Department of Justice to review case of man shot inside Walmart by police
On Wednesday, the U.S. Justice Department's Civil Rights Division said it will work with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's office for Southern Ohio on an "independent review of the facts and circumstances" surrounding the shooting death of a black man inside of a Walmart.
The announcement came hours after a grand jury voted not to indict the white police officer who shot 22-year-old John Crawford III inside of the Beavercreek store, NBC News reports. The request for the review came from the city of Beavercreek.
On Aug. 5, a man called 911 from inside the Walmart, telling an operator that a man with a rifle was in the store and pointing the weapon at shoppers. Police say that when the officers arrived, they asked Crawford to drop the gun; when he didn't, he was shot by one of the officers. Crawford, whose family said he was shopping for a cookout, was found to be carrying a pellet gun that he had picked up from the sporting goods section of the store.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Following the grand jury's decision, Crawford's family released a statement, saying: "It makes absolutely no sense than an unarmed 22-year-old man would be killed doing what any American citizen does every day: shopping at a Walmart store. The Crawford family is extremely disappointed, disgusted, and confused. They are heartbroken that justice was not done in the tragic death of their only son."
Watch the video by WHIO.com below to see surveillance footage synchronized with the 911 call. Because the footage shows Crawford being shot, viewer discretion is advised. --Catherine Garcia
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Earth's carbon sinks are collapsing
Under the Radar Forests and soil are not operating as usual
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: October 21, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sudoku hard: October 21, 2024
The Week's daily hard sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Texas governor pardons man convicted of BLM murder
Speed Read Gov. Greg Abbott granted a full pardon to Daniel Perry, who shot a Black Lives Matter protestor
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump criminal trial starts with rulings, reminder
Speed Read The first day of his historic trial over hush money payments was mostly focused on jury selection
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Parents of school shooter sentenced to 10-15 years
Speed Read Jennifer and James Crumbley are the first parents to be convicted in a US mass shooting
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Unlicensed dealers and black market guns
Speed Read 68,000 illegally trafficked guns were sold in a five year period, said ATF
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Bankman-Fried gets 25 years for fraud
Speed Read Former "crypto king" Sam Bankman-Fried will report to federal prison
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Feds raid Diddy homes in alleged sex trafficking case
Speed Read Homeland Security raided the properties of hip hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Goon Squad' cops sentenced for torturing 2 Black men
Speed Read The former Mississippi law enforcement officers pleaded guilty last year
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Michigan shooter's dad guilty of manslaughter
speed read James Crumbley failed to prevent his son from killing four students at Oxford High School in 2021
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published