US police officers charged over shooting of homeless man captured on camera
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Version 0 of 1. Two US police officers will be charged with the killing of a homeless man, whose death in March last year was captured on camera and sparked city-wide protests. Former Albuquerque detective Keith Sandy and Officer Dominique Perez will face a charge for the death of James Boyd, 38. Mr Boyd, who New Mexico authorities claim suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, was fatally shot after a four-hour stand-off with officers. His death was captured on Officer Perez’s helmet-mounted camera. The two officers are believed to be the first in at least 50 years to be charged with an on-duty fatal shooting. A preliminary hearing will establish if there is enough evidence for the men to stand trial on any of three charges including first-degree murder, second-degree murder or manslaughter. Mr Boyd’s death occurred during a period of heightened tensions between local communities and police forces, as the Ferguson shooting of teenager Michael Brown echoed across the country. Despite this, Bernalillo County District Attorney Kari Brandenburg told the Albuquerque Journal her decision to initiate proceedings against the two officers was not prompted by national events. In video footage capturing the final moments of officers confrontation with Mr Boyd, the homeless man, who had been evicted from a homeless shelter the previous evening and had attempted to camp illegal in the surrounding hills, appears to surrender. Mr Boyd can be seen walking towards police, who claim he was armed with two small knives. He was hit by two bullets, with the fatal shot hitting him on the left side of his lower back, according to an autopsy, which also found no drugs or alcohol in his system. The two named officers fired three rounds each. Afterwards a police dog is released and although it shakes Mr Boyd’s leg he does not move. The following day Mr Boyd was recorded dead at a local hospital. Lawyers for the two officers have disputed the charges. Sam Bergman, who represents Officer Sandy, told the Albuquerque Journal charging the officers was a “terrible, terrible decision.” |