30 Times That The Cops Went Too Far

1. The death of George Floyd: an officer knelt on his neck

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George Floyd, a Black man, died after a Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck for over nine minutes during an arrest for allegedly using a counterfeit $20 bill. Despite Floyd's repeated pleas for air and bystanders' protests, Chauvin maintained his position until Floyd became unresponsive. Floyd's death, captured on video, ignited widespread protests.

2. The shooting of Breonna Taylor: a raid gone wrong

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Breonna Taylor, an emergency medical technician, was fatally shot by Louisville Metro Police officers executing a no-knock search warrant at her apartment. Officers fired multiple rounds after Taylor's boyfriend, believing they were intruders, fired a warning shot. Taylor was hit multiple times and died in her hallway.

3. The beating of Rodney King

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Rodney King, a Black motorist, was brutally beaten by several LAPD officers following a high-speed chase. Amateur video footage captured officers repeatedly striking King with batons while he lay on the ground, unarmed. Despite the graphic evidence of excessive force, all four officers involved were acquitted, triggering widespread riots in Los Angeles.

4. The death of Eric Garner: an unnecessary chokehold

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Eric Garner, an unarmed Black man, died after a New York City police officer placed him in a chokehold while attempting to arrest him for selling loose cigarettes. Garner repeatedly stated, "I can't breathe," before losing consciousness. The incident, captured on video, galvanized the Black Lives Matter movement and intensified scrutiny.

5. Tamir Rice: the boy killed playing with a toy gun

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Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old Black boy, was fatally shot by a Cleveland police officer while playing with a toy gun in a park. Within seconds of arriving at the scene, the officer fired two shots at Rice, who died the next day from his injuries. The shooting raised questions about the officer's decision-making.

6. The death of Freddie Gray: injured in police custody

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Freddie Gray, a Black man, died from a severe spinal cord injury sustained while in police custody in Baltimore. Gray was arrested after fleeing from officers, and during transport in a police van, he suffered injuries that proved fatal. His death sparked protests and unrest in Baltimore, with demonstrators demanding answers.

7. Philando Castile: the fatal shooting

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Philando Castile, a Black man, was shot and killed by a police officer during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights, Minnesota. Castile informed the officer that he had a legally registered firearm in the car and reached for his wallet, but the officer, Jeronimo Yanez, perceived this as a threat and opened fire. Castile's girlfriend livestreamed the aftermath on Facebook.

8. Walter Scott: shot in the back whilst fleeing

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Walter Scott, an unarmed Black man, was shot in the back and killed by a North Charleston police officer during a traffic stop. Video footage captured by a bystander contradicted the officer's initial claims that Scott posed a threat and showed him running away when he was shot. The officer, Michael Slager, was subsequently charged.

9. The death of Daniel Prude: pinned to the ground

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Daniel Prude, a Black man experiencing a mental health crisis, died after Rochester police officers placed a hood over his head and pressed his face into the ground for over two minutes during an arrest. Prude had been exhibiting erratic behavior, prompting his brother to call for help. The release of body camera footage months later sparked outrage.

10. Michael Brown's death: protests against police brutality

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Michael Brown, an unarmed Black teenager, was fatally shot by a white police officer, Darren Wilson, in Ferguson, Missouri. The shooting sparked protests and unrest in Ferguson and beyond, fueled by long standing racial tensions and anger over systemic police brutality and discrimination.

11. Peaceful protestors are met with violence

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In June 2020, law enforcement officers forcibly cleared peaceful protesters from Lafayette Square near the White House, using tear gas, rubber bullets, and physical force, to make way for then-President Donald Trump to walk to a nearby church for a photo opportunity. The aggressive dispersal of demonstrators, who were protesting against police brutality drew widespread condemnation.

12. Laquan McDonald: shot by a cop

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Laquan McDonald, a Black teenager, was shot 16 times and killed by a Chicago police officer, Jason Van Dyke, as he walked away from officers while holding a small knife. Video footage of the shooting contradicted the initial police account of the incident, which claimed that McDonald posed a threat. Van Dyke was charged with murder.

13. Atatiana Jefferson: playing with her nephew when she was shot

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Atatiana Jefferson, a Black woman, was shot and killed by a Fort Worth police officer who was conducting a wellness check at her home. The officer fired through a window without identifying himself, after seeing Jefferson inside the house with a gun, which she legally owned for self-defense.

