Six Police Officers Shoot Man 43 Times in Self-Defense — Stopping to Reload in Three Volleys

Police insist that they were acting in self-defense when they shoot Alonzo Heyward in Chattanooga, Tennessee. There is no question that Heyward was carrying a rifle around his neighborhood and ranting about suicide. However, it was the response to the danger that has people demanding answers: the six officers fired 59 rounds at him — hitting him 43 times. The officers fired three volleys and stopped to reload before continuing to shoot the man.

Family insist that Heyward told the officers, “I’m not out here to hurt anybody.” Police tried to disarm him and have called the matter another case of “suicide by cop.” Making matters more tense is that all of the officers were white and Heyward, 32, is black.

His father, James Marine, 61, says that his son was merely depressed and wanted someone to speak to. Notably, the police first tried a stun gun, which Heyward did not drop the gun. He then, according to police, ignored commands to drop the rifle and the police fired when he moved the weapon.

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