Posted on 04/07/2010 11:27:26 AM PDT by jazusamo
An inquest jury has ruled that Seattle police Officer Benjamin L. Kelly believed he was in imminent danger when he fatally shot Maurice Clemmons on Dec. 1, ending a two-day manhunt that started when Clemmons ambushed four officers in Pierce County.
Answering a series of questions, the six-member jury was unanimous in its finding that Kelly had reason to fear for his life when he encountered Clemmons in a South Seattle neighborhood while investigating a stolen car. The jury also determined that Clemmons ignored Kelly's orders to show his hands before he opened fire, hitting Clemmons with four of seven gunshots.
The two questions were considered key among the 19 that were weighed by the six-person jury.
Clemmons had also suffered a fifth wound from a gunshot fired by Greg Richards, one of four Lakewood police officers killed by Clemmons Nov. 29 in a Parkland coffee shop. Two of the wounds inflicted by Kelly were considered fatal, jurors in King County District Court were told.
Clemmons died at the scene.
The inquest jury, which heard testimony Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning, began weighing a series of questions Tuesday afternoon but did not conclude its deliberations until Wednesday morning.
Rather than reach a conclusion of guilty or not guilty, inquest juries oversee fact-finding hearings to weigh evidence after a police officer uses lethal force while on duty. The King County Prosecutor's Office will review the jury's findings to determine whether criminal charges should be filed.
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
WA Ping!
Only a left-wing moonbat city and/or state would have even put Ofc Kelly thru such a hearing. In most places, they would have had a big freaking statue erected in honor of Ofc. Kelly.
Criminal Rights nutjobs are a big danger to society...and its sick this officer had to go thru such hearing
Amen.
Ping from yesterdays thread re inquest jury finding.
Any updates on the family members and associates of the cop-killer who helped him evade capture?
I believe several of them were charged with aiding and abetting.
I haven’t seen anything in the news about them since their arrests.
Most states require a inquest to determine culpability
in cases of homicide.
In this case it was just a formality. Sometimes it leads
to murder charges.
Has holder instructed the FBI to investigate this yet?
Clemmons' alleged getaway driver pleads not guilty to murder charges
I hear you!
I haven’t heard anything but wouldn’t be surprised.
The system is there because what appears obvious at first glance is sometimes not.
Yep.
From KOMO news in Seattle:
As the officer was doing his paperwork, he caught something moving behind him. He turned around and saw a man walking on the street behind his car, approaching the driver’s side. The officer got out of his car, immediately recognized the man as Clemmons and ordered him to show his hands and stop.
Clemmons refused, and while the officer was drawing his gun, the man reached into his waist and moved, police said.
“He wouldn’t stop,” Pugel said. “The officer fired several rounds.”
Clemmons was struck at least twice, police said. After Clemmons was pronounced dead, officers found a gun in Clemmons’ front pocket. Clemmons also had sustained a serious gunshot wound from one of the four officers killed in the coffee-shop shooting.
Police planned to arrest more people who helped Clemmons.
“We expect to have maybe six or seven people in custody by the day’s end,” said Ed Troyer, a spokesman for the Pierce County sheriff. “Some are friends, some are acquaintances, some are partners in crime, some are relatives. Now they’re all partners in crime.”
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/78211742.html
Thanks for that update!
You bet and thanks for yours!
Amen!
The guy had a gun and he had recently walked into a restaurant and shot four police officers in cold blood. And he refused to stop or to show his hands.
Of course he was dangerous. Even after turning his back, he was liable to throw himself on the ground and shoot this officer if he got the slightest chance.
The guy shot 4 officers. He must be presumed to be dangerous and likely to add to the 4 given the opportunity. The officer was justified and would be remiss in not shooting the guy in any circumstance other than the perp having his hands high and wide with spread fingers.
Officer Kelly saved taxpayers 20+ years of feeding and housing the sub-human debris. He should receive a medal.
Well said and from the officer that removed Clemmons weapon from his sweatshirt pocket after his demise she stated it was difficult to remove because it was caught on the zipper, that may have saved Officer Kelly’s life.
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