Grant’s Family is out for Blood
Posted by Bossip Staff
Livesteez reports that Oscar Grant III’s family is seeking $25-million in a wrongful death claim:
The family of the 22-year-old father, who was shot to death by a BART police officer early on New Year’s Day, filed a $25-million wrongful death claim against the agency Tuesday.
John L. Burris, the long-time civil rights attorney representing Grant’s family, called the death “the worst I’ve ever seen in a shooting case” and said that it “cries out for criminal prosecution.”
Graphic video of Oscar J. Grant III’s death at an Oakland train station has roiled emotions in the Bay Area, calling for more oversight of the agency’s police force. In amateur videos released to the media from bystanders, the BART officer can be seen shooting the unarmed man in the back as he lay face down while other officers restrained him, according to the LA Times.
BART spokesman Linton Johnson said in an e-mail that “we have received the claim, and we are carefully reviewing it but cannot comment on it.”
“We want to express our condolences to the family of Oscar Grant,” Gee said. “I want to assure Mr. Grant’s family and the public that we are taking this investigation very seriously.” The Alameda County district attorney’s office is also investigating, Gee said.
BART officials have not publicly identified the officer involved in the shooting but described him as a two-year veteran of the agency’s police force. He underwent drug and alcohol testing after the incident and is on paid administrative leave, Gee said, “which is standard procedure.” But the claim filed Tuesday by Grant’s mother and 4-year-old daughter identifies Johannes Mehserle as the BART officer who “stood over Mr. Grant and mercilessly fired his weapon, mortally wounding Mr. Grant with a single gunshot wound to the back.”
There has been speculation that Mehserle may have believed he was reaching for his Taser to stun Grant rather than reaching for his gun to shoot him. To Burris such a distinction is not that important.
“If the officer had a Taser and he thought he was pulling it, to me that’s still a criminal act,” Burris said. “It means you’re negligent, as opposed to knowing you pulled your gun.” That, he said, would be “murder.”
“I don’t want to believe that an officer would just kill someone this way,” said Burris, who called on BART officials to say whether Mehserle carried a Taser. “On the other hand, I’m not going to disbelieve my eyes either.”
Grant had been celebrating New Year’s Eve in San Francisco and was heading back to his East Bay home on a BART train when a fight broke out between two groups of riders about 2 a.m.
BART police met the train at Oakland’s Fruitvale station and ordered passengers — including Grant — onto the platform. Video taken by spectators with cellphones shows a chaotic scene, with uniformed officers pulling riders out of a train and then shoving one man onto the ground. With the man face down, an officer stands over him, draws his gun and shoots.
According to the claim filed Tuesday, Grant was unarmed “and offered no physical resistance” to BART officers.
“Mr. Grant, fearing for his life, made a valiant effort to de-escalate the situation by appealing to the officer’s sense of humanity, telling the officer that he had a four-year-old daughter and asking the officer not to taze him,” the claim said. “Witnesses recount that Mr. Grant continuously repeated this prayer for relief to no avail.”
Grant’s funeral, scheduled for this morning in Hayward, is expected to be heavily attended. A protest at the site of his death has been planned for this afternoon.
We hope the family gets every last penny they demand. Nothing can return what those murderous thugs with badges took away from them. The least they can do is get broke off a little somethin.’
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Whoa…
so sad…
smh another young life taken away due to police brutality..ppl believed so many things were ganna change in 2009..oh plz its just ganna continue & get worst
Asking for that much money is not proving a point, it only makes you look like a greedy mofo who is takin advantage of an unfortunate situation. How is seeking a lump sum of money going to make your situation better?
I am from the Bay area (Oakland). This was cold what happen and it was wrong.His little girl will never get to see her father again…It breaks my heart
JUST 25 MIL???… ATLEAST 75 TO 100 MILLION… AND SOME FIRINGS!!! THAT WILL SEND A MESSAGE TO THESE DURTY ASS PIGS!!!
Seek 25 mil in criminal court and 100 mil in Civil please. In the Bay area, our folks stick 2gether! It is a beautiful thang!!! If I have to participate from the LBC, I will drive up and sport my Panther gear!
