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| Police officer indicted for first-degree murder in death of unarmed teenager | Police officer indicted for first-degree murder in death of unarmed teenager |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A police officer has been indicted with first-degree murder for the fatal shooting of an unarmed black 18-year-old in Virginia earlier this year. | A police officer has been indicted with first-degree murder for the fatal shooting of an unarmed black 18-year-old in Virginia earlier this year. |
| The grand jury in the city of Portsmouth decided on Thursday to charge officer Stephen Rankin with murder and the illegal use of a firearm for fatally shooting William Chapman, according to court filings. | The grand jury in the city of Portsmouth decided on Thursday to charge officer Stephen Rankin with murder and the illegal use of a firearm for fatally shooting William Chapman, according to court filings. |
| “After a methodical deliberation of a thorough investigation by the Virginia state police, the state’s attorney determined that William Chapman was murdered by a police officer,” said Babineau. “Today, the citizens of Portsmouth agreed.” | “After a methodical deliberation of a thorough investigation by the Virginia state police, the state’s attorney determined that William Chapman was murdered by a police officer,” said Babineau. “Today, the citizens of Portsmouth agreed.” |
| In a brief message to the Guardian, Chapman’s mother, Sallie, described the news as “wonderful”. | In a brief message to the Guardian, Chapman’s mother, Sallie, described the news as “wonderful”. |
| “I am so thankful,” she said. “Justice. Justice. Justice.” | “I am so thankful,” she said. “Justice. Justice. Justice.” |
| Rankin shot Chapman in the head and chest outside a Walmart superstore on the morning of 22 April. The pair had engaged in a physical struggle after Rankin tried to arrest the 18-year-old on suspicion of shoplifting, according to police. | Rankin shot Chapman in the head and chest outside a Walmart superstore on the morning of 22 April. The pair had engaged in a physical struggle after Rankin tried to arrest the 18-year-old on suspicion of shoplifting, according to police. |
| Witnesses said Chapman broke free and then stepped back towards the officer aggressively before being shot twice. The 18-year-old was the second unarmed man shot dead by Rankin in Portsmouth. An autopsy indicated Chapman was not shot at close range. | Witnesses said Chapman broke free and then stepped back towards the officer aggressively before being shot twice. The 18-year-old was the second unarmed man shot dead by Rankin in Portsmouth. An autopsy indicated Chapman was not shot at close range. |
| Nicole Belote, an attorney for Rankin, said in an email following Thursday’s decision that he denied wrongdoing. Belote said Rankin intended surrender to authorities and turn himself in. | Nicole Belote, an attorney for Rankin, said in an email following Thursday’s decision that he denied wrongdoing. Belote said Rankin intended surrender to authorities and turn himself in. |
| “While I am quite surprised that a charge of first degree murder was presented to the grand jury and returned as a true bill because the facts do not support such a charge, it does not change our defence,” said Belote. | “While I am quite surprised that a charge of first degree murder was presented to the grand jury and returned as a true bill because the facts do not support such a charge, it does not change our defence,” said Belote. |
| “We will continue to prepare for trial and zealously defend Officer Rankin.” | “We will continue to prepare for trial and zealously defend Officer Rankin.” |
| At a press conference later on Thursday, Morales said she would not be releasing any of the evidence against Rankin and that he would be tried “not in the court of the public opinion or through the media” but in the Virginia courts. “I submit to you that it is paramount for everyone to respect the judicial process,” she said. | |
| Earl Lewis, a cousin of Chapman who has acted as a family spokesman, said following the grand jury’s decision: “Justice has been served, and it has been shown that black lives matter in Portsmouth, Virginia.” | Earl Lewis, a cousin of Chapman who has acted as a family spokesman, said following the grand jury’s decision: “Justice has been served, and it has been shown that black lives matter in Portsmouth, Virginia.” |
| Last week Stephanie Morales, the commonwealth’s attorney for Portsmouth, announced she would seek an indictment over Chapman’s death. Authorities have declined to say whether Chapman was found to have stolen anything. | Last week Stephanie Morales, the commonwealth’s attorney for Portsmouth, announced she would seek an indictment over Chapman’s death. Authorities have declined to say whether Chapman was found to have stolen anything. |
| The shooting was investigated by the Virginia state police, which passed its findings to Morales earlier this month. The prosecutor also commissioned her own investigative work and tests by the state department of forensic science. | The shooting was investigated by the Virginia state police, which passed its findings to Morales earlier this month. The prosecutor also commissioned her own investigative work and tests by the state department of forensic science. |
| Rankin, 36, is a veteran of the US navy. In 2011, he fatally shot Kirill Denyakin, a Kazakh cook, while responding to a 911 call about Denyakin aggressively banging at the door of a building where he was staying. A grand jury declined to indict the officer. | Rankin, 36, is a veteran of the US navy. In 2011, he fatally shot Kirill Denyakin, a Kazakh cook, while responding to a 911 call about Denyakin aggressively banging at the door of a building where he was staying. A grand jury declined to indict the officer. |
| Lewis, a former police officer, said: “We would also like to give our condolences to the Denyakin family. If he had stopped then, William would still be alive today. We lost a very valuable young man in our family.” | Lewis, a former police officer, said: “We would also like to give our condolences to the Denyakin family. If he had stopped then, William would still be alive today. We lost a very valuable young man in our family.” |