STL Mayor: St. Louis 'on edge' awaiting police shooting verdict…
Options
stringer bell
Members Posts: 26,212 ✭✭✭✭✭
http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/crime/article/St-Louis-mayor-says-city-is-on-edge-awaiting-12174277.php
Mayor: St. Louis 'on edge' awaiting police shooting verdict
ST. LOUIS (AP) — The mayor of St. Louis says the city is "on edge" as it awaits a verdict in the first-degree murder trial of former police officer Jason Stockley, in part because of a troubled history of justice in St. Louis and nationwide.
Stockley is accused of fatally shooting Anthony Lamar Smith in 2011. The case was heard last month, but it's unclear when Judge Timothy Wilson will issue a verdict.
Activists have threatened civil disobedience if Stockley, who is white, is acquitted in the death of Smith, who was black.
"We're all on edge because we have watched, in this country and in our region, that legal decisions can and do result in families and sometimes entire communities being left without a sense of justice," Mayor Lyda Krewson said in a statement and video. "That can and has resulted in protests and demonstrations."
The St. Louis region was in the spotlight in 2014 when 18-year-old Michael Brown, who was black and unarmed, was fatally shot by white officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri. The shooting and a grand jury's decision not to indict Wilson led to months of racially charged protests.
"The worry and anxiety we are feeling today is not without cause, and it did not start with Ferguson," Krewson said. "It has its roots in the story of our country. I hope we will all learn more about the laws and policies that closed the doors for some, while leaving them open for others."
Stockley and his partner saw Smith involved in what they thought was a drug transaction at a fast-food parking lot in December 2011. Smith sped away, nearly striking the officers. After a chase, Stockley shot Smith while Smith was still in his car.
Stockley testified that Smith had a gun, but prosecutors alleged that Stockley planted the weapon found in the car. They also cited dashboard camera video in which Stockley threatened to ? Smith less than a minute before doing so.
Krewson, 64, who is white, was elected earlier this year in part because three black Democratic rivals split the African-American vote. She has pledged to help ease the racial divide in St. Louis. The city has a nearly evenly split population of blacks and whites among its 316,000 residents.
Shortly after her election, Krewson created a position of director of racial equity and priority initiatives. She hired Nicole Hudson, who was previously active in reform efforts in Ferguson.
Comments
-
Damn im not even familiar with this case smh
-
This one missed me. We'll, we're on fire literally now. Gonna be soooo many issurections in the days 2 come man. People R mad on all sides. Sad and disturbing.
-
-
-
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/ruling-may-be-imminent-in-st-louis-police-shooting-case/2017/09/14/1f7dc96c-997d-11e7-af6a-6555caaeb8dc_story.html?utm_term=.ac58e6bb35ebRuling may be imminent in St. Louis police shooting case
ST. LOUIS — A judge may be close to a ruling in the case of a white former St. Louis police officer charged with first-degree murder in the 2011 death of a black man who was a drug suspect, and Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens said Thursday that he has put the National Guard on standby in case unrest breaks out.
Testimony in Jason Stockley’s trial in the death of Anthony Lamar Smith ended Aug. 9. KMOV-TV cites multiple but unnamed law enforcement and court sources saying Judge Timothy Wilson will rule Friday.
Activists have threatened civil disobedience if Stockley is acquitted. Barriers encircle two downtown courthouses and a police station.
Greitens, a Republican, said the National Guard may be needed to help protect infrastructure, and free up police to handle security at protests.
“As Governor, I am committed to protecting everyone’s constitutional right to protest peacefully while also protecting people’s lives, homes, and communities,” Greitens said in a news release. “Taking the steps to put the Missouri National Guard on standby is a necessary precaution.”
The decision angered at least one activist. The Rev. Darryl Gray of the Missionary State Baptist Convention said the move could incite protests because it indicates the governor has no confidence that activists can express themselves peacefully.
Meanwhile, St. Louis police said officers will begin working 12-hour shifts starting Friday in anticipation of a ruling. A statement from police said the extended shifts are to help ensure a “safe environment.”
THE SHOOTING
Stockley and his partner saw what appeared to be a drug transaction in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant on Dec. 20, 2011. As the officers sought to corner Smith, he drove away. Stockley’s defense attorney, Neil Bruntrager, said the officers were nearly run over. Stockley fired at the fleeing car, then a car chase began.
