Unarmed Man Shot And Killed By Houston Cop For Wearing A Hoodie While Black

[MrScorpio]

Jordan Baker, a 26-year-old Houston Community College student and father, “took his last breath in a trash-strewn alley behind a Northwest Houston strip center” on Thursday, January 16, all because he was a black man wearing a hoodie.

Houston police officer J Castro, an 11-year veteran who was moonlighting as a security guard for the strip mall that night, was on the lookout for hoodie-wearing armed robbery suspects. Castro says Baker, who was unarmed, matched the description and he shot and killed him as a result.

The police version of events, as reported by the local ABC affiliate, follows the predictable “he wasn’t cooperating and the cop was scared for his life” script:

According to police reports, an off-duty officer working security at the strip center, which is at the intersection of Antoine Drive and West Little York Road, Thursday night when he saw Jordan Baker riding his bike through the parking lot and peeking into businesses. When the officer asked Baker for an I.D., he said there was a scuffle, and a footchase, with the officer finally cornering Baker in the alley. The officer told investigators Baker charged toward him, and that’s when he fired his gun.

In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, before Baker was even named as the victim, police falsely told reporters that their officer had killed the man behind the robberies.

http://raniakhalek.com/2014/01/26/unarmed-man-shot-and-killed-by-houston-cop-for-wearing-a-hoodie-while-black/

[Lost_Count]

1. It'll be interesting to see what the results...

... Of an investigation bring so people can do something besides react on their emotion and biases (whatever they may be.)

[defacto7]

7. There was a day when I would not think for a minute

that your comment was naive. At best, they're the words of an optimist. If your optimism brings about a change in the system that matches that optimism, it would be a good thing.

[Lost_Count]

12. Less naivety

... And more neutral.

Mostly I bristle at sensationalist reporting.

[Th1onein]

10. Why bother investigating? The pigs are always right.

Why aren't YOU tired of seeing them kill innocents? That's my question.

[Lost_Count]

13. Take a deep breath and count to 10...

While you have an apparent predisposition, I tend to wait to get information so as to make an informed decision.

[otohara]

20. Because The Cops Are So Honest

when it comes to black males in hoodies.

Shit in some states the Police don't even arrest men who shoot black males.

[MrScorpio]

29. That's usually waiting for the internal investigation to invariably clear the cop...

By the way, you don't have to be armed for the cop to be in fear of his or her life as an excuse to gun you down.

They just hope that the shooting doesn't inconveniently end up on videotape, where the cop's story could come under closer scrutiny.

[Th1onein]

30. Typical right wing ploy: Personal attack

Look, we've seen this again and again. When are you going to get it? They don't care. They don't investigate and if they do anything at all, the cop gets off.

[Lost_Count]

36. Quite the little angerball...

... for anyone that doesn't march in lockstep with you I see...

Really? Even looking forward to further investigation is alignment with the "pigs?"

You could benefit from some self reflection....

[Th1onein]

37. AND YET ANOTHER PERSONAL ATTACK

Do you guys know any other response? I guess not.

[Lost_Count]

39. Ironic post is ironic...

As you do the internet equivalent of screaming at me... for calling you out as an angerball...

A few days later too I might add... Welcome to February!

Also, who are "you guys"? People who believe in due process? Facts over emotion? People who were mean to you on the bus?

[rbrnmw]

41. the last sentence so racist

a very racist comment given the history of the Jim Crow south!!!!!

[uppityperson]

45. I read it as school bus, kids being mean on the school bus. But then I had a kid on school bus other

others were mean to.

[Lost_Count]

46. The fact that you see it that way...

... says a lot about you and not much about me.

Additionally, it's probably not what you think it is.

[CreekDog]

50. why are you getting into repeated fights here when an unarmed man was shot by police?

what is the big controversy here for us?

[Lost_Count]

53. In the real world there is nothing controversial..

... About looking forward to further information.

The big complaint seems to come from the fact that some don't make the same assumptions.

[CreekDog]

54. when it comes to police, you need more information, but Philip Seymour Hoffman you didn't

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4432595

Lost_Count This message was hidden by Jury decision. Hide
34. Drug user uses drugs...
Shocking....

Just kidding... Fuck him...
A Jury voted 4-2 to hide this post on Sun Feb 2, 2014, 03:20 PM. Reason: This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

[Th1onein]

42. Off to Ignore wth you!

Last edited Mon Feb 3, 2014, 03:42 PM - Edit history (1)

[11 Bravo]

26. The 60's called. They want their lame-ass "pigs" reference back.

There are good cops and there are WAY too many corrupt shitheads who should never be allowed to wear a badge.
But tedious references to all police officers as "pigs" passed their shelf life a couple of decades ago.

