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Blogs > GavinLS2 > The Heretic


GavinLS2 69M
936 posts
11/25/2015 9:27 pm
Laquan McDonald Video

Hi folks.

I'm sure there's more to the story that will come out and eventually clarify things for me, but I must say I found the video of the shooting of Laquan McDonald, taken by itself, less than compelling.

I'll cede that it does make a mockery (and rightfully so I think) of any claims of "self-defense" made by the officer(s), but as I've watched it several times, I can only discern one time the young man was shot. That would be the moment he falls to the ground. Any officers on the scene, are for the most part off camera, and even when they make an appearance I can't know if they are firing at him or not. I'm not even sure if more than one or two had guns drawn.

As he's laying there, it becomes obvious that no one is in a hurry to approach him, and I'm not sure what to deduce from that because any twitches or slight movements he makes from this camera angle are uninterpretable for me. I can't tell if he's writhing in pain, pointing a weapon, or if the wind is blowing him. And I can't see anyone shooting him, or his body shaking from any impacts.

I'm not saying the wasn't shot 16 times as the coroner's report says. I'm just saying I can only assume from the video he was shot once, I didn't see the shooter do it, and I can't see anyone else shooting him for the next long moments while he's laying there. If all I had to go on was this video and the other evidence made public so far, I might assume the other 15 bullets were fired much later! Maybe even on the coroner's slab!

I don't mean this as a critique of either the police, or of those who are protesting them. But I do mean it as a critique of those who would say this video proves much about the heinousness of this event. Again, this is the media stirring emotions in the community via a morbid fascination with violence.

I agree the case against the officer charged seems very strong, and the Chi Police Dept has a lot of questions to answer. But I don't see this video as being conclusive of much on it's own. And if all they had in evidences was this video, I think the case against the officer would be very weak.

GBU all,

Gavin

bijou624

11/26/2015 2:41 am

 Hi Gav: I wonder why all the Chicago police don't carry tasers? I heard on the news that those cops asked for a taser but none were available. It's too bad that boy just didn't drop the knife when ordered to do so. Usually I don't agree with the cops who shoot someone, but in this particular case I have my doubts the cop was in the wrong. I wonder how the boy also had many bullet holes on his back when he fell facing the officers? Very sad situation.


Rentier1

11/26/2015 8:00 am

 Has have the ambulance attendants who transported him been questioned?

Maybe they they put some of the bullets into him.


GavinLS2 69M
1525 posts
11/26/2015 11:13 am

 I'm not saying something terrible didn't happen!

I'm only saying that I can't assess the depth of what is reported to have happened from just this video alone.

GBU all and Happy Thanksgiving,

Gavin


GavinLS2 69M
1525 posts
11/27/2015 1:29 am
    Quoting Adolpho:
    If you carefully watch the video, there is clear evidence of the additional shots being fired. There is one additional shot that shows up as pavement impacted. There are other instances where his body moves as the other shots impact his body. The officer emptied his gun and reloaded. Apparently from the video, all but the first shot were fired after the victim was on the ground. The question that deserves an answer is why this video was withheld for over a year, why was the officer not charged until the video was ordered released and why was there no audio to accompany the video when the dashcams are configured to record both video and audio.

    One can readily ascertain that the victim did not lunge toward the officer as police first reported.
I couldn't make out anything that I could be sure were additional shots being fired. Maybe others can but not me. Tho I'd question their objectivity.

Since I question whether this video proves very much, I DO have to admit it's very odd that the authorities would wait so long about pressing charges. It sure gives the appearance of a cover up.

And now that the wheels of justice are finally starting to turn, why are the protesters upset NOW? Where were they last year???

GBU,

Gavin


GavinLS2 69M
1525 posts
11/27/2015 1:33 am
    Quoting  :
My topic is the video. I c it as having little value to the case. Nothing that you cited here can be deduced from it.

GBU,

Gavin


hobsonschoice 75F
3600 posts
11/27/2015 9:59 am
    Quoting GavinLS2:
    My topic is the video. I c it as having little value to the case. Nothing that you cited here can be deduced from it.

    GBU,

    Gavin
I would say the video shows the victim wasn't charging and threatening the police when he was shot SIXTEEN times. Agree?


GavinLS2 69M
1525 posts
11/27/2015 10:02 am
    Quoting Adolpho:
    The protesters apparently are reacting to what they perceive as a cover-up. To have demonstrated at the time of the incident (absent video proof) would have been premature and wrong.
I suppose that's possible. I suspect tho, that if most protesters are asked why they are protesting, they'll say it's due to the police shooting before they mention anything about a cover-up. Hopefully I'm wrong.

GBU,

Gavin


GavinLS2 replies on 11/27/2015 9:49 pm:
The next day protestors responded to interviewers that they were protesting the shooting. So my hope that my initial assumption was wrong is dashed. They mentioned no cover up at all. So my question remains: Where were they last year?

GBU all,

Gavin

GavinLS2 69M
1525 posts
11/27/2015 6:08 pm
    Quoting hobsonschoice:
    I would say the video shows the victim wasn't charging and threatening the police when he was shot SIXTEEN times. Agree?
Hi Hobson

I would agree (as I observed in my posting) that it shows the victim was not attacking anyone. But I can only agree that this video SHOWS him getting shot once.

I'm not disputing the other 15 bullet wounds, because I trust the coroner's report. But if I'd never seen the coroner's report, from this video I'd only know about a single shot.

GBU,

Gavin




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