John Umberger; Julio Ramirez (photo credit: Linda Clary/family photo)
Data: Murder Rates In Red States Outpaced Blue States For 20+ Years
Republicans love to own the “tough on crime” mantra, but an analysis of homicide data from 2000 through 2020 for all 50 states shows murder rates in red states have outpaced blue states for more than 20 years. Continue reading “Data: Murder Rates In Red States Outpaced Blue States For 20+ Years”
News Round-Up: September 21, 2021
Some news stories you might have missed: • PEOPLE: Willie Garson (above), who played the fashionable yet bashful Stanford Blatch on Sex and the City, has died at age 57 “following a short illness,” just weeks after filming scenes for the show’s reboot. Continue reading “News Round-Up: September 21, 2021”
Breonna Taylor Grand Jury Member: We Weren’t Given Opportunity To Consider Homicide Charges
Deceased ER tech Breonna Taylor (AFP/Getty Images/Fair Use)
“Being one of the jurors on the Breonna Taylor case was a learning experience. The three weeks of service leading up to that presentation showed how the grand jury normally operates. The Breonna Taylor case was quite different.
“After hearing the Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s press conference, and with my duty as a grand juror being over, my duty as a citizen compelled action,” the statement said. “The grand jury did not have homicide offenses explained to them. The grand jury never heard anything about those laws. Self defense or justification was never explained either.”
They said “questions were asked about additional charges,” but the grand jury was told there would be none because the prosecutors didn’t feel they could make them stick.
“The grand jury was not given the opportunity to deliberate on those charges and deliberated only on what was presented to them. I cannot speak for other jurors but I can help the truth be told.”
Baltimore: Charges Filed Against All Six Officers In Freddy Gray Death
In a Friday morning press conference, Maryland Attorney General Marilyn J. Mosby said Freddie Gray’s death in police custody was a homicide. Charges have been filed against all six police officers.
“We have probable cause to file criminal charges,” Mosby said in a press conference Friday.
Mosby also noted that “no crime had been committed by Mr. Gray.”
Charges include second-degree murder, manslaughter, assault, and police misconduct.
Warrants have been issued for their arrests.
While each of these officers are presumed innocent until proven guilty, we have brought the following charges:
- Officer Caesar Goodson is being charged with second-degree depraved heart murder, involuntary manslaughter, second-degree negligent assault, manslaughter by vehicle by means of gross negligence, manslaughter by vehicle by means of criminal negligence, misconduct in office for failure to secure a prisoner, failure to render aid.
- Officer William Porter is being charged with involuntary manslaughter, assault in the second degree, misconduct in office.
- Lieutenant Brian Rice is being charged with involuntary manslaughter, assault in the second degree, misconduct in office, false imprisonment.
- Officer Edward Nero is being charged with assault in the second degree intentional, assault in the second degree negligent, misconduct in office, false imprisonment.
- Officer Garrett Miller is being charged with intentional assault in the second degree, assault in the second degree negligent, misconduct in office, and false imprisonment.
- Sergeant Alicia White is being charged with manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault, misconduct in office.
Check back for more updates.