Deputy killed and BLM brought up as motive

[downtoearth]

Link: www.cnn.com/2015/08/31/us/texas-deputy-killed-gas-station/index.html

Killer unloaded 'entire pistol' into deputy, DA says

Houston, Texas (CNN)—The deputy never saw the man who walked up behind him and shot him in the head before unloading an entire 14-round clip into his body, a Harris County, Texas, prosecutor said Monday.

Deputy Darren Goforth was found in a pool of blood next to his patrol car, which he had been filling up with gas at the time of this death, District Attorney Devon Anderson said.

Shannon J. Miles is charged with capital murder in Goforth's Friday slaying. He arrived at Harris County District Court in Houston wearing the yellow jumpsuit the county assigns to high-security inmates, his wrists and ankles shackled to his waist. Miles did not speak much during the hearing, but at one point, Judge Denise Collins admonished Miles to address her as "ma'am."

Surveillance video of the shooting shows Miles wearing a white T-shirt, red shorts and tennis shoes as he walks up behind Goforth, Anderson said.

"He puts a gun to the back of his head and shoots," Anderson said, describing the video. Even when Goforth hits the ground, Miles "continues to unload his gun," she said.

"The gun holds 14 in the magazine and one in the chamber," Anderson told reporters after the hearing. "He unloaded the entire pistol into Deputy Goforth."

Miles then drove away in a red pickup truck with a white cooler in the bed, Anderson said. A search for red Ford Ranger pickup trucks yielded a result in the same 77095 Houston ZIP code where the shooting occurred.

Investigators went to the home and found what they believed to be the same red truck in the driveway. Not only did it have an aftermarket trailer hitch like the suspect vehicle, but there was evidence that it had previously been carrying a cooler in its bed, Anderson said.

Police knocked on the door, and a man answering the door said the truck belonged to his brother, who had just left with their mother, Anderson explained.

While police were searching the home to see if Miles was there, Miles and his mother returned, Anderson said. Miles told officers that the truck belonged to him, and when asked if he had any firearms, he acknowledged having a .40-caliber in a blue baseball bag in the garage, she said.

Officers got a search warrant and recovered the gun, which ballistics testing indicated was linked to the shell casings found at the crime scene, she said.

Miles is cooperating with police, but Anderson declined to comment on his possible motive, specific comments Miles made or where and how he obtained the gun.


Targeted for being policeman?


As far as authorities can tell, the only target on Goforth's back was a law enforcement uniform.

"This rhetoric has gotten out of control," said Goforth's boss, Harris County, Texas, Sheriff Ron Hickman. "We've heard 'Black lives matter,' 'All lives matter.' Well, cops' lives matter, too. So why don't we just drop the qualifier, and just say 'Lives matter,' and take that to the bank?"

The phrase "black lives matter" rose to prominence in 2013, when Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by George Zimmerman. It gained more traction last year, when Michael Brown was killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, and Eric Garner died after an apparent chokehold by a New York police officer.

But whether the outrage over perceived police brutality against African-Americans played a role in the seemingly random killing of Goforth is up for debate.

In response to the shooting, Chuck Canterbury, the president of the Fraternal Order of Police, announced Sunday he was renewing his call to make killing a law enforcement officer a hate crime.

Hickman acknowledged that the motive for his deputy's death has not been determined.


Rhetorical debate


While some lauded the sheriff for saying anti-police rhetoric has gotten "out of control," others said he prematurely linked Goforth's death to the "Black Lives Matter" movement.

"There's no evidence that there's a connection between this rhetoric, or this sort of national discourse ... and what happened," CNN political commentator Marc Lamont Hill said. "It's an awful tragedy, but I don't think it's connected."

CNN law enforcement analyst Harry Houck disagreed, saying the anti-police rhetoric is undeniable. He cited a protest in Minnesota over the weekend in which demonstrators held a banner saying "Black Lives Matter" and chanted, "Pigs in a blanket! Fry 'em like bacon!"

Texas state Rep. Garnet Coleman said it was "unfortunate" the sheriff tied Goforth's death to the "Black Lives Matter" movement -- or anything that has to do with police brutality -- so quickly.

But the sheriff had a point, he said.

"In general, I think the overall rhetoric is overheated, and it only leads to more injury and death," Coleman said Monday. "We're going to have to figure this out, whether it's training for police or having a sit-down to decrease the rhetoric -- particularly if it discusses violence at all."


Ambush killings of cops on the rise


In 2014, 15 officers were shot and killed in ambush attacks, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund said in December. That's triple the number of officers who were killed in ambush shootings in 2013, the group said.

Last December, New York police officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos were fatally shot while sitting in their squad car. Police said the gunman declared on social media his intention to kill officers as revenge for the deaths of Brown and Garner.

