Post-Racial Update: NOPD Cleared of Killing Suicidal Black Man Laying in Bed

Last Friday saw the NOPD cleared of killing a suicidal Black man laying in bed. Brian Harris was shot and killed by a member of the NOPD (New Orleans Police Department) on April 10th, 2010. His family filed a wrongful death suit, and lost. Why was Harris shot and killed? The determination — in this case, at least to me — was the term, suicide by cop. The term is often misused to describe or justify police shootings.

The assumption is that certain victims of police shootings who come into contact with police wish to be killed by them. Or, that the actions of some victims of police shootings — with the exception of the occasional person reaching for a wallet or comb of course — warrant their demise at the hands of cops. You know, like the events on New Orleans’ Danzinger Bridge in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina back in 2005?

But as it is often in the case of police shootings, there is always doubt. Such is the case with Harris, but as I mentioned before, a judge ruled that his shooting death by a police officer, was justified. So what did Harris do to deserve two bullets from the gun of a police officer? According to police reports, he charged at them wielding a knife after failing to comply with orders to drop said weapon. Given that explanation, the death of Harris appears to be a clear case of yet another justified police shooting. But as technology would have it, it doesn’t appear to be that way.

So how did we get here? Police made contact with Harris after being called to his home by his wife. Mrs. Tyralyn Harris, quite naturally called the cops because her husband appeared to be a danger to himself. She said her husband was dangerous, trying to kill himself and may have taken an overdose of sleeping pills.

Initial police reports state that upon arrival, Harris was barricaded in a bedroom armed with a knife. Police also stated that upon entering the room, after deploying tasers after Harris’ failure to comply with orders to disarm himself. Harris charged towards police which resulted in him being shot in the chest and leg, only to die later after being transported to University Hospital. So, did 39-year-old Brian Harris charge the police while armed? Given Harris’ mental state and previous declarations of wanting to commit suicide, was this suicide by cop?

Clearly, his relatives would say no; hence their wrongful death lawsuit. A lawsuit which they have since lost as mentioned earlier. And of course the NOPD will and is still sticking to the claim that the shooting was justified (yep, and as mentioned, all police shootings are “justified” by police).

However, with the emergence of video of Harris’ last few minutes before being shot, the court of public opinion says differently. What’s even more troubling to many, is the fact that said police video was sealed as evidence by a judge, and not made public until now. If you take the time to view it below, you can make up your mind as to whether Harris’ death was justified. as for my opinion? Well, let’s just say that shooting a man who is laying in bed after being shocked by a taser, sounds much like an execution — you know, something cops are known to do?

Okay, to be fair, being a police officer is demanding; and, it often requires cops to make split second life-or-death decisions. Yes, I get that. However, something is really wrong when a person can now travel on a plane with a pocket knife; but, get shot and killed by cops for holding a pocket knife while lying on one’s back in bed. I hate to throw a race card, but we’ve seen this before  (here, & here).

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