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Time to Decide: Will Jury Find Police Force Justified in Killing Handcuffed Man?

On August 30, 2020, a St. Louis jury returned with their verdict in the case involving a police officer’s fatal shooting of a handcuffed man in October, 2019. The decision was that the officer who fired the fatal shots was to stand trial for second-degree murder.

The fatal shooting of 24-year-old Ashton Ryan Waldon has sparked intense debates around the issue of police brutality in light of the Black Lives Matter movement. Beyond the polarised arguments, this tragic event is compounded by the legal proceedings and questions over survivors’ rights to justice.

The incident took place on October 8, 2019, when Waldon left his grandmother’s house, potentially in pursuit of an apartment. After a bus driver notified police about the potentially homeless situation, police officers Kennethna Wang and Tyler Garwood approached Waldon. Despite Waldon claiming he had been “in the hood for 20 minutes”, the officers repeatedly pressed him for proof of residence, an action that would later be described as “overkill” by the jury.

Waldon then attempted to leave the scene and was arrested for trespassing. He was handcuffed and led to an alley, where officer Garwood drew a gun as Wang put her knee on Waldon’s neck. When a tussle broke out and Wang was pushed to the ground, officer Garwood fired three shots, killing Waldon in the process.

The jury’s decision to charge officer Garwood with second-degree murder has been seen as a significant victory for the Black Lives Matter movement and survivors of police brutality. It also sets precedent that law enforcement officers must adhere to a higher moral standard, especially when it comes to the handling of civilians.

The case nonetheless remains weighted with apparent double standards. The loss of Waldon’s life remains an ominous reminder of the unfairness that exists in the U.S. criminal justice system. Still, the jury’s ruling is a step in the right direction to ensure justice for survivors of police brutality.