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I’m watching this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=1352&v=cW2rSNytAxQ

27+ minutes, in high-def (Warning: Graphic).

I’m interested in this case because my college grad daughter and her beloved moved to Cincy in June.

In my opinion, it’s not a righteous shoot, it’s a panic shoot. Dubose turns off his car at the 1:40 mark of this video, answers (or evades) Tensing’s questions, and then as Tensing requests he unbuckle and step out of the car, Dubose claims he didn’t do anything and re-starts the car at about 3:15. Clear intent to flee. Tensing then reaches in to turn off the car and things get escalated in a nanosecond.

I can’t support an outright murder indictment. I can support manslaughter. However, Tensing, building his case, takes every opportunity following the shooting to say out loud that his arm or hand was caught in the steering wheel and he was being dragged (which isn’t clearly shown), so he might be something of a sleazebag in that regard..

I am concerned about the seeming increase in rate of officer/civilian shootings. This country is simmering wildly just below the surface. I have daughters in Cincy and Columbia, SC and frankly I worry about rioting affecting both of them. But IMO, Tensing was overcharged. I’d call it manslaughter and be comfortable in that decision. It’s ugly on both sides. Tensing bolsters his case with being “dragged” and Dubose doesn’t do himself any favors with being evasive and making gestures indicating intent to flee.

It may be an unpopular opinion, but it’s mine and I own it.

That youtube video is much clearer.

You're right - this is a panic shoot. What happens, I think, is that when Dubose starts the car to pull away Tensing reaches in and tries to switch the keys off in the ignition, and is either grabbed by the suspect or gets his arm or hand caught in the steering wheel. As the car moves, Tensing pulls out his gun and shoots Dubose, and is then tossed on the ground by the moving vehicle - you can tell when Tensing is on the ground because his cam is pointed at the sky.

While I have some sympathy for Tensing because of what is going to happen to him, I would have to agree that this is not optimal police work, and Tensing should never have had his body in the car.