It happened again. By “it,” of course, I mean another person seen as a threat by the local police department, mistakenly perceived as holding a weapon, and thus brutalized.

This time, it happened in Chicago and the victim is one 13-year-old Jimmell Cannon. Of course, the stories of the events that led to his shooting are very different, depending on who you ask. However, when the smoke cleared, Cannon sustained eight bullet wounds—two to the hand, two to the shoulder, and four to the leg.

Police claim they came to a park where they had received a call about a shooting. Cannon reportedly fit the description for the shooter, so they pursued him and believed him to be carrying a gun. When asked, police say he refused to lower the weapon and he responded by pointing it toward them. It was only at this point they resorted to shooting him—eight times. The cops now say that the weapon was a BB gun.

On the contrary, according to the family, Cannon was just minding his own business at a family gathering when the cops showed up. He never had a gun and had his empty hands in the air when they shot him.

Fortunately, he is expected to make a full recovery. But let’s ask a few questions before we breathe too deep a sigh of relief. First of all, out of the very different accounts of the story we have, which one is true? Next, since when does it take eight bullets to subdue a suspect? Finally, how many more people, dead or alive, will it take for law enforcement to get the message that all force is not justified?

The answer to that final question is probably when the judicial system actually chooses to do something about it.

Source: Huffington Post

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