[Th1onein]

31. Pigs they were, pigs they still are.

And, really, we could all do with a little 60's ideology nowadays.

[Warren Stupidity]

40. 60's to the 2010's: yo! we were right about just about eveything!

[TexasProgresive]

11. In my youth in Houston the victim would've been"armed"

with a "throw down" gun keep in an ankle holster by the cop or one of the investigating cops. Abuse of power by a few cops taints the whole force. To bad, the good should police their own.

[Kingofalldems]

22. The old 'emotion' thing eh?

I get it.

[Lost_Count]

24. Glad to help...

[CreekDog]

55. Welcome to DU

though it seems like you don't like almost everyone you interact with here.

[Heidi]

49. "...React on...emotion and biases"?

You mean like cops, based on their emotions and biases, killing innocent young black men?

[quinnox]

2. These police are out of control

that is tragic. They are making up shit and trying to cover their asses.

[glinda]

3. Until there are real consequences like Public Juries, nothing will happen.

[Jamaal510]

4. I'm starting to wonder

if I should give away all my hoodies to the goodwill now.

[rhett o rick]

5. Should burn them or some poor soul will buy them and get shot themselves. nm

[Faryn Balyncd]

6. Unbelievable.

[sabrina 1]

8. If the cop was working as a security guard then how could Baker know he was a cop?

Maybe he thought he was going to be attacked by some lunatic with a gun?

Going by past history, whatever lies the cop tells will be believed. Unless there is a witness.

Shameful that a person cannot feel safe on the streets of this country if they are a minority.

Stop and Frisk despite being declared unconstitutional is still going on. So long as there are no consequences for these murders they will continue.

[ScreamingMeemie]

14. Because cops here are allowed to wear their uniforms when working as "security guards."

Sick, isn't it?

[sabrina 1]

17. I didn't know that. I also thought that cops were not allowed to 'moonlight'.

But I guess they are. Great for private corporations, they get to use cops to protect themselves wearing the uniforms the tax payers pay for.

[ScreamingMeemie]

18. Anyone can be a cop here in Houston.

Most of them moonlight because the job doesn't pay well. They can also carry their own guns. I've seen SD's with pearl-handled Colts.

[Ash_F]

48. They get paid cash every night doing security at the nightclubs down here

- Dallas

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. Peeking into businesses while black = "armed robbery suspect"; while white = "windowshopping"

For a man who was killed while doing nothing wrong, there's remarkably little coverage of this.

[Mr Dixon]

15. SMH

The public be like “This happens way too often, I wonder if this has been going on prior to the internet?” Duh! This is nothing new. The more it happens the less outraged people will be, we are being conditioned to excepting this madness……SMH

[Iggo]

16. Yay, Cops!

They're the best!

[PowerToThePeople]

19. Rescind the 2nd amendment, Now!!!!

[Lost_Count]

25. What does that have to do with this?

Last edited Thu Jan 30, 2014, 09:10 PM - Edit history (1)

... or are you saying that law enforcement shouldn't have access to weapons either?

[frwrfpos]

21. rec

[Octafish]

23. Houston cops even killed one of Poppy's friends.

What happened to Mr. Baker seems like cold blooded murder. Looking for a robbery suspect? So, why shoot him dead?

The tragedy brings up the Houston Police Department's cold blooded killing of Roland Carnaby, a very well connected friend of George Herbert Walker Bush. The guy was pulled over, flashed CIA credentials and hopped in his SUV, leading the police on a high speed chase. He stopped the car and started to get out of the car. The poor guy never had a chance to explain why, as they opened up on him. "We thought he had a gun."

[HockeyMom]

27. I wore a hoodie today in the rain in Florida

Difference? I am am an old, white woman and nobody considered me a threat by what I wear, or by my race, or age. No, we are not all equal.

[Exciting Trip]

47. Another difference: The men suspected of robbery were not old and white.

Read the article. Let's place the race card less often.

[indepat]

28. And a recent report claims an American is 39 time more likely to be murdered by the

police than by an al-Que-da-type terraist.

[Th1onein]

32. Damn. This needs it's own thread.

[cinnabonbon]

33. Damn. nt

[Judi Lynn]

43. Who can protect anyone from the police? n/t

[cinnabonbon]

34. There are too many cases like this

I wonder how long it will take before the cop gets a paid leave as a slap on the wrist.

[malaise]

35. Living while black is always a threat to racists

:Sarcasm:

[rbrnmw]

38. to the victim and family I'm so sorry

[link:

|

[damnedifIknow]

44. Suspension with pay

If that.

[Bad Thoughts]

52. Third incident with Houston PD?

The two African-American dance instructors from Oklahoma arrested for "trafficking" a white teenager?

A man arrested and harrassed for giving a few dimes to a homeless man?

Now this?

What's wrong in Houston?