Diallo was a tragedy-but one that happened in the blink of an eye. Cops were driving down the street late one night in a neighborhood where a serial rapist was preying. They saw Diallo walking and stopped the car, wanting to question him-they weren’t close enough to, especially at night, on a poorly-lit street, distinguish the details of his facial features. He, in fact, turned partially away from them, as he reached in his pocket.He did not halt (supposedly they said “Freeze!”-Diallo, an immigrant, probably didn’t know what they meant). When he reached in his pocket, a cop said “Gun!” and they fired.
It’s a chicken or egg argument-”cops are too quick to shoot” but hasn’t that maybe come about because criminals , since the 60s—especially in the ‘hood, are FAR more likely to shoot cops-to start shooting at a routine traffic stop, even.
Also, if the armed serial rapist had not been plying his trade, the cops (from a special street crimes unit)would not have been patrolling and on edge.
At what point does the “community” own up to it’s own actions as a cause?
There was an intense manhunt going on, this was no casual driving by.
It’s dark, so what are spotlights for anyhow?
Police departments have been judicially rebuked in the past for their mishandling of the deaf.
In the case of this dirtbag, they were not quick enough.