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See Jan. 2, 2007 City of Alexandria, Virginia Press release here:
http://dockets.alexandriava.gov/cmo/pressrel6.nsf/3cd28784527d97b8852567ae0067ded8/f1c5ee96e5995ffc85257257005cdb0f?OpenDocument
On Feb. 25, 2006, an off-duty police officer,moonlighting as a security guard,attempted to stop non-paying restaurant customers by stepping in front of their fleeing vehicle in the parking lot. When the driver (under the influence of marijuana and alcohol) swerved towards the officer, the officer "in fear that the driver was about to strike him with the vehicle, fired multiple shots at the driver in defense of his own life. One of the shots struck and killed Mr. Brown, who had fled the restaurant with the group and was positioned in the back seat of the Jeep behind the driver.
In June, following a separate criminal investigation, Alexandria Commonwealth’s Attorney S. Randolph Sengel determined that Officer Stowe had been legally justified in using lethal force. Mr. Sengel found that the elapsed time between the officer’s first shot, which struck the front of the car’s hood, and the third shot that struck Mr. Brown was likely between one-fifth and one-quarter of a second, and that the Jeep vehicle had traveled at least nine feet during that time.
Mr. Sengel also cited that according to accepted scientific analyses, it would have taken the officer at least one-half second to interpret and react to the fact that the vehicle was passing him as he was firing at the driver."
The officer was disciplined for "unreasonably" placing himself in harm's way.
As a dispassionate observer, I find the information about the number of shots fired in less than one second and information about reaction time to be interesting.
As a citizen of Alexandria, I think this is a sad story about the tragic consequences of a youthful "prank" or petty crime gone awry.
Like other commentators, I wonder what would have been the legal outcome if the restaurant manager instead of an off-duty police officer had done the shooting.
I wonder, does this set a precedent in Virginia?
See Jan. 2, 2007 City of Alexandria, Virginia Press release here:
http://dockets.alexandriava.gov/cmo/pressrel6.nsf/3cd28784527d97b8852567ae0067ded8/f1c5ee96e5995ffc85257257005cdb0f?OpenDocument
On Feb. 25, 2006, an off-duty police officer,moonlighting as a security guard,attempted to stop non-paying restaurant customers by stepping in front of their fleeing vehicle in the parking lot. When the driver (under the influence of marijuana and alcohol) swerved towards the officer, the officer "in fear that the driver was about to strike him with the vehicle, fired multiple shots at the driver in defense of his own life. One of the shots struck and killed Mr. Brown, who had fled the restaurant with the group and was positioned in the back seat of the Jeep behind the driver.
In June, following a separate criminal investigation, Alexandria Commonwealth’s Attorney S. Randolph Sengel determined that Officer Stowe had been legally justified in using lethal force. Mr. Sengel found that the elapsed time between the officer’s first shot, which struck the front of the car’s hood, and the third shot that struck Mr. Brown was likely between one-fifth and one-quarter of a second, and that the Jeep vehicle had traveled at least nine feet during that time.
Mr. Sengel also cited that according to accepted scientific analyses, it would have taken the officer at least one-half second to interpret and react to the fact that the vehicle was passing him as he was firing at the driver."
The officer was disciplined for "unreasonably" placing himself in harm's way.
As a dispassionate observer, I find the information about the number of shots fired in less than one second and information about reaction time to be interesting.
As a citizen of Alexandria, I think this is a sad story about the tragic consequences of a youthful "prank" or petty crime gone awry.
Like other commentators, I wonder what would have been the legal outcome if the restaurant manager instead of an off-duty police officer had done the shooting.
I wonder, does this set a precedent in Virginia?