No charges for St. Louis officer who killed 18-year-old

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

No charges for St. Louis officer who killed 18-year-old
By JIM SUHR, Associated Press | May 19, 2015 | Updated: May 20, 2015 2:25am

ST. LOUIS (AP) — An attorney for the family of a black 18-year-old shot and killed last October by an off-duty, white St. Louis police officer said Tuesday he plans to file a wrongful-death lawsuit, after a prosecutor said the officer would not face criminal charges.

In a 51-page report released Monday, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce said her office's "independent and exhaustive investigation" concluded a criminal violation could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt in VonDerrit Myers Jr.'s death.

The report, which did not identify the officer because no charges were filed, said that "given all the available facts, witness statements, (and the) physical and forensic evidence," the officer shot and killed Myers in self-defense after Myers fired at him.

A statement by St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson identified the officer as Jason Flanery, a six-year veteran of the department. A message left Tuesday with Flanery's attorney, Brian Millikan, seeking comment on the prosecutor's decision was not returned.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/No-charges-for-St-Louis-officer-who-killed-6272515.php

[Downwinder]

1. Even the Police don't talk to the Police.

Last edited Wed May 20, 2015, 05:05 AM - Edit history (1)

Joyce said the officer declined to be interviewed for her investigation.

[giftedgirl77]

2. Ahh yes, Mr Officer that mistakenly left his body cam in

the car or off during the shooting of course why would he be interviewed.

[Oktober]

6. As per the OP...

An attorney for the family of a black 18-year-old shot and killed last October by an off-duty, white St. Louis police officer said Tuesday he plans to file a wrongful-death lawsuit, after a prosecutor said the officer would not face criminal charges

Why would he have a camera on during his off duty hours?

Edit: He was in uniform but off duty. Also, two independant reports claim that the Myers fired first. Are we at the point that it is unreasonable for anyone, let alone LE, to fire back after receiving?

[giftedgirl77]

7. Oops, wrong dead black guy in St Louis, my bad...

The bodies are piling up so fast it's hard to keep track of all the discrepancies.

[Oktober]

8. Just goes to show how quickly someone will fly off the handle...

... and not even know what they are talking about.

[giftedgirl77]

9. The guy was working as a security guard at the time

but in uniform. Conveniently he refused to give a statement & as usual another black male is dead. No I will not take a cop at their word, especially in St Louis.

[NaturalHigh]

12. "Conveniently he refused to give a statement"

See Constitution, U.S., Amendment 5.

[giftedgirl77]

14. Right, because he didn't want to incriminate himself?

Of course if he had nothing to hide he would have provided one, but of course per the norm the uniform will protect him regardless. As the bodies of black men continue to pile up not so much as a sideways glance is given to the one's offing them.

[NaturalHigh]

15. Once again please see Constitution, U.S., Amendment 5.

Anyone, whether pure as the virgin snow or guilty as hell, is a fool if he or she gives a statement without a lawyer.

[LanternWaste]

11. I thought it was simply a presumption rather than the melodrama of "flying off the handle."

I thought it was simply a presumption rather than the melodrama of "flying off the handle." Yet no doubt, you'll certainly rationalize it as such...

[Vattel]

3. Too bad no one filmed the incident.

[Joe Chi Minh]

4. I'd been reading what danger to their lives the police face every day. However, it

turns out, from what I read yesterday, that 'police officer' is 12th in the list of lethally dangerous jobs (I forget the exact term used). It might have been on here I read it.

Taxi-driving is more lethal. I believe they suffer stress with their constant driving, so it's tough on the heart. It's just what it awlays appeared. Absolute racism. Just badness through and through.

Imagine meeting your Maker having committed murder, out of sheer malice, then compounding it by bearing false witness - framing the unarmed victim by planting a weapon.

Just been looking at lists. One says 10th most dangerous (after farmers, garbage collectors, taxi-drivers, pilots, truck-drivers, among others).; another says 15th most dangerous!

A lot of police don't seem to be playing with a full deck. I keep thinking of that SWAT team of loony-toons, armed to the teeth, who burst into a barber shop, because he'd forgotten to renew his (barber's) licence. The judge was well and truly fed up, as he'd warned them over previous such loony antics.

[jtuck004]

5. Bullies hardly ever lose. We keep it like that because we are afraid of the alternative. n/t

[FLPanhandle]

10. The evidence appears to support the conclusion

The officer claimed he was shot at and returned fire.

The report says the Myers weapon was recovered as well as shell casings and forensic evidence of firing.

Now, the officer could have planted the gun, the shell casing, and maybe other forensic evidence, but witnesses don't report seeing that.

Sounds justifiable.

[seveneyes]

13. Facts Vs Pitchforks

Upon which society relies.