Another trigger-happy cop

A CALIFORNIA policeman is under investigation after he fatally shot an apparently innocent young man outside his home while chasing down some robbery suspects. The deadly shooting took place yesterday in Anaheim, 50km south-east of Los Angeles.

Police said Julian Alexander, 20, was drawn outside his house by some street noise and was standing on his doorstep when a local police officer shot him in the chest. The young man, who had been married for a week and whose wife was seven months pregnant, died later from his gunshot wound, America's ABC News reported.

Anaheim Chief of Police John Welter said three investigations were under way into the shooting, including one by the FBI. He said the officer involved in the deadly shooting was 32 years old and a 10-year veteran in the police force, and that he was pursuing some robbery suspects at the time. The officer reported that Alexander was holding a stick as he stood at his door.

"I certainly can't ever guess what's in the mind of a police officer, so I'm not going to speculate as to what he saw or what he didn't see or what he thought was in Mr Alexander's hands,'' Chief Welter said. "The man who was shot, Julian Alexander, was innocent of anything that the officer suspected was going on in that neighbourhood,'' Chief Welter added. "To the family of Mr Alexander, we extend our deepest sympathies.''

Original report here



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