St. Louis Protestors Rally Over Death of Honors Student Shot 25 Times by Police

[marmar]

AlterNet / By Steven Hsieh

St. Louis Protestors Rally Over Death of Honors Student Shot 25 Times by Police
Witnesses say Cary Ball, Jr. was unarmed when police opened fire, killing him.

May 30, 2013 |


Protestors rallied for the second time in a week on Wednesday over the fatal shooting by police officers of a 25-year-old, St. Louis man who witnesses say was “unarmed” at the time of his death last month, KMOX reports.

Police reports say Cary Ball, Jr. crashed his car after being chased, jumped out, ran away, and pointed his gun at police. At that point, two veteran officers fired 25 shots at Ball, killing him. The officers involved were placed on administrative leave on April 25, 2013, the morning after the incident.

As KMOX reports, witnesses describe a different scene. Protest organizers say several witnesses saw Ball throw his handgun on the ground and walk towards the police with his hands up before he was shot to death. Only one of those witnesses, Cary’s brother Carlos Ball, spoke to media.

“They looked at the gun on the ground and fired,” said Carlos Ball, “He never fired. They never fired, until the gun was nowhere near him.” ..................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/st-louis-protestors-rally-over-death-honors-student-shot-25-times-police

[The Magistrate]

1. He Should Not Have Had The Gun, Sir

It would also help to know how the chase commenced.

But there is at least a good chance he would not have been killed had he not been in possession of a gun, which it was not lawful for him to have in the first place.

It is a shame, as there does seem reason to believe he was well on the way to getting his life onto a productive and redemptive course.

[Comrade Grumpy]

2. Witnesses say cops shot him when his gun was on the ground.

We need a national commission on law enforcement practices.