As of today 671 people have been killed
by police in the United States. When I typed in “How many people
have been killed by...” the sentence filled itself in with
...”ISIS” and “...the police in 2015.” On July 19th 43 year
old Samuel Dubose of Cincinnati, Ohio and father of thirteen was shot
and killed by 25 year old officer Raymond Tensing during a traffic
stop over a missing plate. The entire incident was recorded on a body
camera which once again made me want to shout at everyone about how
having a camera on every cop will not stop them from beating or
killing anyone the same way surveillance cameras don't stop crime. Is
it better that people that commit these crimes can be caught because
there is footage? Yes. But that doesn't bring back someone who was
killed for no reason.
Prosecuting attorney Joseph T. Deters
stated “It was a senseless, asinine shooting. This doesn't happen
in the United States, okay? This might happen in Afghanistan. People
don't get shot for a traffic stop.” He also said “This office has
probably reviewed upwards of hundreds of police shootings, and this
is the first time that we've thought this is without question a
murder.”
When pulled over by Tensing, Dubose is
asked multiple times if he has his license plate number. Dubose says
it is in the glove box. It has to be noted that Tensing knew the
license plate number because it was on the back of the car, but not
the front. Dubose hands over a closed bottle of liquor and Tensing
continues to ask for a license number. Tensing tries to pull the car
door open and Dubose drives away but not before being shot and coming
to a stop. I have included a screen shot from the video after Dubose
was fatally shot point blank in the head where you can clearly see
the license plate.
In less than two minutes his situation
went from Tensing asking “Hey, how's it going, man?” to screaming
“Stop!” and killing Dubose. I wondered why the images I found of
Dubose were either an older one or a mugshot so I checked. Between
1995 and 2009 Dubose had been in trouble for driving without a
license 13 times and had it suspended eight times between 2005 and
2011 and failure to display his plate properly four times between
1005 and 2009. Over his lifetime he had 75 offenses.
I know some of you are saying “Well,
if he had followed the rules he'd be alive” to which I say “You
don't know how this works.” In this situation with this particular
cop there was no right answer. He was killed for being afraid when he
had every right to be. If you have done nothing wrong and anyone
tries to yank your car door open you're going to flee. Dubose was not
good at following the rules regarding his vehicle but none of the
crimes he was ever in trouble for were violent. None. He didn't even
yell when confronted.
Tensing has since been indicted ten
days after the shooting and an arrest warrant issued on Wednesday,
the 30th of July. Tensing is being charged with voluntary
manslaughter and could face 15 years to life in prison. In his report
he stated that he was dragged by Dubose when he sped off. If you see
the video that's obviously not what happened. Dubose drove away, was
shot, Tensing fell to the ground, got up, ran with gun out towards a
car with a man that is now dead. Deters has stated that Tensing
should have just let Dubose drive away rather than shoot him in the
head. Not like they couldn't find the car. The license plate is right
there.
Tensing was placed on paid leave after
the shooting but of course is now fired. Deters asked “Could you
imagine the outrage you would have if this was your kid, if this was
your brother, over a stop like this? And he didn't do anything
violent towards the officer. He wasn't dragging him. And he pulled
out his gun and intentionally shot him in the head.” Sadly I could
imagine this being me or a lot of people I know and am related to.
Samuel's mother Audrey Dubose she knew the truth would be uncovered
in regards to the tapes release being withheld. “I'm so thankful
that everything was uncovered.” She believed that her sons death
would be covered up and that she could forgive Tensing if he asked
for it. She is a far better person than me.
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