Scary officer involved shooting....

As the investigation of Alton Sterling is on going, some facts have come up. He was a convicted felon, he was selling illegally copied DVDs (another crime) and he was showing off a gun that night.

I say that because we have an excellent video of how quickly officers can get involved with a deadly force incident.

From the Savannah Morning News:

Grand jury: Savannah-Chatham police 'legally justified' in fatal October shooting

Chatham County grand jury finds police officers in clear after traffic stop resulted in fatal shooting

The Chatham County grand jury on Monday found that Savannah-Chatham police officers were “legally justified” when they used deadly force to stop Tyrie Cuyler from fleeing a traffic stop in October.

“Grand jury finds that no further action is required,” the March term panel said in a civil finding returned after presentation of evidence Monday.

That presentation by Chatham County District Attorney Meg Heap and Chief Assistant Greg McConnell included body camera footage from officers Ruben Colon, Michael Gonzales and John Hauber at the scene. (Watch portions of the body camera video below.)

A fourth officer, Daniel Kang, did not activate his body camera.

Cuyler, 25, was shot and killed in a gun battle with Savannah-Chatham police officers shortly before midnight Oct. 27 after a routine traffic stop turned deadly.

Colon and Gonzales were shot and wounded by Cuyler before he was fatally shot when police returned fire at the intersection of 37th Street and Ogeechee Road.

Both officers survived.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents were called in that night and conducted the investigation, referring their findings Heap.

The March term grand jury on April 20 recommended a civil inspection and investigation into whether the officers’ use of force was justified and notified Savannah-Chatham Police Chief Joseph Lumpkin....

Lumpkin declined an invitation to respond to the presentment before it was published, which by law he is entitled to do, Heap said. She added that Lumpkin did appear before the grand jury considering the evidence.

...In their findings involving Cuyler, which the GBI said illustrated Cuyler’s “desperate motivation to use unjustified deadly force,” the GBI found that Cuyler:

Was armed with a .38-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver which contained three spent shell casings; the handle was wrapped with electrical tape in an apparent attempt to not leave fingerprints.

Had 16 individually packed baggies in his pocket containing cocaine … the possession of which is a felony.

Was a two-time convicted felon.

Was arrested on March 18, 2015, in McIntosh County for possession of a firearm by a convicted felony

Raped a female inside her West Duffy Street residence on Oct. 21, 2015. The case was still under investigation when he died.

Had raped another female inside her East Duffy Street home on Aug. 9, 2015. The case was under investigation at the time of his death...

I point out the convicted felon because he cannot, by law, possess a firearm. I see that "common sense gun regulation" really helped keep a gun from a turd's hands.

But look at the video. It takes less tan 3 seconds from the time he Cuyler that all the rounds are fired. I posted a couple of says ago on how fast a suspect can fire, even with several offices already drawn down on him. Scary, to say the least.

Remember, watch their hands and be ready. I'll justify why I was pointing my weapon at someone and not firing. Better that letter and my department's letter to my widow.

Be safe friends.