enosynce is virtuous

Justice for Corey -- *rant*

...back in 2002, one of my former classmates, Corey Ward, was shot and killed by a police officer. Corey was among few black males who were on the honor roll at Avondale High School. He was a nice guy, always holding doors open for females, I never saw him get into trouble. What I remember most, is him taking out the time to include me in things since I was the "new girl" at the school or whatever. Him and the Senior president, Monique. He was always cool with me.

This is how the story goes:

We graduated May 24, 2002. There were many grad parties going on (house ones, club ones, whatever). Corey and some of his friends decides go to a club up in Buckhead (GA people know what I'm talkin' about). His mother lets him use her truck. A new 2002 truck. I assume they had a good time...they're back in the parking lot....in the truck...Corey is behind the wheel.

A white guy approaches...gun in hand....yells for them to stop and get out of the car.....aims and fires...hits Corey in the fucking head...probably killing him on impact. No one else was hurt physically, but emotionally, who knows.

According to the white guy, (A COP), he heard a car alarm go off in one of the parking lots (the one Corey was getting ready to pull out of)...What made him think Corey and his friends was stealing this car is beyond me....oh I forgot...a group of black males = gang. They wouldn't have a nice new car unless they were drug dealers. So the cop operates on this logic by telling them to get out of the car. Oh yeah, he had a gun too. A cop minus his uniform i might add. No badge, none of that shit. I'll expose his ass --> Raymond S. Bunn. Google this assfuck and you'll find out plenty. According to this fucker, he was simply responding to a car alarm. He also claimed he heard some glass breaking too (they have yet to find broken glass or the car whose alarm "supposedly" went off). He yelled (again, remember...no badge...none of that shit...I guess him being white, we're supposed to believe he was a cop)) that he was a cop and told them to get out of the car. Again his testimony, then Corey tried to run him over with the truck, so he fired a shot.

Basically, this fucker's version of the story ain't adding up. Since he so-called "Dived" out of the way to avoid being hit, he had no scrapes or nothing on his body. Yup. Complete bullshit. They talked to the Chief of Police, Richard Pennington, and this dude had the nerve to say something along the lines of "we train our officers to use their weapons if they fear for their lives" and "they're not supposed to shoot at tires or things of that nature, because that would put road casualties at risk" What the fuck!?

Corey's family was building a case. When this shit hit the newspapers, everybody hopped on the Poor Cop side. I couldn't believe that shit! and what makes it worse, they had a protest at City Hall, and I didn't see NONE of the so called radical classmates who went to school with us. Now what kinda shit is this!?

Johnnie Cochran himself hopped on the case. Free of motherfucking charge. He found out that ole copper here has had a documented history of racial profiling. Dude even beat a black lady down here to the point where she had to go to the hospital. She tried to sue...case got swept under the rug. Oh the shit gets worse.....

...The Cop fucker is no longer a Cop. As Mr. Cochran proceeded with the case, the Cop Fucker gets sent to guess where....IRAQ. And to top that off, Mr. Cochran passes away, and I aint heard shit since. I'm like when the hell is gonna get some justice around this motherfucker?

...there's talks about a hearing next month, and I will soooooo be there if they let the public in.

I pulled up some articles in case you get interested.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

July 26, 2002 Friday Metro Edition

SECTION: Metro News; Pg. 3D

LENGTH: 334 words

HEADLINE: Atlanta chief welcomes U.S. probe of shooting

BYLINE: ERNIE SUGGS

SOURCE: AJC

BODY:
Atlanta's police chief said he would welcome a federal investigation into the shooting death of an 18-year-old man at the hands of a city police officer if that would help get answers.

Markell Hutchins, a local minister representing the family of Corey Ward, said he would ask the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Justice Department to investigate the shooting and the shooter, officer Raymond S. Bunn.

"I welcome an outside investigation," said chief Richard Pennington, adding that the APD is investigating the shooting.

On July 14, Bunn shot and killed Ward in Buckhead, after Bunn said he witnessed an attempted car burglary by the group Ward was in. Bunn said he shot Ward after he ordered him to stop the SUV he was driving and, instead, Ward drove into him.

