BoSoxGal wrote:Today the news is reporting that the partner was 'stunned' by the shooting - so it appears in this case there may be justice.
You're sitting behind the wheel of your patrol vehicle talking to (or about to talk to) someone through the window when suddenly, from less than four feet away, someone fires a gun with the bullet passing within inches of you? Or perhaps extends their arm so the weapon is directly in front of your face and then pulls the trigger? I don't think 'stunned' even begins to scratch the surface of the emotions that I would have been feeling in such a situation.
Another significant question — significant to me, anyway — that remains as-yet unanswered is why the weapon was out of its holster and ready for action in the first place. Or are we to assume that the officer channeled his inner 'Quick-Draw McGraw' and managed to bring out his sidearm, chamber a round, release the safety, aim, and fire, all while seated within the confines of a patrol car?
The incident is under outside investigation by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA).
Latest information being released now reports that according to a statement given by Officer Matthew Harrity
(the officer in the driver's seat) he was 'startled by a loud noise' seconds before his partner, Officer Mohamed Noor, fired the fatal shot. Noor has dummied up
(and of course, lawyered up) and as of yet has issued no statement, more than likely upon the advice of his attorney. Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges, in a statement to press following the release of this information by the BCA, noted that police officers cannot be compelled to testify in an outside investigation. With no other known witnesses other than the victim
(and of course, dead women can tell no tales), no further interviews are scheduled, although the usual request — you know,
"If there is anyone else who was in the area and witnessed this or can provide additional information they are urged to come forward" — has been issued.
Although I did find it interesting that
according to information obtained by Minneapolis TV station KSTP the officer who fired the fatal shot has been on the force for barely a year, graduating from the police academy in May of 2016, and has already had three complaints lodged against him. One of the complaints was dismissed without disciplinary action; the other two are still open
(and under Minnesota state law details of open cases or cases that result in no discipline are not released), so while rumors and innuendoes will no doubt run rampant — especially given the officer's name and point of origin — no further definitive information is likely to forthcoming any time soon.
This whole thing stinks to high heaven. I'll bet you even now the Mipple City police force are praying, holding seances, and possibly even sacrificing virgins in the hopes that something catastrophic happens someplace else and draws the public's attention away from this incident so that the investigations, etc. can sputter along for a couple of years before the matter finally dies and its obituary appears on page 6 of the third section of the Pioneer Press.
-"BB"-Yes, I suppose I could agree with you ... but then we'd both be wrong, wouldn't we?
