This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/15/us/sylville-smith-milwaukee-police-shooting-dominique-heaggan-brown.html

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Milwaukee Officer Charged in Shooting That Set Off Riots Milwaukee Officer Charged in Shooting That Set Off Riots
(about 1 hour later)
MILWAUKEE — A Milwaukee police officer fatally shot a suspect in August just after the man had thrown his gun away and lay on the ground unarmed, the authorities said Thursday as they charged the officer with homicide. MILWAUKEE — A Milwaukee police officer fatally shot a suspect in August just after the man had thrown his gun away and lay on the ground unarmed, the authorities said on Thursday as they charged the officer with homicide.
The officer, Dominique Heaggan-Brown, 24, killed Sylville K. Smith, 23, seconds after Mr. Smith fled on foot following a traffic stop. The shooting set off two nights of rioting here.The officer, Dominique Heaggan-Brown, 24, killed Sylville K. Smith, 23, seconds after Mr. Smith fled on foot following a traffic stop. The shooting set off two nights of rioting here.
Police officials have said that Mr. Smith was carrying a stolen handgun with a large-capacity magazine, and that he pointed it at the officer before the officer fired. But the criminal complaint filed Thursday gives a somewhat different picture, based on video recorded by body cameras worn by Officer Heaggan-Brown and his partner. That video has not been made public. Police officials have said that Mr. Smith was carrying a stolen handgun with a large-capacity magazine, and that he pointed it at the officer before the officer fired. But the criminal complaint filed on Thursday gives a somewhat different picture, based on video recorded by body cameras worn by Officer Heaggan-Brown and his partner. That video has not been made public.
In the video, Mr. Smith “turns his head and upper body towards the officers,” according to an investigator’s affidavit cited in the complaint. “He then raises the gun upward while looking in the direction of the officers and throws the gun over the fence into the yard.”In the video, Mr. Smith “turns his head and upper body towards the officers,” according to an investigator’s affidavit cited in the complaint. “He then raises the gun upward while looking in the direction of the officers and throws the gun over the fence into the yard.”
As Mr. Smith was raising the gun, the complaint says, Officer Heaggan-Brown fired his own weapon, the bullet passed through Mr. Smith’s arm, and the suspect fell on his back. “Heaggan-Brown is observed standing a short distance from Smith with his weapon pointed down at Smith when Heaggan-Brown discharges a second shot from his weapon,” the complaints says. As Mr. Smith was raising the gun, the complaint says, Officer Heaggan-Brown fired his own weapon, the bullet passed through Mr. Smith’s arm and the suspect fell on his back. “Heaggan-Brown is observed standing a short distance from Smith with his weapon pointed down at Smith when Heaggan-Brown discharges a second shot from his weapon,” the complaints says.
Mr. Smith was hit in the chest.Mr. Smith was hit in the chest.
The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office charged the former officer with first degree reckless homicide, which is punishable by up to 60 years in prison. The case was investigated by the state Department of Justice. The Milwaukee County district attorney’s office charged the former officer with first-degree reckless homicide, which is punishable by up to 60 years in prison. The case was investigated by the State Department of Justice.
Mr. Smith, who had an extensive arrest record, was black, as is Mr. Heaggan-Brown, but many black residents placed the shooting in the context of a long history of excessive force by the Milwaukee police against black people.Mr. Smith, who had an extensive arrest record, was black, as is Mr. Heaggan-Brown, but many black residents placed the shooting in the context of a long history of excessive force by the Milwaukee police against black people.
“We appreciate that the district attorney has shown independence and sound judgment in prosecuting the officer who shot and killed Sylville,” Mr. Smith’s family said in a statement released by their lawyer. “We also appreciate that this is but the first step in holding that officer accountable, but a necessary step in bringing some measure of justice.”“We appreciate that the district attorney has shown independence and sound judgment in prosecuting the officer who shot and killed Sylville,” Mr. Smith’s family said in a statement released by their lawyer. “We also appreciate that this is but the first step in holding that officer accountable, but a necessary step in bringing some measure of justice.”
Officer Heaggan-Brown was placed on desk duty after the shooting. In October he was charged with sexual assault, in an unrelated incident, and the Police Department fired him on Oct. 31. Officer Heaggan-Brown was placed on desk duty after the shooting. In October, he was charged with sexual assault, in an unrelated episode, and the Police Department fired him on Oct. 31.