Just to refresh your memory, John Crawford was the one in Walmart with a bb gun who got gunned down by police officers. Click here to read the whole story.
Here is the update, as reported by WCPO:
XENIA, Ohio – A special prosecutor says a grand jury found officers’ actions were justified in the fatal shooting of a man at an Ohio Walmart.
Special Prosecutor Mark Piepmeier said Wednesday the Greene County grand jury in Xenia opted not to indict anyone in the Aug. 5 death of John Crawford III.
Crawford, 22, was found to have been carrying a BB/pellet rifle he picked up in the store. Police said they shot the Fairfield man because he ignored commands to drop the rifle, a statement the man’s family attorney disputes, according to the Dayton Daily News .
Surveillance video of the shooting released at news conference.
The Dayton Daily News reports says the footage shows Crawford holding the air rifle to his shoulder and walking around the store. Several police officers are seen rushing into the Beavercreek Walmart with guns drawn toward Crawford.
Vince Pope, attorney for the officers involved in the shooting, released the following statement: “I believe the grand jury’s decision, it’s absolutely the right decision, that the officers acted well within their training.”
Derrick Foward, president of the Dayton Unit NAACP, disagrees.
“The Special Grand Jury in Greene County made the wrong decision. It’s a sad day in the history of Dayton,” Foward said. “We will be calling for a full and complete investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice.”
Crawford’s family previously stated they want federal authorities to investigate whether race was a factor in the shooting. Crawford was black, the officers are white.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich said he agrees the decision should be evaluated by at a federal level.
“After talking with the Attorney General and watching the video myself, I agree with his decision that a review by the U.S. Department of Justice is appropriate,” Kasich said in a release moments after the decision was announced.
“This is a tragedy for the Crawford family and I share the concern of many in the community that this matter must be handled with the utmost seriousness and respect,” he continued. “I’ve consulted with local leaders, including leaders in the African-American community, and I applaud the example they have set of calm, restraint and patience.”
Oh. And just in case you didn’t know, Ohio is an open carry state.
Shame on this grand jury. When will this stop? When will “justice” be served?
I’m encouraged by the fact that the governor is on board for federal review, but this should’ve been handled by the grand jury. SMH
UPDATED: September 24, 2014, 2:25pm
Here’s the video surveillance from Walmart:
They shot him…INSTANTLY. He IMMEDIATELY dropped the gun.
I am SICK.
How in the world could the grand jury POSSIBLY come back without an indictment? This was murder!!! He wasn’t doing anything!!!!!
Sick.