Police dashcam video captured Stockley saying, “going to ? this (expletive), don’t you know it,” in the midst of the chase. As Smith’s car slowed, Stockley told his partner to slam the police SUV into it, and his partner did so. Stockley then got out of the SUV and fired five shots into Smith’s car, killing him.
Bruntrager said Stockley fired only after Smith refused commands to put up his hands and reached along the seat toward an area where a gun was found. But prosecutors said Stockley planted the gun. Testing found Stockley’s DNA on the gun, but not Smith’s.
___
DIFFERENT PASTS
Stockley, now 36, graduated from a Catholic high school in nearby Belleville, Illinois, then went to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. After graduation, he served in Iraq, where he was injured and awarded the Army Bronze Star. Stockley joined the St. Louis Police Department in 2007. He resigned in 2013, about two years after the shooting, and moved to Houston.
Smith, 24, was the father of a 1-year-old daughter when he died. His family has not disclosed much about him. Court records show he had a criminal record that included convictions for unlawful possession of a firearm and drug distribution. At the time of the shooting, he was on probation for a stealing charge related to a crime in Ferguson in 2010. In 2013, the St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners reached a $900,000 settlement with Smith’s family, ending a wrongful-death lawsuit filed on behalf of Smith’s daughter.
___
NEW EVIDENCE
The circuit attorney’s office initially decided not to charge Stockley, but police internal affairs brought new evidence in March 2016. Then-Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce announced in May 2016 that Stockley was charged with first-degree murder.
The new evidence wasn’t disclosed, but the St. Louis Post-Dispatch obtained the dashboard camera video and published it soon after charges were announced. The footage showing Stockley’s threat led to increased anger from activists.
Prosecutors opted not to pursue the death penalty. Stockley chose to have the case decided by a judge, rather than a jury. The judge agreed over the objections of prosecutors.
___
RACIALLY-CHARGED ISSUE
Police and courts in the St. Louis area have been under scrutiny since the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown in nearby Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014. Brown, who was black and unarmed, was fatally shot by white officer Darren Wilson after a street skirmish. Weeks of often-violent protests followed, and violence was renewed that November after a St. Louis County grand jury declined to indict Wilson. He resigned that month.
Since then, several black suspects have been fatally shot by police in St. Louis. Stockley is the only St. Louis police officer charged with murder in recent years. -
I got 5 that he gets off.
-
He did too. Verdict jus came in...not guilty. Damn
-
Money and white privilege win again
-
Of all these situations, this is one of the worst.
-
Too much intent, seeing this cop spouted clearly he was going to ? the ? . Mins later dude is shot up. Sounds premeditated...right? The judicial system has reached its bottom with this one. St louis may get ugly in the coming days
-
This remark right here by this white supremacist judge is perfect representation of the Amerikkka "Justice" System... -
Honestly, at this point, I hope they start tearing ? up. When pigs can plant evidence and STILL walk, ? the Justice System. It clearly doesn't work.
Just tear up ? in the fancy neighborhoods and make these ? Cacs really wake up, that's all I ask. -
-
Im lost af om this case.
So a cop killed someone then planted evidence and still got off?
-
stringer bell wrote: »
This remark right here by this white supremacist judge is perfect representation of the Amerikkka "Justice" System...
-
-
-
stringer bell wrote: »stringer bell wrote: »
This remark right here by this white supremacist judge is perfect representation of the Amerikkka "Justice" System...
-
Are any of those DACA folk that you ? love so much gonna protest against this?
-
The DACA people are busy tending to their own like always.
-
stringer bell wrote: »stringer bell wrote: »stringer bell wrote: »
This remark right here by this white supremacist judge is perfect representation of the Amerikkka "Justice" System...
? up. Judge making excuses for him. -
I said it before and I will say it again ? boycotting the NFL black people need to boycott the military for a real chance for some change. Every black service member needs to quit and go awol. If you are going to hold a group of people accountable for protesting injustices against black people in this country it should be them and not some athletes, that would really send message. And start a gofundme for the black service members who boycotted to help pay their bills, I know I would donate
-
ghostdog56 wrote: »I said it before and I will say it again ? boycotting the NFL black people need to boycott the military for a real chance for some change. Every black service member needs to quit and go awol. If you are going to hold a group of people accountable for protesting injustices against black people in this country it should be them and not some athletes, that would really send message. And start a gofundme for the black service members who boycotted to help pay their bills, I know I would donate
Negative.
I'm former military. My brother is reserved. I wouldn't dare trust livelihoods in the hands of civilian donations. -
-
Standard politicial speak in response to injustice...