Arkansas Man Fired At Police Point Blank, Ends Up Dead
- Thread starter DaddyHemlock
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Black?
Just put the vid up...
The North Little Police Department on Wednesday released footage showing the fatal shooting of a teenage gunman by officers after a struggle.
Police Chief Mike Davis said during a news conference that the release of dashboard-camera video footage from the scene was deemed necessary after a “great deal of misinformation” spread on social media.
“I fear that misinformation gets out that says the subject wasn’t armed, that the subject didn’t shoot,” he said, adding “that is not the case.”
Davis shared little new information regarding the ongoing investigation during the news conference at the agency’s training building.
On Sunday, officers initiated a traffic stop shortly after 1 a.m. near the intersection of 52nd Street and Camp Robinson Road, according to police.
[RELATED STORY: Teen was breaking curfew when stopped by police]
The vehicle had been traveling an an “excessive speed” and had a headlight that wasn't functioning properly, Davis said.
The chief said responding officers expressed concern over the “nervousness” of the driver while speaking with him. Three people inside the car, including its driver, were asked to step out in the minutes that followed, the footage shows.
Authorities said a gun and a small bag containing marijuana was found on one of the occupants — 17-year-old Charles Smith Jr. — during a pat-down search. A stolen firearm was also later found on the driver’s-side floorboard.
“As officers continued to pat him down, Smith attempted to gain control of a handgun and flee, at which time he was taken to the ground,” Davis said.
Officers tried to subdue Smith using a stun gun but were unsuccessful, said Sgt. Brian Dedrick, a Police Department spokesman. He did not say how many attempts were made.
A struggle ensued around 1:15 a.m., and Smith eventually pulled out the weapon from his waistband and fired one shot that almost struck the other two occupants nearby outside, according to police.
“[Smith] is then observed engaging the slide back on the gun and again firing at officers, almost striking one officer in the face,” the chief said.
That resulted in three officers firing shots at Smith less than a minute later, the video showed. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene.
“No officer wants to be put in this position, but these officers were left with no other choice but to protect their lives and return fire,” Davis said.
He added that an investigation into the shooting should be completed “very soon.” Findings will then be submitted to the Pulaski County prosecuting attorney’s office for review regarding whether deadly force was justified.
The North Little Rock Police Department — one of a handful of mostly large departments in Arkansas that elect to conduct in-house criminal investigations of such encounters — is conducting that investigation.
A separate internal probe is also expected into whether department protocol was followed, according to police.
A lawyer for Smith's family, Willard Proctor Jr., said police showed the video to the teenager's relatives earlier Wednesday.
"We're not at a point where we can make any conclusions," Proctor said. He said that once a complete set of video footage is released, there could be an opportunity to look into "what, if anything, could have been done differently."
Davis said the officers involved did not have body cameras. He said the names of the officers involved could be released after a plan is in place to protect them, since the agency has received threats.
"Misinformation gets out that says ... the subject wasn't armed, the subject didn't shoot," Davis said. "He was armed and we, in fact, had to take action because of that. I want people to see what happened."
During Wednesday’s news conference, Davis advised media outlets to “exercise discretion” regarding the release of footage to the public. Live streaming and recording of the video was not allowed. Instead, copies were provided to reporters for review.
Read Thursday’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporter Hunter Field and The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Police Chief Mike Davis said during a news conference that the release of dashboard-camera video footage from the scene was deemed necessary after a “great deal of misinformation” spread on social media.
“I fear that misinformation gets out that says the subject wasn’t armed, that the subject didn’t shoot,” he said, adding “that is not the case.”
Davis shared little new information regarding the ongoing investigation during the news conference at the agency’s training building.
On Sunday, officers initiated a traffic stop shortly after 1 a.m. near the intersection of 52nd Street and Camp Robinson Road, according to police.
[RELATED STORY: Teen was breaking curfew when stopped by police]
The vehicle had been traveling an an “excessive speed” and had a headlight that wasn't functioning properly, Davis said.
The chief said responding officers expressed concern over the “nervousness” of the driver while speaking with him. Three people inside the car, including its driver, were asked to step out in the minutes that followed, the footage shows.
