Video After The Jump
The family of a mentally ill man shot and killed by two Dallas police officers are accusing the two cops of wrongdoing.
39-year-old Jason Harrison was holding a screwdriver that officers John Rogers and Andrew Hutchins deemed a lethal weapon. Within seconds of being confronted Harrison was laying face down, bleeding to death from multiple gunshots.
The incident occurred on June 14, 2014. The video, which was shot by one of the officer's body cam, has just been released by Harrison's family because they have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against both officers, claiming Harrison's civil rights were violated, according to Vice News.
Police were initially called to the residence by Harrison's mom, Shirley Marshall Harrison, who said her son was off of his bi-polar and schizophrenia medication. His erratic behavior alarmed her.
When officers Rogers and Hutchins arrived on the scene Harrison's mother opened the door and told them her son was "bi-polar" and "schizo" as she walked past them. Harrison soon appeared in the doorway behind her holding a screwdriver.
Both officers told Harrison to drop the screwdriver. Within seconds they drew their weapons and began firing, claiming he lunged at them.
Opinions by experts differ on whether the cops were justified in their actions.
“It’s the worst thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” said Cecile Tebo, the former commander of the New Orleans Police Department’s Crisis Intervention Team, told The Dallas Morning News. “That was handled very poorly.”
“They did an absolutely perfect job,” said Keith Wenzel, a retired Dallas Police Department trainer. “There’s a lot of danger. He could take the screwdriver and put it right into the officer’s eye in less than a second. I would be very critical if the officer used a Taser."
Rogers and Hutchins remain on active duty.
View the wrongful death lawsuit documents here. Let us know your opinion in the comment section below.
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