Police officers kill Oscar Grant
The police killing of Oscar Grant occurred in the early hours of January 1, 2009 in Oakland . It was Oscar Grant III (* 27. February 1986 ; † 1. January 2009 ) from the BART police officer Johannes Mehserle shot in the back.
Course of the shooting
Due to a fight in an overcrowded BART train car, BART police officers arrested Oscar Grant and several other passengers at the BART station Fruitvale . The policeman Johannes Sebastian Mehserle, born in Germany in 1982, and another policeman held Grant, who was lying on the floor, by force. Mehserle drew his pistol and shot Grant in the back. According to Mehserle's attorney, his intention was not to shoot Grant but to electrocute him with his taser after Grant grabbed the waistband of his pants . It turned out in retrospect that Oscar Grant was unarmed. The incident took place in the buildings of the Fruitvale BART station in Oakland and was captured by numerous witnesses with cell phone cameras. This footage, which records the shooting of Oscar Grant, was subsequently viewed by millions of people on the Internet . In the days that followed, protests and marches took place against the shooting and the judicial authorities.
Indictment and verdict
Johannes Mehserle was convicted of murder accused, but after the jury solely because of negligent homicide found guilty. He was sentenced for 2 years and was on after 11 months probation dismissed.
compensation
After Grant's family filed a lawsuit against BART for damages, an agreement was reached with Grant's mother to pay $ 1.3 million in damages, while Grant's father and friends' lawsuit was dismissed.
filming
The 2013 film Next Stop: Fruitvale Station (Original Title: Fruitvale Station ) by Ryan Coogler is based on these events.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ ABC7: Mehserle takes the stand in Grant murder trial (English), June 24, 2010
- ↑ a b Fatal shot at unarmed - mother receives millions. South German, June 29, 2011