Authorities said a gun and a small bag containing marijuana was found on one of the occupants — 17-year-old Charles Smith Jr. — during a pat-down search. A stolen firearm was also later found on the driver’s-side floorboard.
“As officers continued to pat him down, Smith attempted to gain control of a handgun and flee, at which time he was taken to the ground,” Davis said.
Officers tried to subdue Smith using a stun gun but were unsuccessful, said Sgt. Brian Dedrick, a Police Department spokesman. He did not say how many attempts were made.
A struggle ensued around 1:15 a.m., and Smith eventually pulled out the weapon from his waistband and fired one shot that almost struck the other two occupants nearby outside, according to police.
“[Smith] is then observed engaging the slide back on the gun and again firing at officers, almost striking one officer in the face,” the chief said.
That resulted in three officers firing shots at Smith less than a minute later, the video showed. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene.
“No officer wants to be put in this position, but these officers were left with no other choice but to protect their lives and return fire,” Davis said.
He added that an investigation into the shooting should be completed “very soon.” Findings will then be submitted to the Pulaski County prosecuting attorney’s office for review regarding whether deadly force was justified.
The North Little Rock Police Department — one of a handful of mostly large departments in Arkansas that elect to conduct in-house criminal investigations of such encounters — is conducting that investigation.
A separate internal probe is also expected into whether department protocol was followed, according to police.
A lawyer for Smith's family, Willard Proctor Jr., said police showed the video to the teenager's relatives earlier Wednesday.
"We're not at a point where we can make any conclusions," Proctor said. He said that once a complete set of video footage is released, there could be an opportunity to look into "what, if anything, could have been done differently."
Davis said the officers involved did not have body cameras. He said the names of the officers involved could be released after a plan is in place to protect them, since the agency has received threats.
"Misinformation gets out that says ... the subject wasn't armed, the subject didn't shoot," Davis said. "He was armed and we, in fact, had to take action because of that. I want people to see what happened."
During Wednesday’s news conference, Davis advised media outlets to “exercise discretion” regarding the release of footage to the public. Live streaming and recording of the video was not allowed. Instead, copies were provided to reporters for review.
Read Thursday’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporter Hunter Field and The Associated Press contributed to this story.
True, true.
I'd opt for the jail, though...
Im glad he felt froggy so he jumped. As a tax payer that's one less human i gotta feed and house.
Your post seems to be at a crossroads of exegesis and hermeneutics of our criminal justice system...
Interesting...
True, he was young and couldn't think past going to jail...
Damn shame....
I wish he would have taken one or two cops with him
Eh...depends on how ya life is going.
I would have pulled the trigger on myself long before then...
So...the cac cops....pull over blacks....for what apparently seem to be valid reasons.....treat them respectfully.....as all should be treated............clown has a gun....attempts to pull it out to play gangsta.......gets it out....and gets shot....trying to be a gangsta......... I don't see shit wrong here....except for the OP ....DaddyHamHock....trying to stir shit up for the board militants that will undoubtedly....find the cops at fault.... and start their piglice rants......delete this fucking shit....fool !!!!
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I thought that he hit him!!!!
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Trying to be gangsta.....prison was his only option.....why try to go out in a blaze of glory like he thought he was gonna get away....even if he did get away........more jail time for when he gets caught....if not execution ...stupidity reaches yet another highpoint!!!
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Why not try to take out some cops?I would have pulled the trigger on myself long before then...
for what cops didn't do shitWhy not try to take out some cops?
If my life has gone to shit, wouldn't it be better to go ahead and forfeit this life and join the silent majority?Why not try to take out some cops?
I dont know. Never had those feelings or thoughts.If my life has gone to shit, wouldn't it be better to go ahead and forfeit this life and join the silent majority?
Well, as long as we are on this earth, your mortality is constantly in front of you.
You have never thought about your own "crossing over"?
That's odd...
Morons that make comments like Trillas'....is what spurs the ill advised, unintelligent, easily egged on by their peers....like the brother that got shot.......to get shot.....producing more morons....... to make more comments.....like Trilla....a never ending cycle !!!