It’s more than just money, if you take one of my peoples life… Eye for an eye…
I would want them to experience the pain that they inflicted upon me, and my family…
How many times is an unarmed black male going to die by the hands of the police, then the family sues the police department, riots break out….
…before the government puts a stop to it?
Asking for that much money is not proving a point, it only makes you look like a greedy mofo who is takin advantage of an unfortunate situation. How is seeking a lump sum of money going to make your situation better?
__________________________________________
How is NOT seeking it going to make the situation better?
His lost life is worth every dime.
When someone dies, it doesn’t end there. It affects the family, spouse, neighbors, community, friends, etc…
Wrongful death is a serious issue.
You can’t seek any montary damages in criminal court.
I have so many mixed emotions about this.
For now, I think I’ll keep my opinion to myself—at least until I hear more about it.
I smell a riot if this cumrag (Johannes Mehserle) is not convicted…
This morning on the local news there was a pic of Oscar, clearly handcuffed before they even laid him on his stomach. If they try and use the story that the cop was going for his taser, my questions is this, why would you need to taser a person who is handcuffed and laying on their stomach? isnt that excessive?
@ The Foosa……..
That is exactly what I was going to say….If u see the video it is heartbreaking……May that man RIP and god bless his family and especially his daughter…..That cop can take his 2 year rookie ass back to where he came from if he knew what was good for him, cause I got a feeling, convicted or not he is definately gonna get his, fuckin’ around with the Bay…….
Thats not enough money, their proving a point people. Money is power, and if that dept is hit in the pockets, they’ll think twice about the murder they commited on that young man.
I hope they bankrupt them hoes.
Young dude was handcuffed with zip ties when shot in the back. The white officer has been provided police protection as there have been threats agaisnt his life. Bay Area Bosses don’t play that police brutality shit! They shot at the pigs all the time out here. REAL SPIT!!!
Oh and everyone thought just because Barack is in office that black people are now love and respected? Please. These police forces are unionized and are in tight with the decision makers aka government. Even clear video and testimonial evidence will still make this scum cop get off.Once they put some spin on it that Oscar was reaching for a weapon that the video and eyewitnesses did not see, bs. Convicting police officers in abuse cases are rare. Imagine the backlash from every UNIONIZED police force if cops start getting convicted on a regular basis? Real policing would stop and in the end the public will again suffer. So in 2 years when the inquiry, officer dismissal and anger is done, Oscar Grant’s name will be added to the sad list of victims of police brutality. How long ago was Sean Bell?
R.I.P Oscar Grant
I know the money could never bring back their son… but his family and his daughter deserve every penny! The officer should also be slapped with criminal charges. This was a cold blooded and senseless murder.
Prayers be with them…
-Jaye
HOW DO YOU MISTAKE A TASER FOR A GUN…THATS BULLSHIT…THIS OFFICER NEEDS TO BE LOCKED UP NOT FIRED
This is horrible, how do you just shoot a guy in the back cause you want 2 in front of million of witness that shows the law thinks they can’t be touch i pray this one get all it deserves
the only problem i have with this is: Why not let justice serve first, and when the NAZI WITH A BADGE meets bubba in the pen, then look to grab stacks…
Criminal charges for the officer and his fellow officers because they all looked neglegent, as well as, not doing anything that looked near “right”. You don’t just shoot and kill an unarmed, subdued, average 22 yr. old on New year’s eve/day and expect to walk away. All police officers should be fired, I know their training did not teach them to shoot subserviant, possible, unarmed criminals. SMH. Thank God for the video tape! Sheesh.
I hope the family gets the WHOLE 25 MIL, plus some donations, plus a public apology, plus a civil case. They need to take a page out of the Goldman’s book on “How to get stacks from a death” because, it will be a long road. But this is not right, and I feel sorry for the baby girl who will never truely know her father.
Prayers with the family.
Fuck DA POLICE… ICE T was right!!! and Soulja Boy … ur a fag for tryin to put that song on blast. Ya young whipper snappin fool.
I live in East Oakland (few blocks from Fruitvale bart) and dumb muthafuckers better not riot in my neighborhood. Don’t tear down my community because you’re mad. Just makes you look even dumber
they need to give that bitch officer the death penalty. how do u just take someones life while they plead to u stop.. from watching the video< Oscar was’t even showing any resistance even if the officer mistakenly pulled his gun instead of taser. That fucker Mehserle needs to feel death cold bloodily.
