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Family of William Chapman to sue former Virginia officer after conviction Family of William Chapman to sue former Virginia officer after conviction
(17 days later)
The family of an unarmed black 18-year-old who was shot dead by police officer Stephen Rankin is preparing to sue him and local authorities for millions of dollars in damages, after Rankin was convicted of manslaughter.The family of an unarmed black 18-year-old who was shot dead by police officer Stephen Rankin is preparing to sue him and local authorities for millions of dollars in damages, after Rankin was convicted of manslaughter.
Related: William Chapman shooting: Virginia officer found guilty of manslaughter
An attorney for William Chapman’s mother, Sallie, said he was readying a civil lawsuit that will argue the city of Portsmouth, Virginia, and its former police chief Ed Hargis should never have allowed Rankin to work as a police officer.An attorney for William Chapman’s mother, Sallie, said he was readying a civil lawsuit that will argue the city of Portsmouth, Virginia, and its former police chief Ed Hargis should never have allowed Rankin to work as a police officer.
“It will be filed within a couple of weeks,” said the attorney, Jon Babineau.“It will be filed within a couple of weeks,” said the attorney, Jon Babineau.
In an article that first confirmed Rankin as the officer who killed Chapman, the Guardian disclosed in June last year that alarms were raised within the Portsmouth police department about Rankin’s conduct even before his first deadly shooting of an unarmed man, in 2011.In an article that first confirmed Rankin as the officer who killed Chapman, the Guardian disclosed in June last year that alarms were raised within the Portsmouth police department about Rankin’s conduct even before his first deadly shooting of an unarmed man, in 2011.
Sallie Chapman said she was not satisfied with Rankin’s conviction for voluntary manslaughter and the jury’s recommended sentence of two and a half years in prison. “It’s not enough,” she said. Rankin will be formally sentenced by Judge Johnny Morrison on 12 October.Sallie Chapman said she was not satisfied with Rankin’s conviction for voluntary manslaughter and the jury’s recommended sentence of two and a half years in prison. “It’s not enough,” she said. Rankin will be formally sentenced by Judge Johnny Morrison on 12 October.
Rankin’s lawyers said he would appeal against his conviction. “The jury should have heard the whole story,” said James Broccoletti, his lead attorney, who complained that he was prevented from citing Chapman’s juvenile criminal record at the trial.Rankin’s lawyers said he would appeal against his conviction. “The jury should have heard the whole story,” said James Broccoletti, his lead attorney, who complained that he was prevented from citing Chapman’s juvenile criminal record at the trial.
Rankin, 36, killed Chapman outside a Walmart superstore in the city on 22 April 2015, during a confrontation over a suspected shoplifting. He shot Chapman in the face and the chest. Rankin claimed he fired when Chapman aggressively charged at him.Rankin, 36, killed Chapman outside a Walmart superstore in the city on 22 April 2015, during a confrontation over a suspected shoplifting. He shot Chapman in the face and the chest. Rankin claimed he fired when Chapman aggressively charged at him.
Testifying in his own defense at Portsmouth circuit court, Rankin appeared to undermine his own case to have acted reasonably, by unexpectedly and repeatedly saying that he had experienced “tunnel vision” when he killed Chapman.Testifying in his own defense at Portsmouth circuit court, Rankin appeared to undermine his own case to have acted reasonably, by unexpectedly and repeatedly saying that he had experienced “tunnel vision” when he killed Chapman.
The Guardian published a series of articles about Chapman’s fatal shooting to coincide with the launch of The Counted, an investigation to document every death caused by police in the US. Earl Lewis, a cousin of Chapman who has acted as a family spokesman since the shooting, credited the articles with setting in motion the prosecution of Rankin.The Guardian published a series of articles about Chapman’s fatal shooting to coincide with the launch of The Counted, an investigation to document every death caused by police in the US. Earl Lewis, a cousin of Chapman who has acted as a family spokesman since the shooting, credited the articles with setting in motion the prosecution of Rankin.
