Some are comparing this shooting to the 2014 Tamir Rice shooting. Police received a 911 call that a juvenile was waiving a gun at a local park in Cleveland. The caller said the gun may potentially be fake. However, arriving officers didn’t receive this information. They said Rice went for a gun before officers shot Rice, who died the next day.
Regarding the Tyre King shooting, police recovered a BB gun that looked identical to a real gun with a laser scope. Braxton told police that King was looking to rob someone. The attorney for the King family is seeking witnesses. He said the family is concerned the killing may not have occurred as described by Officer Mason. King is also the second person shot and killed by Mason—a justified shooting.
It’s still early in the investigation. But, we know many police shootings share two likenesses. One, suspects often run when approached by police. Two, they reach for a weapon or fail to keep their hands in plain view.
Unfortunately, I have seen video footage involving police officers shooting unarmed men. When white police officers shoot a black person, racism is often unfairly assumed. Most police officers are good people with families willing to protect complete strangers. For instance, 60 police officers died protecting people on Sept. 11, 2001.
Consider a police officer’s point of view. What happens if an officer pulls over a serial killer or junkie who needs a fix? A desperate criminal or junkie will kill you, me or a police officer without any thought.
This is why it’s best to obey a police officer when ordered to keep your hands in plain sight. And it’s foolish to flee or pull a weapon. He doesn’t know if your weapon is real. If you pull a weapon, he only has seconds to react.
If you see a picture of the gun pulled on Officer Mason, it looks real. My father always said, “Better to be judged by twelve than carried by six.” I agree. Pull a weapon on a police officer and he will shoot you. Officers are trained to react with deadly force when threatened. Of course, I am a realist. Although every profession has its bad apples, it’s best to comply with someone who carries a gun. If you have a dispute, just wait for a court date. It’s better than ending up in a graveyard.
Marc is a grandfather and longtime Clermont County resident. Visit his author page at http://www.lifewithgrandpa.com and blog at http://www.wisegrandpa.com.