This is outrageous! I just watched the video. That cop murdered that young man…no question. He was in no immediate danger from the suspect(nor were any of the other attending officers) and had no reason to draw his weapon let alone fire it! This makes me very angry….
Yeah I want to see him see real punitive action not some simple firing or suspension – cause if the roles were reversed we would be all up under the jail ..They need to put on here about Robbie Tolan , Looks like here we had this same nonsense as well, lord and they wonder why people dont want to help the police. Im just saddened if they cant receive justice in any of these cases like my brother Sean Bell or this other story about the boy who supposedly “committed suicide” ..i wonder
Yo…I feel for the family…watched the vid and maybe it was mistake…maybe it wasnt? Could he have thought it was his tazer…well….yes. Mistakes happen,but its very unfortunate it had to cost that man his life. Really unfortunate situation and sad regardless what you believe though
For those calling the police all kind of names….you all are the first to call them when something goes wrong….you got 911 onspeed dial!!….dont be 2 faced like that please.
lol I dont call 911, maybe you need get in touch with Flav said on the old school tip “911 is a joke”..my state is a concealed carry state and one that is a castle doctrine one as well …I got me and mine covered, ill save that hiding under the bed waiting for someone to save me for suckers..
Yea who else are you gonna call when your in trouble?the police. You have no other choice,they are suppose to serve and protect people.This story makes me angry and sad at the same time,that officer needs to be locked up,and r.i.p to the young man,my condolences go out to the family.
Oh and there is no way to mistake a pistol for a Taser especially if u ever seen one or held one, lol especially when you are supposed to be a certified trained professional – maybe said person shouldnt be a damn cop if its that hard to differentiate , less innocent people can get killed then
@ YupYup, if you live a few blocks from Fruitvale Bart…that means you live below Foothill and E. 14th, you don’t think your neighborhood needs remodeling??? A little riot, might clean it up…lol!
I am an East Oakland resident, as well. The Bart officer will be charged and his lawyer knows it, which explains why he isn’t talking to anyone. We’re going to get justice for Oscar and everyone who has been deeply affected by this incident.
I agree with you Teeza. I live in East Oakland and am currently watching KRON-4 news and it’s showing people walking the streets of Fruitvale protesting. Looks like their about maybe 80+ deep and of course, the pigs are out in riot gear. This whole situation is so sad and there is nothing to remedy it.
Ok! I understand trying to get money but niccas please 25 million dollars make’s one seem to be “Greedy” come on some one lost their life not the damn state. I understand at least 5 million but not know 25 million. This just proves that people don’t give a DAMN about other people because shyt is provided for kids and unfortunate people with state funds. My sympathies to the family but 25 million dollars “Get Ova Your Self”
Dat is crazy. He wasn’t even carryin’ a loaded weapon. That cop needs 2 rot in hell for what he did to that man. and I don’t blame his family for askin’ for that amount he took their son away from his family and lil girl. 25 million won’t bring em back true enough but I hope it would bring a lil peace 2 them.
I’d like to thank the ignorant muthafuckas downtown that attacked a cab driver and smashed my car windows in. You dumb muthafuckas that are so angry about a black man getting shot have no problems attacking a black cab driver. Fucking punks don’t stand for shit.
@ MissNee. I feel for you. That’s the same as ppl tearing up Compton and Watts after the Rodney King verdict.
Speaking of King, how much of his millions does he have left?
we need a special nationwide squad to deal with these instances of brutality. kinda how the JDF or the mossad, operates. we cry and march but it gets us nowhere. the officer is somewhere worrying about himself. he needs to know the severity of his infraction
what is this senselessness about the amount of money? who are u to devalue his life? who cares what the family “looks” like in the eyes of others? they didnt sign up for this. are the cops concerned with the “looks” of things? is the state concerned with the “look” of racism, when they harass folk? All I ask is that when u riot, dont do it in your own neighborhood, this time
Of the topic but…..Why is that guys side burns all the way in the middle of his face like that? Anyway, thats just messed up.
The police authority is very racist in Oakland.
I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY THESE PEOPLE ARE STILL SUCH RACIST.