Further from that PJMedia article:
Jessup admitted that it was unclear why the officers originally stopped the suspects. The second suspect, who was also 23 years old, was apprehended and is in custody.
Police argued that the suspect had a "lengthy arrest record" and that he was carrying a handgun taken during a burglary in March, during which 500 rounds of ammunition were also stolen.
Again, this shooting followed a very violent early weekend. It took place about one block northwest of the scene of a Friday evening homicide, and about four blocks west of a Saturday morning double homicide. "As everyone knows, this was a very, very violent 24 hours in the city of Milwaukee," Jessup said. "Our officers are out here taking risks on behalf of the community and making split-second decisions."
Nevertheless, Nefataria Gordon said she knew the man who had been killed by the police officer. "He was a nice good person. He was really respected. That's why everyone came out. They're angry." Some at the scene of the shooting took to social media Saturday night to encourage others to participate in what Mayor Tom Barrett described as "trouble-making."
1. Both the neighborhood and the chronological context is that multiple murders happened near where the officer shot and killed the armed man.
2. Either the man who was killed or his companion (who is in custody) was carrying a
stolen gun. AFAIK, there is no
legal way to purchase a stolen gun.
3. The facts contradict Nefataria Gordon's characterization of the dead man: when stopped by the police, he attempted to flee; he was armed, with a gun that may have been been stolen; his companion in flight was also armed and had a lengthy criminal record.
4. The rioters used social media to draw in more rioters - the rioting was intentional, not something spontaneous.
Whatever the long-term consequences might have been, had the dead man not attempted to flee, he would be alive today.
Further, police officers are trained to shoot only in self defense, or when the other person is endangering other persons' lives. My expectation is that the body cam video - assuming initial reports that the officer was wearing one are correct - will vindicate the officer's action. If that proves to be the case, I further expect that proof that the officer was justified will further anger the police-haters.