Pennington, who had been away this week at a law enforcement conference, said he has been following the situation closely.

"I just want my officers to know that we are going to thoroughly investigate shootings," Pennington said. "If they have not done anything improper, they have nothing to worry about."

In his five years on the force, Bunn has had several run-ins with people, including a fight with a woman that resulted in his breaking her eye socket.

Hutchins, who met with Pennington on Thursday afternoon at what he called a neutral site --- the King Center --- said that Bunn is a dangerous police officer. He asked Pennington to keep Bunn off the the streets until the investigation is over. Pennington said Bunn is now in a "non-contact" position.

"I don't want to prejudge this officer, because there has not been a thorough investigation," Pennington said.

Hutchins said that while he is pleased with the meeting, he promised to keep the pressure on the police department.

"We are happy and hopeful that Chief Pennington is on the case," Hutchins said. "And while this matter has not been resolved, we will continue our public outcry."

--- Staff Writer Mae Gentry contributed to this article.

GRAPHIC: Photo: Richard Pennington said his department will "thoroughly investigate shootings."

LOAD-DATE: July 26, 2002
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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

July 24, 2002 Wednesday Home Edition

SECTION: Metro News; Pg. 1B

LENGTH: 913 words

HEADLINE: Fatal police shooting 16th since 1990

BYLINE: ERNIE SUGGS, MAE GENTRY

SOURCE: AJC

BODY:
Corey Ward is at least the 16th person shot and killed by an Atlanta police officer since 1990. Based on research conducted in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution archives, five of those fatal shootings have happened since 2000.

The July 14 shooting death of Ward, an 18-year-old recent graduate of Avondale High School, was the second fatality this year. James E. Allen was fatally wounded May 26 by Officer G.D. Dabney, who reported that Allen began to scuffle with him when the officer was investigating a report from Allen's bleeding girlfriend that he had stabbed her.

Atlanta police spokesman John Quigley said he could not comment on the figures provided by the newspaper. At the paper's request, the department is researching official numbers of fatal police shootings since 1990.

Whatever the outcome, the figures come as no consolation to Ward's family.

Ward was killed by Officer Raymond Bunn, after Bunn reported that the teenager was in a group of six who tried to steal a car at 3:30 a.m. in Buckhead. Police said Ward tried to ram Bunn with a sport-utility vehicle after he ignored the officer's orders to stop and that Bunn shot in self-defense. The car, a Buick, is in police custody.

Ward supporters say that the group never tried to steal a car and contend that Ward was a model citizen.

Ward's grandmother, Judy Arnold-Atkins, described him as a hard worker who just graduated from Avondale High School and dreamed of being an electrician. Before his death his grandmother was about to buy him a class ring but he thought she could use the money for more pressing things.

"He said, 'Mama keep your money and pay your bills,' " said Arnold-Atkins. "That's the type of boy Corey was."

The family has retained lawyer Johnnie Cochran's law firm to determine whether Ward's civil rights were violated, said Shean Williams, an attorney with Cochran's Atlanta office.

"The family wants to know why it was necessary for a police officer to shoot and kill their son over the alleged robbery of a vehicle," he said. "On its face, it doesn't seem right."

Bunn said he identified himself as a police officer. But the Cochran firm's initial investigation is at odds with the police version of events, Williams said.

"These young men were en route home from socializing in Buckhead when they encountered two undercover, unidentified police officers," Williams said. "They didn't know that these individuals were police officers."

Bunn was a part of a crime suppression unit that works in plain clothes in populated or high crime area.

Cochran's firm notified the city Monday it intends to seek a claim against the city, Williams said.

"No one has officially seen the document yet," said Mayor Shirley Franklin's spokeswoman, Sandra Walker.

This is not Bunn's first high-profile incident.

In July 1999, Bunn was the first officer on the scene of All Tech Investment Group Inc., one of two day trading offices where Mark Barton killed nine.

In September of 2000, Bunn got into a fight with a black woman in Buckhead after he ordered her to turn down her car stereo. Bunn said Ylia Lavender, then 24, cursed and hit him and that he hit her back in self-defense. She suffered a broken eye socket.

