerque officers have shot more persons than the NYPD, a department serving a city 16-times larger, since 2010.

Video does show him dying, so if you are sensitive to that kind of stuff.... don't watch it?

[Leroy_Kolta]

Wow. Shame how people can do such things. But by the looks of it they did follow some type of procedure.

He did evade (on foot), as you can see he turns away and starts running (or walking) away. That is when officers shoot him (live rounds?).
He did have a "lethal" weapon in his hands, a knife.
In theory, a person with a knife has a better chance of hurting you than you do with a gun within 21 feet (Per National Rifle Association(NRA) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives(ATF)).
In a way, they had all right to shoot at this "suspect". But it seems he did not have any fair chance. Yes, officers did try to give him one in the beginning and once he refused that right, he lost it.

[zipp3r]

Those scumbags should be shot to death. Poor man. May he rest in peace.

[Polar]

I don't want to live in this country anymore...

So much wrong with this situation, it's just overwhelmingly stupid.

[Chase]

Have these cops ever heard of something called a taser? Would have been the best option in that situation.

[Polar]

Have these cops ever heard of something called a taser? Would have been the best option in that situation.

Exactly. In the briefing given by the chief of police there, he said Beanbag shotguns AND tazers were deployed to the scene (Unknown as to why), and they decide to aim rifles at him... Then pop 2 in his back (Instead on one to the leg), then not understand why he can't move, after being shot in the spine...?

These cops are sick fucks. I feel like they wanted to torture him like that.

[Oliver]

Have these cops ever heard of something called a taser? Would have been the best option in that situation.

You do realise that you're completely fucked if you miss with the taser? Not to mention the fact that there have been cases where a taser has done absolutely fuck all, leaving officers in danger if the suspect decides to take a swing at them with a knife.

Knives are just as dangerous as firearms and should be considered lethal weapons at all times.

[aleksandar_gojkovic]

And the shot man was all like: I should have turned left at Albuquerque, not go trough it...  Bugs Bunny... Gotta love him 

[Chase]

If the taser misses, it is bad indeed. I'm not saying lethal force wasn't justified. I am just saying they could have at least gave it a try before jumping to live ammunition.

I don't know what the procedure for these cops are - but cops in my area are supposed to have several officers with their guns aimed at the non-compliant suspect, while another attempts to shoot him with the taser. That way if the taser fails and the guy flips his shit, they can easily neutralize him with live ammo.

[Oliver]

Situations happen a lot faster in reality than they do in video clips and sometimes you even completely forget all of your training since the adrenaline takes over. You don't have time to thoroughly analyze the situation and split second decisions need to be made, and shooting at an armed and dangerous man is a lot less risky than fiddling around with a taser or other non-lethal means to disable him.

Most of the time when a cop dies in the line of duty, they were trying to give the perp the benefit of the doubt.

[Reece]

The cops were with him for 3 hours prior to shooting him.

[ClazzyJogel]

Justified without any doubt. I am glad none of the officers got hurt.

[[SE]Dr_Pepper27]

Justified shoot. An officer without gun drawn(K9) was within the dead zone(21feet) and downhill of the knife wielding suspect with a lengthy criminal history, along with mental illnesses. He made a movement towards the officer, then retracted. Shots were fired AS he was walking away. Non-lethal force was used 3 times prior to lethal force. A flashbang, K9, and beanbag. None of these worked.

[Nexus_Riggs]

This is insane and inhumane act of those Officers.

[Leroy_Kolta]

Justified shoot. An officer without gun drawn(K9) was within the dead zone(21feet) and downhill of the knife wielding suspect with a lengthy criminal history, along with mental illnesses. He made a movement towards the officer, then retracted. Shots were fired AS he was walking away. Non-lethal force was used 3 times prior to lethal force. A flashbang, K9, and beanbag. None of these worked.

^ Totally legit.