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Earlier this week I learned from the family of 17 year old CJ Smith that he had been shot and killed by police in Little Rock, Arkansas on Sunday morning.
This is the entire video of the encounter. My good friend and attorney Lee Merritt and I have spoken with the family, police, and other attorneys. I want to share this video with you so I can have a very frank, honest, transparent discussion about what happened in this horrible moment.
Lee & I agree with police and the family attorneys that this shooting was sadly justified, but that a series of horrible mistakes ultimately could and should have prevented it. I'm going to break down what I see here so that we can all be educated and informed by it. Feel free to add your thoughts.
1. It appears that CJ and his friends were pulled over by police for no other reason than the fact that they were Black and it was late. This is racial profiling. That is illegal and unconstitutional. In the first 4 minutes of this video you can hear the police struggling to explain or justify why they pulled these young men over in the first place. I said that to say that had racial profiling not happened, CJ would likely still be alive today. Stick with me though....
2. After police appear to make the unjustified stop, the cops were actually courteous and thorough. One of the arresting officers, who was calm and respectful, continued to insist that CJ's nervousness concerned him. What we now know is that it does appear CJ did have a gun on his person and was likely very nervous about this. This was a grave mistake from CJ. Of course, he hoped to get out of the traffic stop without them noticing it. I understand that instinct, but it was costly.
3. Police searched every person in the car. You can see or hear the searches. They never turned up a gun. This was also a huge mistake that could've cost other people their lives as well. Had police properly searched and found the gun, it's likely that CJ would've been arrested on the spot for a smaller gun possession charge. It would suck, but he'd be alive right now. Police failed to do their basic duty during this search.
4. When police opted to arrest CJ, they quickly lost control of him. I understand this is real life, but losing control was again a fatal error. It was this lost control that appears to give CJ the room to grab and fire a pistol, nearly hitting (or possibly hitting) his friend on accident. It makes no sense to anyone that CJ did this, but he did. Unemotionally speaking, even with a gun, he had no chance of getting out of the arrest. It appears he acted out of fear or nerves.
5. At this point, with the situation completely out of control, police shot and killed CJ. It's possible that other options existed, but that's rarely going to be the case in a situation like this.
6. My last point is this. CJ was killed on Sunday. Police released the footage in 72 hours. It is amazing how quickly they will release footage they feel is justified while hiding footage that incriminates them for years and years on end. This selective releasing of exonerating footage vs. concealing of incriminating footage is deeply unethical. Wild how cameras never seem to be defective or never get left off when police need the footage.
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I will conclude with this. We must learn every lesson we can from this horrible shooting. We must refuse to turn away when the facts are messy.
Everyone here made life-altering mistakes that ultimately cost a 17 year old kid his life. The racial profiling was wrong. The end result does not justify the racial profiling. The police search of the kids was grossly inadequate and should've turned up the gun. The actual arrest was out of control. And CJ, who family and friends say must've been a nervous wreck, made mistakes that would've likely cost him his life anywhere in the country.
These shootings and situations like them all happen very quickly. CJ's friends publicly described it all very differently at first, but I don't have any regrets, and never will, when it comes to supporting families affected by violence.
Man....shut yo pussy ass upMorons that make comments like Trillas'....is what spurs the ill advised, unintelligent, easily egged on by their peers....like the brother that got shot.......to get shot.....producing more morons....... to make more comments.....like Trilla....a never ending cycle !!!
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Gang banging in Little Rock 30 years later
The vehicle had been traveling an an “excessive speed” and had a headlight that wasn't functioning properly, Davis said.
Dumb asses, if youre riding dirty you should never give the pigs an excuse to pull you over
Dumb asses, if youre riding dirty you should never give the pigs an excuse to pull you over
fuck outta here
But people that drive the speed limit with all their lights functioning get stopped (in my BGOL voice).
Say that to Shaun King, that's his post.
Dude you're a senior citizen still on that bs. If your old town was so peaceful and safe you wouldn't have dipped. I have friends from round da way who are in service now. If it weren't for them some of these areas they look out for would be on some purge movie in real life lawlessness and anarchy .
True be told its that way now at least they help with getting kids jobs and keeping the peace.
Gaaaaaay
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