"I'm Putting Wings On Pigs Today," suspect Ismaaiyl Brinsley allegedly wrote on Instagram. "They Take 1 Of Ours, Let's Take 2 of Theirs."

So far in 2015, several officers have been killed in ambush attacks in addition to Goforth.

In Georgia, Fulton County police Officer Terence Green was shot while responding to reports of gunfire in a neighborhood in March. Police said the gunman "appeared to have gone on a rampage" and ambushed Green with an assault-style rifle.

In Louisiana, New Orleans police Officer James Bennett Jr. was fatally shot while sitting in his car.


Outpouring of support


If there was any hostility toward Goforth because of his job, it was quickly outweighed by the support of thousands of strangers.

As of Sunday night, donors dropped off more than $75,000 for the Goforth family at the gas station where the deputy was killed, organizer Brian McCullar said. A gofundme.com page has raised nearly $100,000.

"This was a very senseless murder and no one, be it of any race, deserved to die like this," Kimberly Bourda Murphy wrote on the page. Goforth's life "did matter, just as all lives matter."

[downtoearth]

I am just going to say that this and the increased ambush killings of police officers are terrible and sickening. However, I also don't think jumping to "more rhetoric around black lives matters" as the only motive is rational or reasonable. Our justice system is at a critical crisis point that change needs to happen and fast and very visibly and I don't want to see any more black people or police officers as random targets.

[zoegirltx]

i'm here in Houston & I'm seeing lots of facebook posts pushing the idea that "all lives matter".
Which I get, but my response is that is there was a national manhunt for this killer & he will be brought to swift & severe justice, unlike many of hte black lives that were lost in police custody.

[zoegirltx]

talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/elisabeth-hasselbeck-black-lives-matter-hate-group

During a segment on the Black Lives Matter movement on Monday morning, "Fox and Friends" host Elisabeth Hasselbeck suggested that the organization be labeled a hate group.

Fox brought on conservative African-American writer Kevin Jackson to discuss the Saturday Black Lives Matter protest at the Minnesota State Fair and the Friday shooting of a Texas sheriff's deputy.

"Kevin, why has the Black Lives Matter movement not been classified yet as a hate group?" Hasselbeck asked Jackson during the segment. "How much more has to go in this direction before someone actually labels it as such?"

"Well they should do it, but unfortunately it’s being financed by the leftists,” Jackson said in response. "Ironically it’s people that have nothing, really no concern at all about black lives."

Watch the interview via Fox News:

[NitaX]

*sits back in chair*

When you consider that any time black folks advocate for their rights, the national response is to tackle them as extremists is standard. Don't believe me see - wiretapping of Civil Rights Movement leaders and the Black Panthers. Currently one of the members of Black Twitter is being survived by the FBI.

The Ghost of COINTELPRO lives.

[NitaX]

Aug 31, 2015 14:15:35 GMT -5 @koko said:

Fuck all those people. Hate group my fucking ass. Like the only strong rhetoric is coming from black folks. Cops lives sure as shit matter but you know what happened when this cop got shot? They fucking arrested the guy who did it in like, a week. And he's going to jail for a long, looooonnnggggg ass time. Just like almost everyone else who murders a cop.

Remind me again how often that happens to black folks when they die in the hands of police? Or jails? Or shit, scared folks who claim self defense because Skittles and hoodies?

Yeah. That's what I fucking thought. Go fuck yourselves.

PREACH.

I've been extremely upset at this continued dialogue that it's all the fault of BLM. It's not. Nuts roam free every where. BLM has been consistent is saying that the excessive force used by police is enough. We keep having selective amnesia is this nation about the very tenuous relationship that black folks and the police have. 

We act like Rodney King didn't happen. We act like Eric Gardner didn't happen. We act like Oscar Grant didn't happen. THEY HAPPENED. People have a right to ask for better treatment by officers. It's not a war on the police - it's push back and asking that black bodies stop being slaughtered at the hands of cops and then folks LYING saying they were attacked and that's why these folks got shot. NO. DAMN IT NO. 

You lie on a fucking body camera that a guy tried to run you over?! C'mon man. That ain't cool.

No one is saying that it's open season on cops - but black folks do feel like it's been a never-ending open season on them. I get tired of this faulty rhetoric. I am just Unable to Can with this BS. 

[pixy0stix]

What did they blame the cop deaths on before BLM? Because you know they were happening before all this. I hate scapegoatism.

[KateAggie]

Funny how cops can't be held responsible for a few bad apples, but black lives matter is responsible for the actions of one lone black guy.

This has been going on here since hour 1 that the deputy was shot. It's total, total bullshit.

[NitaX]

Aug 31, 2015 14:29:39 GMT -5 KateAggie said:

Funny how cops can't be held responsible for a few bad apples, but black lives matter is responsible for the actions of one lone black guy.

