The shooting death of a 21-year old by a police officer, caught on tape
Footage has surfaced today of a Oklahoma police officer’s fatal shooting of a 21-year old man, Terence Walker, as he fled on foot after freeing himself from the officer’s grasp. According to the footage–which you can watch below but be warned, it is graphic–Officer McMillin approached the man and asked him to remove his hands on his pockets. He then immediately asked the individual if he had any weapons or something that “could hurt” him. Just a few seconds after the officer got close enough to search Walker, he spun around and began running away.
McMillin began pursuing Walker, and drew his weapon. Then, something weird happened.
Walker stopped dead in his tracks, and appeared to be looking down on the ground that may have fallen from his pocket as he fled. He bent down to pick it up, and appeared ready to continue running away in the same direction when Officer McMillin opened fire. Six shots, three of which hit Walker, forcing him to the ground.
As it stands right now, McMillin is on administrative leave, and a search of Walker’s body post-shooting reportedly produced a loaded handgun, according to The Raw Story, who obtained the video footage. That would provide reasoning as to why Walker took off running.
One can’t help but think back to some of the controversial shootings that took place in 2014–Michael Brown, John Crawford III, Tamir Rice–and how the subsequent investigations would have benefited from the vantage points that body cameras can provide. The Raw Story also revealed that the man began running towards the crime scene towards the end of the video clip was in fact a pastor, and he will more than likely serve as a key eyewitness in whatever court proceedings follow this incident, but had he not been in such close proximity of the site of the shooting, there’s a chance–considering Terence Walker didn’t survive his escape attempt–Officeer McMillin’s testimony is the only account a judge and jury would have to go on. The implementation of these body cameras can be instrumental in achieving justice in the future, whether or not a cop’s actions are justified.
Then again, there’s Eric Garner, who’s death at the hands of the police was ruled a homicide by a medical examiner and caught on video, and the officers involved will face no penalty. Who will survive in America.