I saw that at the original ABC story which isn't dated and I can't find any other news showing when this happened. However the ABC account is showing up now in blogs and DU in addition to FR. Something doesn't seem right.
This is a story that gets referenced a lot in the "police shootings" blogs, and I guess someone found it and reposted it, and with no date, it can confuse people.
The Attorney General of Tennessee at the time was Tommy Thompson, I assume no relation to the Tommy Thompson running for Senate in Wisconsin. The shooting had a racial component because the victim was black. Maybe the lefties are stupid enough to think they can smear Tommy Thompson as a racist, not realizing it's a 12-year-old story and it's a different Tommy Thompson.
I can't explain why the freeper would post this.