This has been going on here since hour 1 that the deputy was shot. It's total, total bullshit.

Always. We're always held accountable for the actions of one person. I don't see all young white men being held responsible for the actions of Dylan Roof. *shakes head*

[ESF]

Here's a really good blog post on this issue if you need something to respond to the crazies in your feed.

goplifer.com/2015/08/31/a-study-in-why-black-lives-matter/

[downtoearth]

Aug 31, 2015 14:06:44 GMT -5 zoegirltx said:

talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/elisabeth-hasselbeck-black-lives-matter-hate-group

During a segment on the Black Lives Matter movement on Monday morning, "Fox and Friends" host Elisabeth Hasselbeck suggested that the organization be labeled a hate group.

Fox brought on conservative African-American writer Kevin Jackson to discuss the Saturday Black Lives Matter protest at the Minnesota State Fair and the Friday shooting of a Texas sheriff's deputy.

"Kevin, why has the Black Lives Matter movement not been classified yet as a hate group?" Hasselbeck asked Jackson during the segment. "How much more has to go in this direction before someone actually labels it as such?"

"Well they should do it, but unfortunately it’s being financed by the leftists,” Jackson said in response. "Ironically it’s people that have nothing, really no concern at all about black lives."

Watch the interview via Fox News:

HOW IS THIS NEWS CHANNEL STILL ON?!?! THEY ARE IGNORANT AND SO COMPLETELY BIASED!

I mean the guy isn't even speaking up and hasn't even said why he killed the Deputy - he sure as shit wasn't all "I killed a cop b/c of #BlackLivesMatter." But two white dudes beat a brown guy and say it's because of Trump and nobody is all up in arms about that - it's like it's just another "passionate" Trump follower?!?!

[josieposy]

Not sure if this is the best place to put this, but I heard something somewhere (was only half paying attention) that the suspect's mom says he was with her at the time of the shooting. Has anyone else seen/heard this? What was the deal there, or are they still figuring it out?

[NitaX]

Aug 31, 2015 14:35:17 GMT -5 josieposy said:

Not sure if this is the best place to put this, but I heard something somewhere (was only half paying attention) that the suspect's mom says he was with her at the time of the shooting. Has anyone else seen/heard this? What was the deal there, or are they still figuring it out?

I had not. But, the video is probably going to kill her attempt at an alibi.

[NitaX]

Aug 31, 2015 14:36:51 GMT -5 @koko said:

Aug 31, 2015 14:29:12 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

What did they blame the cop deaths on before BLM? Because you know they were happening before all this. I hate scapegoatism.

RIGHT?!?!

Where the fuck were you, Captain Asshole, calling for the killing of cops to be a hate crime before BLM showed up? Huh?! Like this shit is brand new??

AND ANOTHER THING. I am NOT FUCKING HERE for the utter hypocrisy of Dylann Roof shooting up a black church and everyone wanted to talk about mental illness and guns and shit, like there MUST have been another reason he killed 9 innocent black people AFTER PRAYING WITH THEM, but a cop gets shot by a black guy, and all of a sudden folks wanna start fucking talking about race and hate crimes and BLM and rhetoric. GO FUCK YOURSELVES. ALL Y'ALL CAN GO SIT AND SPIN ON A DILDO MADE OF RUSTY FUCKING CHAINSAWS.

@koko - Now you know it's because we have an innate criminal proclivity. Shhhh. Can't you see it? All white people doing bad deeds = mental health, black folks = born criminals. 

[KateAggie]

Aug 31, 2015 14:32:03 GMT -5 ESF said:

Here's a really good blog post on this issue if you need something to respond to the crazies in your feed.

goplifer.com/2015/08/31/a-study-in-why-black-lives-matter/

Thank you for this. It's hard to find someone who leans conservative speaking publicly.

[KateAggie]

Aug 31, 2015 14:35:17 GMT -5 josieposy said:

Not sure if this is the best place to put this, but I heard something somewhere (was only half paying attention) that the suspect's mom says he was with her at the time of the shooting. Has anyone else seen/heard this? What was the deal there, or are they still figuring it out?

During the police press conference, the sheriff said the only place he'd heard of such an alibi was from the media.

[downtoearth]

Aug 31, 2015 14:35:17 GMT -5 josieposy said:

Not sure if this is the best place to put this, but I heard something somewhere (was only half paying attention) that the suspect's mom says he was with her at the time of the shooting. Has anyone else seen/heard this? What was the deal there, or are they still figuring it out?

They have both a video and matching ballistics with the gun he had in his house. I didn't hear about the alibi, but it seems like the PD has a lot of evidence. I also don't get why you'd go home and just go shopping with your mom after killing a random person. That seems more mentally unstable than doing what Dylann Roof did and driving far away, but I am not a mental health expert at all.