This one's real bad.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-amtrak-shooting-charges-20170217-story.html
Alternative facts from both sides.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACD Alternative facts from both sides.
I read the article. What are the alternative facts that you speak of? And what are the two sides -- I am only seeing the side of obtaining justice under which I see as difficult circumstances.
If GM "killed the electric car", what am I doing standing next to an EV-1, a half a block from the WSOR tracks?
Based on the "facts" reported this officer is an outstanding shot and is in bad trouble. There is no way he can convince any jury or any judge that a guy running away at 75 to 100 feet is a threat.
Mac
1st degree seems a stretch. 2nd degree should be an easy conviction.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
PNWRMNM Based on the "facts" reported this officer is an outstanding shot and is in bad trouble. There is no way he can convince any jury or any judge that a guy running away at 75 to 100 feet is a threat. Mac
Agree with that but by the same token you have to remember the shootout on the Metra train that departed CUS just a few weeks before as well as the current Mayor of Chicago's ambivalence to the shooting problem in Chicago.
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Balt ACD in his Post on this Thread refers to "Alternate Facts" in the story posted by OP greyhounds. Reading the article, it seems to gerrymander the narrative, by including details of a previous shooting by a Chicago Police Officer (Houser) of an 'unarmed man'.
Turns out, that the victims in BOTH incidents are being represented by the attorney, Mr. Fahy. Apparently, according to the posted article, Mr. Robertson arrived in Chicago by bus [Feb.8th] from Memphis. He was in the area with a couple of companions waiting to catch a bus to Minneapolis(?) . While waiting he and his companions, allegedly enjoyed their marijuanna smokes outside the station. It was at that point that the AMTRAK officers first(?) contacted the three men(?).
FTA:"...The three companions were allowed to leave, and walked to a nearby restaurant to wait for their 9:45 p.m. bus.
But moments later, the officers again approached and ordered the three to stand against the glass wall of an elevator shaft attached to a parking garage on Canal Street, Kosoko said. Prosecutors said (Officer)Tankson had no reason to think the three had done anything wrong other than possess marijuana.
As Tankson began patting down Robertson, he took off running, prosecutors said.
Fahy told the judge that Tankson's partner had felt a "hard metallic object," possibly a gun, while patting down one of Robertson's companions. When the partner asked, "What's this?" Robertson ran, Fahy said.
Fahy said that "thousands of dollars" in cash were recovered in baggage that belonged to the group and that Robertson had been acting "suspiciously" and was resisting being patted down. (My emphasis)(Sp1943)
IMHO This seems to be the point at which the 'details' become jumbled. In the narrative aludded to by the attorney, Mr. Fahy.
At what point, was the "Thousands of Dollars" found in the luggage of the three detained men? Was it ,in part, in possession of the detained party(s)?
Seems a "strange trail of events". But then I am neither lawyer, or familiar with that area.
A lot of extraneous details. This will hinge on whether the victim was carrying a gun and drew it or not and it looks he did not. If it is true that he was running away (likely), he posed an insufficient threat to the Amtrak officer to justify shooting him.
If Illinois law is anything like ours, I am having difficulty understanding how the charge of first degree murder is appropriate here. That requires a showing of planning that would seem to be missing. Is this another instance of overcharging to ease political tensions?
Dakguy201 Is this another instance of overcharging to ease political tensions?
Or the opposite. Overcharge knowing they won't get a conviction? Don't know. Or overcharge and hoping for a deal with a lower charge?
But I'm not a lawyer. But I do like the pancake machines at Holiday Inn Express.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
Dakguy201I am having difficulty understanding how the charge of first degree murder is appropriate here.
I wasn't going to comment here, but exactly what part of dropping into shooting stance, drawing a precise bead on someone running away, and firing doesn't comprise actionable premeditation?
Certainly even if the suspect had had an actual weapon, deadly-force arguments cease soon after, if not immediately after, the subject has his back turned in full flight. Even in Illinois.
I won't go into why I expect this to be undercharged, rather than overcharged, when or if it actually goes to trial -- those aren't reasons that have particular objective relevance. And I'm going to wait until more hard fact (instead of lawyer opinions and newsworker spin of the moment) has been provided before I react with reason instead of outrage.
RMEI wasn't going to comment here, but exactly what part of dropping into shooting stance, drawing a precise bead on someone running away, and firing doesn't comprise actionable premeditation?
I suppose a factor might be how much time must elapse from the victim bolting to the shooter dropping into a stance before 2nd degree becomes 1st degree? Depends on case law, I suspect.
Smoking the Devils Herb seems to be so normal these days...Personaly I dont like when people stink up my bus and light rail stops with this stuff.
bout 8:30 p.m., Tankson and his partner were on patrol outside the station when they caught the three smoking marijuana, according to Assistant State's Attorney Ahmed Kosoko. The group stopped smoking at Tankson's request and Robertson apologized, Kosoko said.
The three were allowed to leave and walked to a nearby restaurant to wait for their 9:45 p.m. bus.
But moments later, the officers again approached and ordered the three to stand against the glass wall of an elevator shaft attached to a parking garage on Canal Street, Kosoko said. Prosecutors said Tankson had no reason to think the three had done anything wrong other than possess marijuana.
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