In July, an unarmed teenager was shot dead by a Seneca police officer in a drug sting. The officer claimed he "feared for his life" and killed nineteen year old Zachary Hammond in self-defense, although the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), who conducted the official investigation, refused to release video from the officer's dash cam, "pending investigation". When the video was released last week it was done so in conjunction with a letter from prosecutor Chrissy Adams to SLED stating she did not intend to bring charges against the officer.
I hope a more sophisticated and computer literate reader will be able to link this video which clearly shows the teenager was trying to get away and not trying to murder the officer. Below the fold, I have included details from the afternoon online report from The State newspaper of the latest chapter in this as yet unfinished story. I have also added a couple of pertinent details at the end of the story.
Rep. Todd Rutherford, House minority leader from Columbia told media outlets that he watched the dash cam video of the July 26 incident in which Zachary Hammond was killed and wants Attorney General Alan Wilson to reopen the case. He said it was clear from watching the video that the teenager was only trying to get away. Rutherford said, according to The State, that this shooting was a great injustice and that Tiller should have been charged. Rutherford was quoted as saying, “The fact that he was not is certainly a disgrace to South Carolina.” He went on to say, “It’s a disgrace to this family and they deserve better than that.”
Adams said she would not object if lawmakers decide the attorney general should deal with all police-involved shootings, but until then she will do the job she was elected to do.
She also said Rutherford is a liberal Democrat trying to advance a political agenda. She added that Rutherford, an attorney, knows that the standard in criminal court for a conviction is proof beyond a reasonable doubt. (Bolding is mine.)
Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/...
Now, another fact that needs to be underlined and bolded is this: Do you remember the Congressman who, in 2009, during President Obama's State of the Union Address, blurted out his opinion that Obama was a liar? If you need a reminder, that was Joe Wilson of South Carolina. Who is Joe Wilson's adopted son? Alan Wilson, Attorney General for the state of South Carolina.
Stay tuned.