There is a highly disturbing controversy outside of Salt Lake City where Darrien Hunt, 22, was shot six times by police officers who claimed that he charged them with a sword. Hunt was dressed in a Japanese anime costume with a 2 ½ foot steel sword that the family insists was nothing more than a prop. An autopsy released this week shows that several of the shots entered in the back of his body. The case has raised racial concerns since Hunt was black and the officers were white.
The shooting occurred on September 10th after someone called about a man swinging a sword. Hunt was wearing a red shirt and blue pants similar to an anime character. The officer said that he fired three shots when Hunt charged at him as the officer got out of his car. When Hunt ran away, the police fired four more times.
No drugs were found in his system and a picture taken by a bystander shows Hunt smiling and talking to the two officers. The prosecutors have acknowledged that Hunt talked to officers after they arrived and asked them for a ride. If that is true, they clearly would have gotten a close view of the sword.
The officers have been identified as Cpl. Matthew Schauerhamer and Officer Nicholas Judson from Saratoga Springs just south of Salt Lake City.
What is striking is that days after the shooting, the officers still had not been interviewed according to some coverage and that account of the police department changed. The delay in the interviews raised a past controversy over police moving to protect officers from having to give statements immediately after shootings. We discussed the outrageous policy of Dallas Police Chief David Brown revealed a new policy that would require officers involved in a shooting to wait 72 hours before making a statement. The policy came after a scandal where a surveillance video showed one of Brown’s officers shooting a mentally ill suspect for no apparent reason. The video contradicted the officer’s testimony and undermined the charge against the victim. Brown’s solution was not greater disciplining and monitoring of officers but to impose a delay to allow officers to craft their statements.
The police officers say that they asked Hunt to put the sword on the hood of the patrol car and that he refused — saying “it is my sword.” They say that he then began to swing the sword at them when they decided to use lethal force to protect themselves and others. Below is the picture of sword which seems quite real.
What I am most interested in is the witness testimony. If someone took the above picture, clearly there must be eye witness accounts as to whether Hunt was swinging the sword at the officers. If so, it could be found a justifiable use of force under controlling standards. Once again, total transparency is needed in such a case to assure the public that an independent and thorough investigation is being conducted.
Source: USA Today
Bailers, We agree that the War on Drugs has not only made the police more like the military, but it has amped up the way they treat all situations. But, these cops did not know this sword was fake. Maybe that ax wielding terrorist in NYC could have had a fake ax. These situations are tough. Cops make bad decisions. This may be one, I don’t know. But, the race baiters here and elsewhere are making EVERY cop shooting of a black man “RAAACIST.” The Ferguson fiasco being a prime example. Riot first, gather the facts later. And, if the facts don’t go your way, riot against the justice system.
Nick Spinelli
There was a terrorist attack of a cop in NYC just a few days ago by a man w/ an ax. So, there’s that.
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which means what, Nick? That one justifies the other, retroactively?
For anyone who excuses a cop for shooting and killing an unarmed person, I usually reply: may it never happen to you.
There was a terrorist attack of a cop in NYC just a few days ago by a man w/ an ax. So, there’s that.
“it is now explained by claiming normal police procedure…police are trained to do that, ”
Maybe police training is deeply flawed.
When police are trained to view everyone they encounter on the street as a potential threat, that’s a flaw. When the war on drugs can dehumanize people to the point that police don’t have problems mistreating drug users or stealing their identity, that’s a problem.
In the video interview of the chief of police in one of the links above he states that the fact of the reporting party giving his name, as opposed to the caller requesting to remain anonymous, being important in leading to the credibility of something being amiss that to my sounds like he is trying to put the investigation into a department positive light. I do not find that to be as relevant as the chief does.
This, coupled with the information above where there was a delay in actually interviewing the officers raises suspicions with me as to whether this was an excusable use of force or not.
Every time there is a shooting like this, I think the same thing. I want badly to support and trust our police officers. But when I see this – “days after the shooting, the officers still had not been interviewed according to some coverage and that account of the police department changed. ” It’s next to impossible for me to do so.
What is wrong with police officers, departments and leadership? Do they not care what the public thinks about them? Do they not understand that they are the cause for all the controversy when they do this? I just cannot comprehend the mindset that it must take to be a police officer or command officer. It’s simply not something that anything I was taught or trained how to do would allow me to wrap my mind around.
I’m white, male, almost 40 and middle to upper middle class. I’m the exact demographic that should be their biggest supporter. And they’ve lost me. Worst of all, police blame ME for not trusting them, and seem not to care that I don’t.
“In its ongoing war against men of color, the police state notched another win, Darrien Hunt, 22, shot six times in the back as he fled.
This is not a new story, I think it’s been at least 3 weeks old, if not older. It happened around that time when at least 4 black men were shot and killed by police across the country, where the police felt threatened by their blackness, and thus felt justified to shoot first and apologize later…if they must apologize that is.” po Yep, One of the more amazing of these murders was the black youth in Walmart with the toy weapon.
Agree, Swarthmoremom, that one is egregious in ways that I am still struggling to comprehend. And because it is one event that is hard to pin on the dead man (he lunged at the officer, he punched the officer, he pointed something shiny towards the officer, he refused to cooperate…) on account of the video, it is now explained by claiming normal police procedure…police are trained to do that, so let’s not hold him accountable, the system called for it.
Meanwhile a man is dead for nothing more than holding something legal to buy, legal to hold, in a place where it is perfectly legal to hold and buy that thing. And unless someone makes a ruckus, that death will be swept under the rug just as another case of the cost of running a business.
Lesson learned…. Don’t carry a weapon, unless you’re prepared to use it against the Po-po….. And, you better shoot first!!!!
In its ongoing war against men of color, the police state notched another win, Darrien Hunt, 22, shot six times in the back as he fled.
This is not a new story, I think it’s been at least 3 weeks old, if not older. It happened around that time when at least 4 black men were shot and killed by police across the country, where the police felt threatened by their blackness, and thus felt justified to shoot first and apologize later…if they must apologize that is.
Here’s part of the audio tape and a cell phone image of what he was wearing.
http://fox13now.com/2014/10/02/audio-of-911-call-in-fatal-officer-involved-shooting-of-darrien-hunt-released/
Pogo, A great scene. The still photo of this incident is literally just a snapshot, but the cops look calm @ that specific point.
I don’t think the President’s policymaker and confidante, the most Reverend, Al Sharpton will be heading to Utah. Transporting agitators, err supporters, to Utah is too difficult and costly. “Utah, the hell you say! We ain’t goin’ to Utah, fool.”
The cops stole that scene from Indiana Jones.
Jane – I have to agree. The sword does look real.
As Stephen Colbert recently said about quarantine for those who are exposed to Ebola, “We are not allowed to threaten our neighbors, except with guns.”
issac – the days of the sheriff shooting the gun out of the bad guy’s hand never existed.
I had several of my Hispanic students pulled over in Denver for the crime of driving while brown. They do not like a lot of color in Denver. I think going with the racist thing might not be out of line. A picture of him in the costume would have been helpful to see how dangerous he looked.
That sword does look real.
The days of the sheriff shooting the gun out of the bad guy’s hand are over. The cops shot the kid face on swinging the sword, which seems somewhat reasonable. Then they fired into his back when he turned away. Doesn’t that merit a second look?
It would be easier for the police if we all just walked around in handcuffs and leg irons.