In yet another example of out of control police forces in America comes this:
David Hooks was shot in the back and head as he was lying face down on the floor during a drug raid by Laurens County deputies.
That's according to the lawyer representing his family.
It's been nearly four months since David Hooks was shot to death during a drug raid at his East Dublin home.
As it turns out, David Hooks was apparently face-down on the ground when he was murdered by the police, who were conducting what is known as a "no-knock raid". This is when the police are allowed to enter a person's home without the homeowner or primary occupant's permission.
He says Hooks had four wounds, two of which he says are very problematic. Shook says that's according to the Laurens County EMS records. He says the same information is found in the medical records from Fairview Park Hospital.
"One was to the side of the head, the other, was in his back, the back of his left shoulder, based on the evidence we see, we believe that David Hooks was face down on the ground when he received those last two shots," says Shook.
A no-knock raid is one of those things that should clearly be outlawed for a number of reasons. Though it has been ruled legal by the courts, it's one of those things that clearly stretches to the breaking point the intent of our existing laws. Ultimately, it's just an excuse for the police to use their expensive military surplus weaponry and gear.
If a guilty person escapes the police or destroys evidence that could be used against them, this is a less bad outcome than an innocent man being killed by those same police. A no knock raid can never make sense. The overwhelming potential to make a bad outcome into a worse outcome can't be overcome.
I agree with others who have said that the police in America have lost their legitimacy. I'd like to give them the benefit of the doubt and agree that these many tragic stories are the result of a few bad apples. It is increasingly difficult to afford them such benefits of doubt, however.
Whether is is from disproportionately killing and/or harming unarmed black males to false accusations of a crime to these no-knock raids where men, women and even infant children end up maimed or dead. All of us increasingly have something to fear from the police in America, even if you're innocent. Far too many lives and families have been shattered and broken by this corrupt system. If it is a few bad apples, then they've unfortunately managed to ruin the whole batch.
All it takes is a combination of an over-eager police unit + a bogus tip. This is doubly so when you have the ever increasingly popular Swatting pranks occurring with ever increasing frequency.
The truth is that police militarization and violence impacts all of us, regardless of race or creed. I hope that with all the protests happening throughout the country, we can enact some real changes in the near-ish future. Both increased training to not fear people of color and having the police heavily restricted from using military weapons, equipment and tactics would be great places to start.
EDIT: I'm a big dummy who forgot to post the link to the story in question. Thank you to all the commenters who picked up my slack :)
http://www.13wmaz.com/...
Thank you all for elevating this story to the Rec List too.