I have no doubt that Mr. Grant was trying to keep the peace that night. He had crack cocaine on his person and wasn’t wanting to draw attention to himself as he had just gotten out of jail for the same offense. This explains why he fought so hard to keep them from searching him. Unfortunately for Grant, it was New Year’s Eve and the officers had just come off a man with a gun call. In the same situation, I would have thought he was concealing a gun also and reacted accordingly to protect myself, my fellow officers, and the bystanders on the platform.

As for the “execution” I have a very biased POV on this as the use of force did NOT start with a weapon, but rather verbal commands. The officer ordered Grant to lay face down to be searched just like the others involved in the melee, but he didn’t comply, to which he was physically led to lay down, to which he resisted. When it takes 2 officers to force a subject to comply with a simple search, that subject is resisting. It wasn’t until Meserhle lost control of Grant’s arm and allowed him to jerk it away that he was forced to retreat and draw his weapon. The reports from witnesses said they heard the officer yell “Gun, gun!”. Where anyone in their right mind would consider this an act of murder or execution is beyond comprehension. You don’t retreat to a safe distance to murder someone, you do it to defend yourself. Keep in mind there were dozens if not a hundred people on the platform that were all potential targets if Grant did draw a gun and start shooting randomly to escape arrest. Had this played out that way, I’m sure there would be several families suing BART for not protecting them from a violent gunman with a known history in that area.

In closing, I think Grant was a wolf in sheep’s clothing, only a peacemaker when it benefited him. And the officer didn’t murder or execute him, he killed him in attempt to stop a potential catastrophe of bigger proportions. 2 seconds isn’t much time, especially to decide if the guy you’re searching is fighting to get his hands away to either flee or find a weapon. I pulled the crime stats for Fruitvale and the surrounding 1 mile radius, absolutely staggering. Over 90 violent crimes each month. Here, we consider that a crazy year and couldn’t imagine that much violent behavior in a month’s time.

With all the evidence collected from the camera phones (and YES it is evidence), the statement from the Medical Examiner’s office, as well as the witnesses (including 2 of Grant’s associates) this is a tragic case of manslaughter in the 2nd degree.

I know alot of you have this cowboy image for us, that’s not why we do the job. We work the long hours for ridiculous pay because we are wired to protect the good from the bad, that’s what we do and that’s who we are. Anyone who thinks this officer shot Grant for any other reason than to protect is dead wrong, period.

I’m available to answer any REAL questions about the process or procedures. Take care, be safe, and God bless.

(2) Know the difference between 1st and 2nd degree murder before you start bitching about what Mehserle should be charged with.

(3) Let investigators investigate. If you’ve made up your mind based on a few cell phone videos, that’s fine. Don’t expect professionals to be as impatient or stupid.

(4) Mehserle chose not to speak with investigators, and to retain counsel. He later pleaded not guilty and demanded a jury trial. These are our CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS people. If you don’t like it, tough shit. If it bothers you so much, go protest at any county jail and you’ll find hundreds if not thousands of others going through the exact same process.

My opinion: The shooting was an accidental homicide. I don’t think Mehserle will be convicted of murder. Manslaughter maybe.

Now I know i’m going to get a lot of negative feedback, but I can give 2 shits about it. I do give my condolences to the Grant family, but I just need to throw it out there so they can see that all this is just an accidental death. Keep ur mind open people and not the whole blacks and white cops thing. Seriously fucking old.

And to all the close minded assholes, go fuck yourself with the Grant attorneys greedy fucking cock.

I personally thing that your wrong. Yes your right he giving his daughter a bad example but just because he has a record of felonies doesn’t mean he ain’t human. To my understanding it doesn’t matter he has pay his time for what he done and no one should be judging that. he pass is his pass present is now. And if everyone who has a record could be abuse for charges that would mean that everyone can do so. no i don’t think so. He is only 22 and berly having fun and what if he was there at the wrong time in wrong day when he got charge? He was just trying to do what the governmaent told him to do, to not drive under the influence for new years and what happen he gets killed for doing as told.

Mehserle might had done a mistake becuase in the video his face look like oh shit what did i do. but if he doesn’t get charge of murder for a mistake then this country has being doing the wrong thing to others. And beside have u thought of why was he gonna use his layzer gun if Oscar Grant was already following the rules? thing about it and if anyone else got something to say about my thoughts let me know at my yahoo mail:
marien_sanchez023@ymail.com

Also the protesters the week or so after were all dumb as hell. Wrecking peoples lives because they’re upset.

Also I agree with the guy above me that there should not be a murder charge.

Is that why he just got out of jail 4 months earlier for dealing drugs, and has other felonies under his belt? This all coming from a father of a daughter…what a great example.

And Johannes Mehserle, who just had his first child the day after the shooting…is that what a man who is about to be a father decides to do? Go shoot some guy, because he hates blacks? Yeah right!

It was a mistake. Mehserle made a dumb mistake, and although he should never be able to wear a badge again, should NOT be charged with murder.