14. Sandra Bland: died in a Texas jail

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Sandra Bland, a Black woman, died in police custody in Waller County, Texas, three days after being arrested during a traffic stop for allegedly failing to signal a lane change. Bland was found hanged in her jail cell, and her death was ruled a suicide. However, her arrest and subsequent death raised questions about the actions of the arresting officer.

15. Jacob Blake was left paralyzed by the police

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Jacob Blake, a Black man, was shot seven times in the back by a Kenosha police officer during a domestic disturbance call. The shooting left Blake paralyzed from the waist down and ignited protests in Kenosha and across the country against police violence and systemic racism. The incident reignited debates about police use of force.

16. Elijah McClain: placed in a chokehold leading to his death

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Elijah McClain, a Black man, died after being placed in a chokehold by Aurora police officers and injected with ketamine by paramedics during an encounter in which he was stopped while walking home from a convenience store. McClain, who was unarmed and nonviolent, was restrained by officers and subjected to excessive force.

17. Adam Toledo: the 13-year-old shot by police

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Adam Toledo, a 13-year-old Latino boy, was fatally shot by a Chicago police officer during a foot chase in a residential neighborhood. Body camera footage released after the incident showed Toledo raising his hands and appearing to comply with orders to drop a gun before being shot. The shooting of Toledo, who was unarmed at the time of his death, sparked protests.

18. Ahmaud Arbery: chased and shot whilst jogging

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Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man, was pursued and fatally shot by three white men while jogging in Glynn County, Georgia. The men, who claimed they were conducting a citizen's arrest and suspected Arbery of burglary, confronted him with firearms before shooting him multiple times. Video footage of the incident, released months later, reignited public outrage.

19. Tony McDade: the black transgender man shot by police

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Tony McDade, a Black transgender man, was shot and killed by Tallahassee police officers during an encounter in which McDade was suspected of stabbing another person. The circumstances of McDade's death, including conflicting accounts from law enforcement and witnesses, raised questions about the use of lethal force and the treatment of transgender individuals by police.

20. Trayvon Martin: a victim of the neighborhood watch

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Trayvon Martin, a Black teenager, was fatally shot by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, during a confrontation in Sanford, Florida. Zimmerman claimed self-defense under Florida's Stand Your Ground law, alleging that he shot Martin after being attacked. The case drew national attention and sparked debates about racial profiling.

21. The 22-year-old Oscar Grant: killed by a cop

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Oscar Grant, a Black man, was fatally shot by a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) police officer at the Fruitvale BART station in Oakland, California. Grant was lying facedown on the platform when Officer Johannes Mehserle shot him in the back. The incident, captured on cellphone videos by bystanders, resulted in outrage.

22. Aiyana Stanley-Jones: only 7 years old when she was killed

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The fatal shooting of 7-year-old Aiyana Stanley-Jones by Detroit police during a raid in 2010 shook the nation and prompted widespread scrutiny of police tactics. Aiyana was sleeping on a couch in her family's home when police executed a "no-knock" raid looking for a murder suspect. During the chaotic raid, an officer's gun discharged, fatally striking Aiyana in the head.

23. Sean Bell: shot and killed on his wedding day

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Sean Bell, a Black man, was shot and killed by New York City police officers in a barrage of 50 bullets outside a strip club in Queens, New York, on the morning of his wedding day. The officers, who were undercover and investigating alleged prostitution, claimed they believed Bell and his friends were armed and posed a threat. The shooting left Bell dead and two of his friends wounded.

24. Amadou Diallo: cops fired 41 shots

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Amadou Diallo, an unarmed immigrant from Guinea, was fatally shot by four New York City police officers outside his apartment building in the Bronx. The officers, part of the NYPD's Street Crimes Unit, fired a total of 41 shots at Diallo, striking him 19 times, after mistaking his wallet for a gun. The shooting, which occurred as Diallo reached for his identification, led to widespread condemnation.

25. Akai Gurley: shot by police in a stairwell

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Akai Gurley, an unarmed Black man, was shot and killed by a New York City police officer while walking in the darkened stairwell of a Brooklyn housing project. The officer, who was conducting a vertical patrol, claimed the shooting was accidental and that he had been startled by Gurley's presence.

