Victim on right.
Posted on 09/07/2009 10:01:25 AM PDT by marktwain
Developing story in Georgia, where church pastor Jonathan Ayers was shot and killed by undercover narcotics officers during a botched drug sting on Tuesday afternoon. Ayers was not the target of the investigation.
Police were apparently after a woman Ayers had dropped off just prior to stopping at the convenience store where police confronted him. Surveillance video shows a black SUV pulling up to the store, and plain-clothes officers jumping out with their guns drawn before the vehicle has stopped. Ayers' car then backs into the picture, and the officers fire into his car as he drives off. Ayers was shot in the liver, crashed his car a short distance later, and died at the hospital from the bullet wound.
A police spokesperson says the officers identified themselves as they got out of the truck, though even if they did, it isn't difficult to see how someone in Ayers' position might panic when confronted with armed, plain-clothes men who'd just jumped from a black SUV. He had also just returned from getting money from the store's ATM. There were no drugs in Ayers' car.
Ayers leaves behind a wife who is four months pregnant.
"According to an article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the family were first told that he died in an automobile accident. After that, they were told that he had been shot. It was only later on that it was revealed to the family that it was an officer-related (aka 'isolated incident') shooting.
And yes, of course, according to the police spokesman who wasn't on the scene, the officers did try to warn him: “They yelled, ‘Police. Stop,’” Shirley said."
Atlanta had a some rogues a few years ago that killed some people and planted evidence on a old lady during a drug raid.
“They yelled, ‘Police. Stop,’” Shirley said.”
Shirley you must be joking.
They shot the wrong Ayers.....
Another public execution for the crime of contempt of cop?
More importantly - if they didn't look like cops, I wouldn't sit around waiting to be mugged no matter what they were yelling. I'd drive the hell out of there, and if that meant menacing the muggers with my car it would be sheer self-defence.
A cop in plainclothes cannot expect to be obeyed without displaying a badge. At the very best this was a clusterfrack - at worst, someone needs to go to jail.
Next time it might be the officer that catches the lead... for the safety of every other officer out there, they need to throw the book at these SOBs and lock them away permanently.
Not to mention that they shot a fleeing suspect. There is no reasonable self-defence excuse.
Book-em Dano!
To Quote the president...
The police acted stupidly.
I am glad I live in an area where most of the populace is armed, and we are rarely visited by the sheriffs department.
Maybe it’s the cops that need to have their access to guns restricted? There had better be some immediate and loud outrage on the part of law enforcement or I could see this turning ugly.
Victim on right.
So much for ‘Officer Friendly’.
If killing the innocent pastor saves just one child from smoking a joint, it was worth it...
(/drug warrior mode)
Damn! I saw only the words “Ayers,” and “killed by police.”
What a disappointment.
Wrong Ayers
This appears to be Pastor Ayers blog http://jonathanayers.blogspot.com/
All I can say is sad. I would have liked to meet him here on earth. Sounds like he was a cool guy.
Video here:
After backing up and stopping he is driving away from the two men, one of whom appears to be pointing a gun at him.
Sarcasm aside, they didn't even recover any drugs.
Prayers for those he left behind, and justice for those that caused his demise. I come from a family of Baptist ministers. This hits close to home.
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