Do we dismiss this just as another hardened criminal, shot dead by police because he was fleeing police? Damien Evans became the 17th person killed by Utah police a week ago. That's two more such killings than in all of 2019 and a third of our year still lies ahead.
I wonder at the pace of the killings, and I wonder at how it has picked up. I wonder at it picking up at the very time the issue is fracturing the nation. I think of the officers, and how they have become resolute in feeling their shooting these people is justified.
I think of the the how it is that most would dismiss Damien Evans. He had a criminal record going back to 2003. He was running. He had a criminal record. He was wanted on a parole violation. He was fleeing. He reportedly pulled his gun on officers.
What more do you want? Clearly, there's reason for killing him. Clearly, he's a bad guy.
I wonder.
Not that Evans wasn't "a bad guy," but how bad? I have learned how ex-cons can be trapped in the system, small offenses sending them back and back and back to prison, till they think they have no escape and develop a mortal fear of going back again.
And, see no way out.
And, flee arrest.
And, are shot and killed..
I think of video after video I have seen, of officers killing these people who flee from them. I watch them, and I can't see the victim's being a threat to the police. The officers insist their lives were endangered. They insist they had to kill or be killed.
But, I wonder.
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