26. Jonathan Ferrell: unarmed but shot and killed

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Jonathan Ferrell, an unarmed Black man, was shot and killed by a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer while seeking help after a car accident. Ferrell had knocked on a homeowner's door, prompting a 911 call about a possible break-in. When officers arrived, Ferrell approached them, and one officer fired his weapon multiple times, striking Ferrell 10 times.

27. Botham Jean: killed when a cop went into the wrong apartment

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Botham Jean, a 26-year-old Black man, was fatally shot in his own apartment by off-duty Dallas police officer Amber Guyger. Guyger claimed she mistakenly entered Jean's apartment, thinking it was her own, and believed he was an intruder. She fired two shots at Jean, killing him. The case immediately drew national attention.

28. Rayshard Brooks: shot twice during a confrontation

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Rayshard Brooks, a 27-year-old Black man, was shot and killed by Atlanta police officers during a confrontation at a Wendy's restaurant. Police responded to a call about a man asleep in his car in the restaurant's drive-thru lane. Brooks, who had fallen asleep while intoxicated, engaged in a struggle with officers after they attempted to arrest him.

29. Sean Monterrosa: killed while surrendering

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Sean Monterrosa, a 22-year-old Latino man, was shot and killed by a Vallejo police officer while kneeling with his hands raised outside a Walgreens store. The officer mistook a hammer in Monterrosa's pocket for a gun and fired five shots through his police car's windshield.

30. James Blake: use of force over mistaken identity

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James Blake, a retired professional tennis player, was tackled and handcuffed by plainclothes NYPD officers outside a Manhattan hotel in a case of mistaken identity. The officers used excessive force in arresting Blake, who was standing innocently and waiting for a ride. The incident prompted Blake to call for greater accountability.

31. Ezell Ford: shot whilst unarmed

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Ezell Ford, a 25-year-old Black man with mental health issues, was shot and killed by Los Angeles police officers during a confrontation in his neighborhood. Ford was unarmed and complying with officers' commands when he was shot multiple times. The shooting sparked protests and renewed calls for police reform, particularly regarding the treatment of individuals with mental illness.

32. Dijon Kizzee: shot during a bicycle stop

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Dijon Kizzee, a 29-year-old Black man, was shot and killed by Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies during a bicycle stop for an alleged code violation. Kizzee fled from deputies and dropped a handgun, prompting them to open fire, striking him multiple times in the back. The shooting reignited protests against police brutality and racial injustice in Los Angeles.

33. Jordan Edwards: fatally shot at 15 years old

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Jordan Edwards, a 15-year-old Black teenager, was fatally shot by a Balch Springs police officer while leaving a party with friends. The officer fired into the car Edwards was riding in, claiming it was moving aggressively toward him. However, body camera footage contradicted the officer's account, leading to his indictment and conviction for murder.

34. Mario Woods: surrounded by officers

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mage source: theguardian.com

Mario Woods, a 26-year-old Black man, was shot and killed by San Francisco police officers after allegedly refusing to drop a knife. Video footage of the incident showed Woods surrounded by officers with their weapons drawn, raising questions about the necessity of the use of lethal force and the tactics employed by law enforcement.

35. Antwon Rose II: a teenager shot and killed

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Antwon Rose II, a 17-year-old Black teenager, was shot and killed by an East Pittsburgh police officer while fleeing a traffic stop. Rose was unarmed and running away when the officer fired three shots, striking him in the back. The shooting sparked protests and calls for justice, as well as renewed scrutiny of police use of force.

36. Jamar Clark: shot during a confrontation

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Jamar Clark, a 24-year-old Black man, was fatally shot by Minneapolis police officers during a confrontation in which he was allegedly interfering with paramedics treating a woman. Witnesses claimed Clark was handcuffed when he was shot, contradicting the officers' account of the incident. The shooting led to protests and demands for transparency.

37. Tony Timpa: died during a mental health crisis

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Tony Timpa, a 32-year-old white man, died after being restrained by Dallas police officers while experiencing a mental health crisis. Officers pinned Timpa to the ground for nearly 14 minutes, applying pressure to his back and neck, despite his cries for help and pleas that he could not breathe. The incident drew comparisons to the death of George Floyd.

38. Bettie Jones: struck by a stray bullet

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Bettie Jones, a 55-year-old Black woman, and Quintonio LeGrier, a 19-year-old Black man, were fatally shot by a Chicago police officer responding to a domestic disturbance call. The officer opened fire when LeGrier, who was wielding a baseball bat, emerged from a building. Jones, who lived in the same building, was struck by a stray bullet.