“It instantly changed things,” said Lewis. “Nobody was listening to what we had to say but your article gave Sallie a voice. If it wasn’t for the Guardian, we wouldn’t be here.”“It instantly changed things,” said Lewis. “Nobody was listening to what we had to say but your article gave Sallie a voice. If it wasn’t for the Guardian, we wouldn’t be here.”
Rankin avoided prosecution for fatally shooting Kirill Denyakin, a hotel cook from Kazakhstan. Rankin shot Denyakin 11 times outside an apartment building in Portsmouth after a 911 caller reported the 26-year-old was banging loudly on the front door. The officer said Denyakin charged at him, the same explanation he gave for opening fire on Chapman.Rankin avoided prosecution for fatally shooting Kirill Denyakin, a hotel cook from Kazakhstan. Rankin shot Denyakin 11 times outside an apartment building in Portsmouth after a 911 caller reported the 26-year-old was banging loudly on the front door. The officer said Denyakin charged at him, the same explanation he gave for opening fire on Chapman.
A close friend of Denyakin said that in light of Rankin’s conviction on Thursday, he intended to make a citizen’s complaint seeking criminal charges against him for the 2011 killing as well. “We will take another swing at this,” said the friend, Maurice Wilson.A close friend of Denyakin said that in light of Rankin’s conviction on Thursday, he intended to make a citizen’s complaint seeking criminal charges against him for the 2011 killing as well. “We will take another swing at this,” said the friend, Maurice Wilson.
Denyakin’s mother, Yelena, watched the entire trial over the past fortnight alongside Sallie Chapman after traveling to Portsmouth from Kazakhstan. “I’m really pleased he was convicted but the sentence is not enough,” she said outside court. “But why didn’t my son get justice when he was shot 11 times?”Denyakin’s mother, Yelena, watched the entire trial over the past fortnight alongside Sallie Chapman after traveling to Portsmouth from Kazakhstan. “I’m really pleased he was convicted but the sentence is not enough,” she said outside court. “But why didn’t my son get justice when he was shot 11 times?”
A grand jury declined to indict Rankin for Denyakin’s death, and a $22m civil case that was brought against the officer by Denyakin’s family ended in failure. Rankin was banned from street patrols and restricted to administrative duties for two and a half years following his shooting of Denyakin, after the Kazakh government complained to the US state department.A grand jury declined to indict Rankin for Denyakin’s death, and a $22m civil case that was brought against the officer by Denyakin’s family ended in failure. Rankin was banned from street patrols and restricted to administrative duties for two and a half years following his shooting of Denyakin, after the Kazakh government complained to the US state department.
Rankin used a pseudonym to taunt Denyakin’s family in comments he posted to the website of the Virginian-Pilot, the local newspaper, writing: “22 mil wont buy your boy back.” He also noted that most Americans couldn’t hope to earn such sums in an entire career, “let alone a habitual drunk working as a hotel cook”.Rankin used a pseudonym to taunt Denyakin’s family in comments he posted to the website of the Virginian-Pilot, the local newspaper, writing: “22 mil wont buy your boy back.” He also noted that most Americans couldn’t hope to earn such sums in an entire career, “let alone a habitual drunk working as a hotel cook”.
Prosecutors were barred from telling jurors in the trial over Chapman’s death that Rankin had killed before. The only reference to Denyakin’s death permitted was a video clip recorded by the camera on Rankin’s Taser moments after he shot Chapman. “This is my second one,” he could be heard telling a witness.Prosecutors were barred from telling jurors in the trial over Chapman’s death that Rankin had killed before. The only reference to Denyakin’s death permitted was a video clip recorded by the camera on Rankin’s Taser moments after he shot Chapman. “This is my second one,” he could be heard telling a witness.
