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Perhaps the most explosive and explicit example of police brutality in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina took place on September 4, 2005, when a group of officers gunned down six unarmed civilians on the Danziger Bridge in eastern New Orleans.
Nearly six years later, the trial of five current and former NOPD officers is now underway in federal court in New Orleans. Four of the officers accused in the case are charged with civil rights violations for the shooting, which killed two, including a teenager and a mentally handicapped man, and left four others severely wounded.
Those officers and a retired homicide detective are also charged with various federal crimes for allegedly covering up the incident and repeatedly lying to investigators. Officers falsely reported that they had been taking fire from a number of people at the bridge when they arrived.
In prior court testimony, officers have admitted to firing on two groups of people who were crossing the bridge that Sunday morning, using handguns, automatic assault rifles and a shotgun. One group was the family of James Brissette, 19. The other was Ronald Madison, 40, and his brother Lance (pictured above). Brissette was shot and killed while members of his family were injured. Officers also admitted to killing Ronald Madison. An officer shot him in the back with a shotgun and then kicked while he lay dying. His brother Lance Madison was then arrested for allegedly resisting arrest, though chargers were later dropped.
The defendants include former officer Robert Faulcon, who resigned from the department shortly after Katrina; Sgt. Kenneth Bowen; Sgt. Robert Gisevius; officer Anthony Villavaso; and retired Sgt. Arthur Kaufman.
To read more about the trial and learn about the deadly turn of events that lead to the shooting click here.
Comments: (4)
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By: Matt on 6/30/2011 9:00PM
These police officers are, and they better go to prison for a long time.
Unlike that officers who shot that man in the back as he laid on his stomach, who only got a two year sentence. Now, Black folk forget the riots.
Burning a building is not going to make these crooked officers pay for their crimes. What would I recommend? I'll say no more.
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By: bugs hunter on 6/28/2011 1:18AM
"a group of officers gunned down six unarmed civilians on the Danziger Bridge in eastern New Orleans"
Let this be a lesson of what happens when an unexpected disaster causes anarchy and chaos in a police state like America.
The lawmen, who are sworn to serve and protect,shows their true colors! The boys behind the badge begans to target practice, on unarmed innocent civilians like they are rats! An occassion they had always dreamed for? To freely gun down blacks with impunity"
Four years and no trial, yet, not one word from the so-called black press/journalist?
This would never have happened to innocent whites, they'd stop the country and interrogate every pig with a badge!
We know what the joos would do in retaliation!, we also know what the illegal Hispanics would be doing.........sad to say, we know what we gon do..........
..............NOTHING! We got "Obama Fever"!!!!!!!!!
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By: sharon on 6/28/2011 1:32PM
This TRULY a travesty! However, these types of trajedies will continue until black guys stopp slaughtering one another!
Society has the misconception that black guys do not value their lives or the lives of their black male peers, so why should we?
black guys are perceived as animals killing one another.
ONLY black guys can change this perception by STOPPING the senseless slaughter of one another.
Then, you will force society to stand up and take actions against police brutality!
Unfortunately, until then, it will be business as usual.
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By: Matt on 7/03/2011 12:42PM
I'm sorry Sharon but, not only do your comment sound idiotic, and stupid. You sound like a fool blaming the victims and not the perpetrators.
Try using common sense.
This had nothing to do with Black on Black crime. Granted, there is issues in our cities but, this case revolves around cops firing on a group of people who were minding their own business crossing the Danziger Bridge in eastern New Orleans.
Then the cops lied about the whole incident. These are supposed to be trained law enforcement officers. Look at the facts and stop shifting the blame. You sound like a simpleton.
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