John Quigley of the Atlanta Police Department said the Lavender case is closed. The City Council denied her claim for damages.

"We repeatedly sought out Ms. Lavender's statement, but she never filed one and she never filed a complaint," said Quigley, adding that Bunn admitted using force on Lavender.

The Rev. Joseph Lowery, the former president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, said Bunn's history troubles him.

"The case needs to be thoroughly investigated by someone other than APD," Lowery said. "The real question is how do you protect yourself against a car with a pistol. It seems to me that the best way of protecting yourself is to get out of the way and not aim a pistol."

Police Chief Richard Pennington has ordered a review on how police officers are trained and the policies surrounding shooting a weapon.

State law requires that all police officers receive a minimum of 32 hours of basic firearms training plus 16 hours instruction in the use of deadly force, said state firearms training coordinator Ernie Tobin.

Part of that training is on the application of acceptable force, ranging from issuing verbal commands through deadly force, Tobin said.

The Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Training Council, which certifies officers, identifies six levels of appropriate force by officers, he said.

"But every situation a police officer faces is different and very frequently it happens that an officer has to go directly from step one to six and use deadly force."

The current 32-hour basic firearms requirement was put in place in 1992 and the use of force course was instituted in 1999, said Georgia P.O.S.T. training director Ryan Powell. The requirement for an additional 16 hours on the use of deadly force was put in place in January 1999, Powell said.

"But these are just the state's minimum standards, and we encourage local academies to exceed those," Powell said. Atlanta, one of four police departments to operate their own academies, "far exceed our requirements," Powell said. "For instance, we mandate 10 weeks of academy training and their's is 22 weeks."

--- Staff writers Lateef Mungin and Don Plummer and researcher Richard Hallman contributed to this article.

GRAPHIC: Photo: Judy Arnold-Atkins cries while speaking about her grandson, 18-year-old Corey Ward, at a press conference Tuesday. Ward was shot and killed July 14 by an Atlanta police officer who said Ward was trying to steal a vehicle. / SUNNY SUNG / Staff

LOAD-DATE: July 24, 2002
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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

July 23, 2002 Tuesday Home Edition

SECTION: Metro News; Pg. 1B

LENGTH: 627 words

HEADLINE: Cop shooting of teen protested

BYLINE: ERNIE SUGGS

SOURCE: AJC

BODY:
A crowd of more than 250 protesters converged on City Hall East Monday demanding further inquiries into the death of Corey Ward, who was shot and killed by an Atlanta police officer.

Chanting "No Justice, No Peace," holding signs reading "We need laws for the law," and wearing T-shirts emblazoned with images of Ward, the crowd and the family are seeking a federal investigation into the shooting, which they claim was unjustified. Markel Hutchins, the president of the National Youth Connection, and the spokesman for the family, said that acclaimed attorney Johnnie Cochran has accepted the case, and the family plans to file a civil suit against the city.

"This is not a pursuit of revenge," said Hutchins, who tried unsuccessfully to get arrested at the rally by blocking a driveway. "We seek justice."

Ward's shooting was the second in eight days involving Atlanta police officers.

According to police accounts, Ward was one of six teenagers attempting to steal or break into a dark-colored Buick Grand National in Buckhead.

Plainclothes members of the Atlanta police Field Investigation Team, driving an unmarked vehicle, were working in the Buckhead Village area at around 3:30 a.m. July 14 when they heard glass shatter and the car's alarm, then saw someone run toward a Chevy Tahoe.

Officer Raymond Bunn, according to the report, identified himself as a police officer and ordered Ward, who was driving, to stop. Ward didn't. As the Tahoe drove toward the officer, he shot Ward.

The family, the teens and Hutchins tell a different story. Hutchins said the teens never tried to steal or break into a car. He said that Ward was driving his mother's Chevy Tahoe and the police officers never identified themselves. Ward tried to get away, his family and friends said, because he was afraid of the man with the gun, not because he had done anything wrong.

John Quigley, a police spokesman, said the matter is under investigation by both the homicide division and the office of professional standards. He would not comment further.

