Tonight the entire country was glued to the television, waiting on one man to decide his career path. Lebron James’ decision to play for the Miami Heat kept most people in front of their TV sets. But while this is going on something more important was happening. If I said the name Oscar Grant most people won’t know who I’m talking about, and honestly I didn’t either until tonight…here is the story
The BART Police shooting of Oscar Grant was a fatal shooting in Oakland, California, United States, in the early morning hours of New Year's Day 2009.[1] Responding to reports of a fight on a crowded Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) train returning from San Francisco,[2] BART Police officers detained Oscar Grant and several other passengers on the platform at the Fruitvale BART Station. Officer Johannes Mehserle and another officer were restraining Grant, who was prostrate and allegedly resisting arrest.[3][4][5] Officer Mehserle stood, drew his gun and shot Grant once in the back. During his court testimony, Mehserle claimed that Grant then exclaimed, "You shot me!" Grant was unarmed.[2][3][6] Grant was pronounced dead the next morning atHighland Hospital in Oakland.[6]
The events were captured on multiple digital and cell phone cameras. The footage was disseminated to media outlets and to various websites, where it was watched hundreds of thousands of times.[7] The following days saw both peaceful and violent protests.[8]
The shooting has been variously labeled an involuntary manslaughter and an execution.[9] On January 13, Alameda County prosecutors charged Mehserle with murder for the shooting. He resigned his position and pled not guilty. The trial began on June 10, 2010. Michael Rains, Mehserle'scriminal defense attorney, has claimed Mehserle intended to fire his Taser, but mistakenly shot Grant with a pistol when he thought Grant was reaching for a gun.[3][4] Pretrial filings argue that his client did not commit first-degree murder and asked a Los Angeles judge to instruct the jury to limit its deliberations to either second-degree murder or acquittal.
Oakland civil rights attorney John Burris filed a $25 million wrongful death claim against BART on behalf of Grant's family.[10][11]
On July 8, 2010, the jury returned its verdict: Not guilty of second degree murder, not guilty of voluntary manslaughter, and guilty of involuntary manslaughter.[12] The sentencing date was set for August 6th.
When will we learn to focus on what’s really important…? The police are killing people and getting away with it…but hey at least we know what Lebron is going to do next right…? Yea, whateva nigga….
