Posted on 11/24/2020 7:50:24 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
A former rookie San Francisco police officer who was on his fourth day on the job when he fatally shot an unarmed carjacking suspect in 2017 has been charged with manslaughter, the city's top prosecutor announced Monday. District Attorney Chesa Boudin said it marked the first time a San Francisco law enforcement officer has been charged with a homicide while on duty.
Christopher Samayoa was charged with voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, assault by an executive officer, assault with a semi automatic firearm and negligent discharge of a firearm in the killing of 42-year-old Keita O'Neil, Boudin said.
Boudin called the decision to file charges "historic."
"As far as we are aware, this is the first ever time that the San Francisco District Attorney's Office has filed homicide charges against a law enforcement officer for a homicide while on duty," Boudin said at a news conference.
Samayoa's firing had generated outrage from the police officer union, which said previously he was fired for doing what he was trained to do.
O'Neil, who died at a hospital, was suspected of assaulting a California Lottery employee and stealing a van that belonged to the agency.
Police chased the van and another SUV seen traveling with it to a public housing area. O'Neil abandoned the stolen vehicle and started running toward the patrol car occupied by Samayoa, who was in the passenger seat, and his training officer, police have said.
The footage shows Samayoa drawing his pistol while the cruiser was still moving. The video then shows him open the side door and fire a single shot through the window as O'Neil runs by in the opposite direction. O'Neil was not armed.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
Where is Dirty Harry when you need him?
You mean for the DA?
“former rookie San Francisco police officer”
Aren’t all police officers former rookies?
Boudin?
The footage shows Samayoa drawing his pistol while the cruiser was still moving. The video then shows him open the side door and fire a single shot through the window as O'Neil runs by in the opposite direction. O'Neil was not armed.Shooting through the widow??
Anyone think a police officer can get a fair trial in San Fran?
I actually witnessed an officer involved shooting in SF. Both officers excited their patrol car, shouted a warning and then opened up Dirty Harry style. Doesn’t seem like any of that was done here.
I am not opposed to homicide charges against on-duty officers, in principal and if warranted.
But I don’t know what happened in this case.
I am certainly opposed to Qualified Immunity, As every conservative and liberty minded person should be.
Why bother to exit your car when it’s so much easier to shoot through your car window? Saves the bother of having to get up and open the door.
This is an issue with reflex training.
When the suspect starts running toward the patrol car, the officer interprets that as a possible deadly force situation. He starts the muscle memory of drawing and firing. He completes the action as the suspect is passing him, at which instant there is no deadly threat.
Well, anything that these fools say needs to be thoroughly investigated, you cant trust anything coming from them.
Hopefully the lawyers file a change of venue request and publicly go out and say that there is no way the officer can get a fair trial in SF.
Say as many times as possible that the DA and the supporting “judicial system” is corrupt.
Stir stuff up.
I am certainly opposed to Qualified Immunity, As every conservative and liberty minded person should be.
+1
Five individual charges for one act. Boudin’s wet dream come true.
Police Officer = Crime Stopper
Van lives to drive another day
Thanks. I had not considered he was running TOWARD the car. I figured he was fleeing.
I’ve seen several bodycam videos the past few months where the perp was aggressively running toward the officer. This seems to be a new phenomena caused by people feeling invincible and “you won’t shoot me” syndrome.
I wonder if he still has his hearing?
Did the office accidentally discharge his weapon?
“Did the office accidentally discharge his weapon?”
No such thing exists. He “Negligently discharged” his weapon or so the DA Boudin maintains.
Hear is body cam footage.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Body-camera-footage-shows-fatal-police-shooting-12415103.php#photo-14636771
What’s interesting is one of the charges is use of a semi-automatic weapon. As if a revolver or a flint lock won’t kill you just as dead.
District Attorney Chesa Boudin
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