Bunn has been placed on administrative leave. Police have impounded the Buick and the Chevy Tahoe.

"If we allow them to kill Corey unchecked, they will kill countless others," Hutchins said. "People think that because we have a black mayor and police chief, that we are immune to racial profiling. Well, we are not, because if you are young, black and rolling six deep [six to a car], you got to be up to something."

Ward's parents, John Arnold and Monesia Youngblood, would not comment. Neither would the five teens who were with Ward.

The Ward shooting, along with the other two involving police officers, has prompted police chief Richard Pennington to launch a review on the policies and procedures of how and when officers will discharge their weapons.

Quigley said Pennington is planning to meet soon with all of his deputy chiefs to review the policies and procedures regarding police shootings, as well as look at how officers are trained to respond to similar situations.

"The chief wants to get with the folks to determine procedures on how to minimize risks when approaching vehicles on foot," Quigley said.

"He is concerned about his officers."

City Councilman Ceasar Mitchell said he is not sure whether training is necessarily the problem.

Nor does he think that police officers are not following standard operating procedures.

"It might be the circumstances that they find themselves in," said Mitchell, the chairman of the public safety committee.

"It is not new to see an officer use his firearm when finding himself at peril, but we need to look at if we are using all the other possible methods of repelling a threat. And when it gets hot, it gets hot."

GRAPHIC: Photo: The July 14 shooting by an Atlanta police officer of Corey Ward sparked a protest Monday in front of City Hall East. The Rev. Markel Hutchins hoped to be arrested but was not. / LOUIE FAVORITE / Staff

LOAD-DATE: July 23, 2002

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Copyright 2002 Associated Press
All Rights Reserved


The Associated Press State & Local Wire

July 22, 2002, Monday, BC cycle

SECTION: State and Regional

LENGTH: 416 words

HEADLINE: Protesters accuse white officers of killing innocent black teenager

BYLINE: By MARK NIESSE, Associated Press Writer

DATELINE: ATLANTA

BODY:
Hundreds of protesters lined the sidewalks near police headquarters Monday to protest the shooting of a black teenager accused of trying to run over an officer.

Corey Ward, 18, was shot and killed by a plainclothes policeman early on July 14 in Atlanta's Buckhead nightclub district.

Officer R.S. Bunn shot Ward in the head as Ward charged his mother's Chevy Tahoe at him, Atlanta police said. The officer was pinned between the Tahoe and a police car.

Ward's family has said the teen was doing nothing wrong and had no way of knowing Bunn was a police officer because he wasn't wearing a uniform. Family members and friends said Ward fled in his car because he was afraid of a white man brandishing a gun.

About 250 protesters marched outside City Hall East Monday during afternoon rush hour, winning honks of support from commuters. Many marchers wore T-shirts with Bunn's senior portrait and the words, "Always Smiling."

A woman who described herself as a family friend, Rita Owens, said the killing was racial profiling.

"This is happening all over the country. It could happen to your 18-year-old son," she said.

The man who organized the march, Atlanta activist Markel Hutchins, spoke to the crowd using a bullhorn and led a singing of "We Shall Overcome."

"If we allow them to kill Corey unchecked, they will kill countless others," Hutchins said. "Because we have a black police chief, we think we're immune to racial profiling."

The officer has been placed on administrative leave.

Police said Ward was helping another man escape after breaking into a vehicle and shattering its window. Four men and a juvenile, all black, were arrested and charged with entering an auto, criminal damage to property and obstruction to police.

"The matter is being investigated by both homicide and the office of professional standards," said Sgt. John Quigley, a spokesman for the police department. He would not give additional comment while the shooting is under investigation.

Georgia law allows the use of deadly force in self defense when it's necessary to prevent death or serious bodily injury.

The protesters said the two plainclothes officers, whose job it is to stop thefts and other property crimes, didn't adequately identify themselves. Ward was justified in running away from unidentified men carrying guns, they said.

But according to a police news release, the officers told the men they were law enforcement and Ward still tried to run them down.

GRAPHIC: AP Photo

LOAD-DATE: July 23, 2002

Labels: social issues

posted by ~Kesh @ 4/17/2006 10:51:00 AM