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Grand jury declines to indict officers involved in fatal Walmart shooting Justice Department to review fatal police shooting of man in Walmart
(about 1 hour later)
A grand jury in Ohio has decided not to indict two police officers involved in the fatal shooting of a man carrying a BB rifle in a Walmart store last month. The US government is to review the fatal police shooting of a man carrying a BB rifle in a Walmart store in Ohio, after a grand jury in the state declined to indict the officers involved.
John Crawford III was shot dead in the Walmart in Beavercreek, a suburb of Dayton, after picking up the unpackaged air rifle and walking to another aisle. The Justice Department’s civil rights division and the FBI will carry out a “thorough and independent review of the evidence” relating to the death of John Crawford III in Beavercreek last month, it was announced on Wednesday.
A customer called 911 to say that Crawford, 22, was pointing the rifle at passersby including children. He later altered his account, saying that Crawford was “waving it around”. Carter Stewart, the US attorney for the southern district of Ohio, said in a statement that authorities would “take appropriate action if the evidence indicates a prosecutable violation of federal criminal civil rights statutes”.
A special grand jury convened in Greene County announced its decision not to indict on Wednesday, the third day of deliberations. The announcement came soon after a request from Ohio’s governor, John Kasich, and attorney general, Mike DeWine, for the federal authorities to review the case.
A special grand jury in Greene County announced on Wednesday that it would not indict the officers involved in shooting Crawford in the Walmart in the suburb of Dayton, on the evening of August 5.
“Now that the state criminal investigation has finished, it is an appropriate time for the United States Department of Justice to look into whether any federal laws were violated during this shooting,” DeWine said in a statement.
The grand jury considered charges of murder, reckless homicide and negligent homicide, according to special prosecutor Mark Piepmeier. It heard from 18 witnesses and watched surveillance footage of the incident recorded inside the store.
Kasich, the Ohio governor, said in his own statement after the decision: “After talking with the attorney general and watching the video myself, I agree with his decision that a review by the US department of justice is appropriate.”
Crawford was killed after picking up the unpackaged air rifle and walking elsewhere in the store, while speaking on his cellphone. Piepmeier said at a press conference on Wednesday that he was the victim of “a perfect storm of circumstances”.
A customer called 911 to say that Crawford, 22, was pointing a rifle at passersby, including children, and appeared to have loaded the weapon. The caller later altered his account, saying that Crawford was “waving it around”.
The two officers involved, Sergeant David Darkow and Officer Sean Williams, were placed on leave by Beavercreek police following the incident. Darkow returned to work before Williams.The two officers involved, Sergeant David Darkow and Officer Sean Williams, were placed on leave by Beavercreek police following the incident. Darkow returned to work before Williams.
Crawford’s father, John Crawford Jr, told the Guardian earlier this month that he believed the shooting was “an execution” and “flat-out murder”.Crawford’s father, John Crawford Jr, told the Guardian earlier this month that he believed the shooting was “an execution” and “flat-out murder”.
Surveillance footage of the incident from the Walmart store was shown to the grand jury. Prosecutors also played the footage at a press conference following the decision on Wednesday. Prosecutors also played the footage at a press conference following the decision on Wednesday.
Williams was the officer behind the only other fatal police shooting in Beavercreek in recent memory. In 2010, he shot dead Scott Brogli, a retired master sergeant in the US air force.Williams was the officer behind the only other fatal police shooting in Beavercreek in recent memory. In 2010, he shot dead Scott Brogli, a retired master sergeant in the US air force.
According to Williams and a colleague, Brogli charged at them with a large knife after they went to investigate the 45-year-old’s drunken beating of his wife. A grand jury declined to bring any charges in that case.According to Williams and a colleague, Brogli charged at them with a large knife after they went to investigate the 45-year-old’s drunken beating of his wife. A grand jury declined to bring any charges in that case.