In the early morning hours of New Year’s Day 2009, Oscar Juliuss Grant III was fatally shot by former Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Police officer Johannes Mehserle in Oakland, California, USA.
Responding to reports of a fight on a crowded BART train returning from San Francisco, and based on only a general description of those involved in the fight, several BART Police officers detained Grant and several others on the platform of the Fruitvale BART Station. One of the passengers, who witnesses say was not actually involved in the fight, was 22-year-old Oscar Grant.
By the time Mehserle arrived at the scene, another BART officer was restraining Oscar, who was unarmed and lying face down on the platform. Based on the belief that Oscar was reaching into his waistband while being restrained by that other BART officer, Mehserle claims he intended to draw his Taser®, but instead drew his 9mm pistol, and discharged a single fatal round striking Oscar in the chest.
Oscar was pronounced dead the next morning at Highland Hospital in Oakland.
The events were captured on several digital video and cell phone cameras. The footage was quickly disseminated to media outlets and to various websites, where it was viewed by millions. The following days saw both peaceful and violent protests.
On January 30, 2010, Alameda County prosecutors charged Mehserle with murder for the shooting death of Oscar Grant. Mehserle soon resigned his position and pleaded not guilty. After a change of venue, the criminal trial began June 10, 2010 in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
On July 8, 2010, the jury returned its verdict: Mehserle was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, and acquitted of both second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter.
Initial protests against the ruling were peacefully organized, however, looting, arson, destruction of property, and small riots broke out after dark. Nearly 80 people were eventually arrested.
On July 9, the U.S. Justice Department opened a civil rights investigation against Mehserle, however, no federal charges have been filed against Mehserle to date.
On November 5, 2010, Mehserle was sentenced to two years in State Prison, but was given double credit for the 146 days he had already served prior to sentencing, thereby reducing his sentence by 292 days. Mehserle served his time in the Los Angeles County Jail, occupying a private cell away from other prisoners, and was released on June 13, 2011.
Oakland civil rights attorney John Burris filed a $25 million wrongful death claim against BART on behalf of Grant’s family. BART settled with Grant’s daughter and mother for a total of $2.8 million in 2011. It also settled with several of Grant’s friends who had sued for damages because of police brutality.
Shooting of Oscar Grant – Wikipedia
The Shooting Death of Oscar Grant
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