Posted on 04/05/2010 3:50:44 PM PDT by jazusamo
Seattle police Officer Benjamin L. Kelly said he didn't immediately recognize Maurice Clemmons when he first encountered him on a South Seattle street early on the morning of Dec. 1.
But once Clemmons got within five feet and raised his head, Kelly saw the large mole on Clemmons' left cheek and realized he was facing the man who had shot and killed four Lakewood police officers two days earlier.
Kelly, testifying during the first day of an inquest into the shooting of Clemmons, said he ordered Clemmons repeatedly to show his hands. Clemmons refused and began running by the officer, Kelly testified.
"He ran away from me in a dead sprint," Kelly testified.
Kelly, saying he feared for his life, fired an initial volley of three shots followed by four more.
~snip~
As the officer drew his gun, Clemmons "reached into his waist area and moved," the department said in a written statement. The officer then fired several shots at Clemmons, striking him at least twice, the statement said.
A handgun was found in a front pocket of a sweat shirt Clemmons was wearing, police said. A check of the serial number showed the gun belonged to one of the Lakewood police officers, Pugel said.
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
Ping!
“He ran away from me in a dead sprint,” Kelly testified”
Excellent choice of words...
Shot him as he ran away, or did I misunderstand?
“I Take Full Responsibility for Commuting Maurice Clemmons’ Sentence.”
Monday, December 07, 2009.
Mike Huckabee
In the article it says he ran around the car.
I remember that, thanks for posting it.
Sounds like he shot him coming and going. He had a pistol in his pocket, and refused to put up his hands.
Sounds to me like the cops were hunting this guy and shot him on sight.
The cop put seven rounds in him as he was fleeing, without a weapon in sight.
If the cop had shot the wrong guy he would obviously deserve the death penalty and the guys family should own the city. As it turns out the cop got lucky and shot the right guy, maybe he deserves a medal?
That was great when they charged that turkey with 4 counts of AM. Shortly after the murders he was trying to say he knew nothing about what Clemmons was going to do.
Thanks for posting.
“Sounds to me like the cops were hunting this guy and shot him on sight.”
Until recently, DC police were known for never having taken a cop killer alive.
Not quite so; he had just ID'd the suspect at five feet:
SNIP. . . Seattle police Officer Benjamin L. Kelly said he didn't immediately recognize Maurice Clemmons when he first encountered him on a South Seattle street early on the morning of Dec. 1. But once Clemmons got within five feet of the officer and raised his head, Kelly saw the large mole on Clemmons' left cheek and realized he was facing the man who had shot and killed four Lakewood police officers two days earlier.
Then he rightly feared for his life, since the individual he confronted had killed four LEO's two days before.
Seattle D.C.? Not Washington D.C., State of Washington!
You mean he saw someone who matched the description of the perp and shot him seven times in the back as he fled.
The cop's predator instincts kicked in against fleeing prey, it was the fleeing that identified the perp to the cop.
The first rule of hiding is not to appear as if you are hiding.
That's what the story says, and it is plausible, likely, and an appropriate response.
He had just ID'd the perp and;
he ordered him to "'show me your hands." Clemmons put both hands to the front of his waistband and hunched over, Kelly testified. "I believed he was going for a gun.
Given the scenario in the article; righteous response.
I dare you to find someone who hates the company of cops more than I. In this case he was entirely in his rights. If a killer goes into a sprint, and he is known to be a threat to life, the cop is within his rights to air condition the suspect. If a cop detains you and you run, expect the worst.
A cop has no right to shoot at an unarmed fleeing suspect. At best it is manslaughter and at worst it is murder, plain and simple.
Like I said, the cop got lucky. If the suspect had been innocent, the cop should get the death penalty.
Cops are not supposed to be judge, jury and executioner.
I'll agree with part of that statement.
He definitely deserves a medal!
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