2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Exactly How Often Do Police Shoot Unarmed Black Men? [View all]agbdf
(200 posts)If Brown attacked the officer and tried to take that officer's pistol away from him, as is being suggested, then the officer's use of deadly force is justified. A police officer, by his or her legal authority in all fifty states, does not have to sit helplessly by while a stronger, although unarmed suspect, overpowers that officer.
There is little doubt, based on the store video, that Brown had previously, that same evening, engaged in a strong arm robbery of a store. I believe the toxicology report, when released will reveal that he was on drugs. I have little doubt that he tried to attack the officer and reach for his gun. The repeated use of the term "unarmed" to describe this tragic incident does little to clarify what actually happened. The media has acted very irresponsibly throughout this entire affair.
As to the looters, they seem more motivated by the opportunity to obtain material goods. Some have been opportunistically driving in from miles away to loot stuff.