A 22-year-old black man out celebrating the New Year with friends in San Francisco, is dead. His killer: a White police officer.
The outrage in the Bar Area is justified over a tragedy that has played itself out time and time again in this country.
The chaotic scene captured on a transit rider’s cell phone, shows 3 Bay Area Rapid transit police officers struggling with Oscar Grant who is lying face down on the floor with his hands behind his back.
After what looks like a minor scuffle (Grant is still lying face down), one officer straightens up, draws his weapon and fires at close range into the man’s back.
The officer immediately holsters his gun, bends forward with his hands on his knees and drops his head. Clearly he knew he made a fatal error.
BART officials are already setting the stage to exonerate the cop by stating they believe the cop was reaching for what he thought was his taser and grabbed his gun instead.
I can see the press release from the city now:
Our investigation is complete and the facts show that the officer — acting in self defense because you know all black men are potential threats to white officers even if they’re unarmed — took the appropriate measures to subdue a hostile transit rider. In reaching for his taser, to show that black man who is boss, the officer accidentally discharged his service weapon instead. No charges will be filed.