But details of the Denyakin shooting will feature in the Chapman family’s civil lawsuit against Portsmouth, according to their attorney. Also likely to appear are doom-laden mobile messages that Rankin exchanged with colleagues in the hours before he shot Chapman.But details of the Denyakin shooting will feature in the Chapman family’s civil lawsuit against Portsmouth, according to their attorney. Also likely to appear are doom-laden mobile messages that Rankin exchanged with colleagues in the hours before he shot Chapman.
“The city sucks, but so does the rest of the world,” Rankin wrote from the computer console in his patrol car about 90 minutes before he killed Chapman. “People are just bad. I think the story was that god would have spared sodam and gomora [sic] if they could have found just 10 decent men, and he wound up smiteing [sic] both cities.”“The city sucks, but so does the rest of the world,” Rankin wrote from the computer console in his patrol car about 90 minutes before he killed Chapman. “People are just bad. I think the story was that god would have spared sodam and gomora [sic] if they could have found just 10 decent men, and he wound up smiteing [sic] both cities.”
Morrison, the judge, did not allow the mobile messages into the criminal trial. His ruling meant that after commonwealth’s attorney Stephanie Morales promised in her opening statement to inform jurors about Rankin’s “state of mind” prior to the shooting, her prosecution team was practically unable to do so. Securing the first-degree murder conviction they were seeking would have required proving that Rankin acted with premeditation.Morrison, the judge, did not allow the mobile messages into the criminal trial. His ruling meant that after commonwealth’s attorney Stephanie Morales promised in her opening statement to inform jurors about Rankin’s “state of mind” prior to the shooting, her prosecution team was practically unable to do so. Securing the first-degree murder conviction they were seeking would have required proving that Rankin acted with premeditation.
Rankin was terminated from his job at the Portsmouth police department after being indicted for Chapman’s murder. Following the shooting he married his long-term girlfriend, Dawn Burrows, meaning that she cannot be compelled to testify about him in court. Burrows was one of the first medics on the scene at both of Rankin’s fatal shootings.Rankin was terminated from his job at the Portsmouth police department after being indicted for Chapman’s murder. Following the shooting he married his long-term girlfriend, Dawn Burrows, meaning that she cannot be compelled to testify about him in court. Burrows was one of the first medics on the scene at both of Rankin’s fatal shootings.
Other information from Rankin’s past may also come back to haunt him as he faces further legal action. Prosecutors said in court this week that Cori Johnson, Rankin’s first wife, was ready to testify that he “fantasized about line-of-duty shootings” in 2008 and 2009. The judge declined to allow Johnson’s testimony into the trial.Other information from Rankin’s past may also come back to haunt him as he faces further legal action. Prosecutors said in court this week that Cori Johnson, Rankin’s first wife, was ready to testify that he “fantasized about line-of-duty shootings” in 2008 and 2009. The judge declined to allow Johnson’s testimony into the trial.
Rankin and his wife bought a house in nearby North Carolina after he killed Chapman, and he is understood to have made inquiries about police jobs in the area. But under the terms of his bail he is unable to leave Virginia. An avid firearms enthusiast, he will also be barred from possessing a gun if his felony conviction stands.Rankin and his wife bought a house in nearby North Carolina after he killed Chapman, and he is understood to have made inquiries about police jobs in the area. But under the terms of his bail he is unable to leave Virginia. An avid firearms enthusiast, he will also be barred from possessing a gun if his felony conviction stands.
When he was interviewed under oath by attorneys for Denyakin’s family for the civil lawsuit, Rankin said he had killed a dog “six months to a year” before shooting Denyakin. Testifying that he had been responding to a “vicious animal” call-out, Rankin said he shot the animal seven times.When he was interviewed under oath by attorneys for Denyakin’s family for the civil lawsuit, Rankin said he had killed a dog “six months to a year” before shooting Denyakin. Testifying that he had been responding to a “vicious animal” call-out, Rankin said he shot the animal seven times.