39. Daniel Shaver: killed in a hotel hallway

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Daniel Shaver, a 26-year-old white man, was fatally shot by a Mesa police officer while crawling on the floor of a hotel hallway, following orders to do so. Shaver, who was unarmed, had been confronted by officers responding to a report of a man pointing a rifle out of a hotel window. The officer claimed he perceived a threat when Shaver reached toward his waistband, leading him to open fire.

40. Samuel DuBose: killed during a traffic stop

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Samuel DuBose, a 43-year-old Black man, was shot and killed by a University of Cincinnati police officer during a traffic stop for a missing front license plate. The officer claimed DuBose attempted to drive away, dragging him, prompting him to open fire. However, body camera footage contradicted the officer's account, showing that DuBose's car had not moved before the officer shot him in the head.

41. Gregory Gunn: killed while walking home

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Gregory Gunn, a 58-year-old Black man, was shot and killed by a Montgomery police officer while walking home from a friend's house. The officer stopped Gunn for a "stop-and-frisk" encounter, during which a struggle ensued, and Gunn was shot multiple times. The shooting raised questions regarding the treatment of Black individuals in predominantly Black neighborhoods.

42. Terence Crutcher: shot after his vehicle stalled

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Terence Crutcher, a 40-year-old African American man, was shot and killed by a police officer in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on September 16, 2016. Crutcher's vehicle had stalled in the middle of the road, and he was unarmed with his hands in the air when he was shot. The incident was captured on video and led to charges against the officer involved.

43. Paul O'Neal: fatally shot during a car chase

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Paul O'Neal, an 18-year-old Black man, was fatally shot by Chicago police officers during a car chase following a suspected car theft. Officers fired multiple shots at O'Neal, who was unarmed and fleeing from the scene on foot after crashing the stolen vehicle. The incident resulted in questions about treatment of suspects, particularly in the context of nonviolent offenses.

44. Charles Kinsey: shot while lying on the ground

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Charles Kinsey, a behavioral therapist, was shot by a North Miami police officer while lying on the ground with his hands raised, attempting to calm his autistic patient, who was holding a toy truck. Kinsey, who was unarmed, had been trying to assist his patient, who had wandered away from a group home. The shooting, which Kinsey survived, raised concerns.

45. William Chapman II: killed outside Walmart

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William Chapman II, a 18-year-old Black man, was shot and killed by a Portsmouth police officer outside a Walmart store during an alleged shoplifting incident. The officer claimed Chapman resisted arrest and charged at him, prompting him to open fire. However, surveillance video of the encounter raised questions about the officer's account.

46. Kajieme Powell: police opened fire

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Kajieme Powell, a 25-year-old Black man, was shot and killed by St. Louis police officers after allegedly brandishing a knife at them. Officers responded to a call about a man acting erratically and shouting in the street. Video footage of the incident showed Powell holding a knife but standing several feet away from the officers when they opened fire.

47. Justine Damond: killed after reporting an assault

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Justine Damond, a 40-year-old white woman, was shot and killed by a Minneapolis police officer after she called 911 to report a possible assault near her home. Damond approached the police car when it arrived, and the officer, startled, fired his weapon, striking her. The shooting occurred under circumstances that remain unclear.

48. De'Von Bailey: fatally shot after running away

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De'Von Bailey, a 19-year-old Black man, was shot and killed by Colorado Springs police officers while running away from them during an encounter. Officers had approached Bailey to question him regarding a reported robbery, and he fled. Body camera footage showed Bailey reaching for his waistband, prompting officers to open fire.

49. Eleanor Bumpurs: killed during an eviction attempt

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Eleanor Bumpurs, a 66-year-old African American woman, was shot and killed by police officers during an eviction attempt at her apartment in the Bronx, New York, on October 29, 1984. Bumpurs was mentally ill and had a history of erratic behavior. The officers used excessive force when attempting to remove her from her apartment, leading to her death.

50. Jonathan Price: killed while unarmed and trying to help

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Jonathan Price, a 31-year-old Black man, was shot and killed by a police officer in Wolfe City, Texas, while attempting to intervene in a domestic disturbance at a gas station. Price, who was unarmed, was reportedly attempting to break up a fight when he was confronted by the officer. Despite complying with orders, Price was shot multiple times by the officer, leading to his death.