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Beavercreek Police Sgt. David M. Darkow

Perpetrator

Victim

Date:

2014-08-05

Location:

Beavercreek, Ohio

 


What happened:

A white Ohio police officer fatally shot a black man, John Crawford III, in a Walmart store on August 5 2014 after Crawford took a bb/pellet gun off a Walmart store shelf.  Williams and his partner were called to the store after someone made a 911 call claiming someone was waving a rifle in the air of the store. Officer Williams later claimed he believed he faced an “imminent threat”, although he acknowledges he and his partner didn’t observe anyone running, screaming or in pain and didn’t hear or smell gunfirenever. Moreover, he never saw Crawford point (what turned out to be a pellet gun) or threaten anyone.  Additionally, Ohio is an “open carry state”.   Crawford was only 22 years of age when murdered and left behind two sons- nearly 2-year-old John Henry IV and 5-month-old Jayden.

Another Walmart shopper Angela Williams, 37, who worked at a Springfield nursing home, died of a heart condition after Officer Williams fired his weapon and she tried to flee the store.

Williams, a nine-year veteran on the force, was involved in Beavercreek’s first fatal police-involved shooting on June 27, 2010.  In that shooting, Williams shot and killed retired Air Force Master Sgt. Scott A. Brogli, 45, after the man allegedly charged him and another officer while carrying a large kitchen knife. Brogli died from a single gunshot wound to the chest, as his 17-year-old son watched the incident unfold.


About The Perpetrator:

David M. Darkow is a white male police officer sergeant with the Beavercreek Police Department.


About The Victim:

John Crawford III, an African American male, was only 22 years of age when murdered and left behind two sons- nearly 2-year-old John Henry IV and 5-month-old Jayden.


Outcome:

The DOJ Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Southern Ohio conducted an investigation and informed the public on July 11, 2017 that evidence from their investigation was “insufficient to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Officer Williams violated [Crawford’s] federal civil rights. As a result, a grand jury in Greene County declined to indict Officer Williams on charges of reckless homicide or negligent homicide.

Officer Williams was placed on desk duty after the shooting but was immediately placed back on full active duty at the conclusion of the DOJ investigation per the Beavercreek Police Chief’s orders.

John Crawford III’s family has filed a civil suit which is ongoing.  The initial civil lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Dayton by members of Crawford’s family, listed 17 counts against the defendants, ranging from assault and battery against the officers directly involved in the shooting, to negligent training and supervision against Evers and the city of Beavercreek, to negligence against Wal-Mart, as well as other charges. In the lawsuit documents, the family asked for a jury trial and compensatory damages in excess of $75,000.


Sources:

Ohio Police Officer Who Shot and Killed Black 22yo Says He Faced Imminent Threat;  Officer Who Killed Walmart Shopper Carrying Air Rifle Won't Face Federal Charges;  Beavercreek Police Officer Darkow Back On Job;  Beavercreek Officer Who Shot John Crawford III Back on 'Full Duty';  Beavercreek Officers Granted Third Lawsuit Delay; 

Victim: John Crawford

Perpetrator

Victim

Date:

August 5 2014

Location:

Beavercreek, Ohio


What happened:

John Crawford III was an African American 22 year old patronizing a Walmart Store. A white Ohio police officer fatally shot a black man, John Crawford III, in a Walmart store on August 5 2014 after Crawford took a bb/pellet gun off a Walmart store shelf. Williams and his partner were called to the store after someone made a 911 call claiming someone was waving a rifle in the air of the store. Officer Williams later claimed he believed he faced an “imminent threat”, although he acknowledges he and his partner didn’t observe anyone running, screaming or in pain and didn’t hear or smell gunfirenever. Moreover, he never saw Crawford point (what turned out to be a pellet gun) or threaten anyone. Additionally, Ohio is an “open carry state”. Crawford was only 22 years of age when murdered and left behind two sons- nearly 2-year-old John Henry IV and 5-month-old Jayden. Another Walmart shopper Angela Williams, 37, who worked at a Springfield nursing home, died of a heart condition after Officer Williams fired his weapon and she tried to flee the store. Williams, a nine-year veteran on the force, was involved in Beavercreek’s first fatal police-involved shooting on June 27, 2010. In that shooting, Williams shot and killed retired Air Force Master Sgt. Scott A. Brogli, 45, after the man allegedly charged him and another officer while carrying a large kitchen knife. Brogli died from a single gunshot wound to the chest, as his 17-year-old son watched the incident unfold.


About The Perpetrator:

David M. Darkow is a white male police officer sergeant with the Beavercreek Police Department.


About The Victim:

John Crawford III, an African American male, was only 22 years of age when murdered and left behind two sons- nearly 2-year-old John Henry IV and 5-month-old Jayden.


Outcome:

The DOJ Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Southern Ohio conducted an investigation and informed the public on July 11, 2017 that evidence from their investigation was “insufficient to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Officer Williams violated [Crawford’s] federal civil rights. As a result, a grand jury in Greene County declined to indict Officer Williams on charges of reckless homicide or negligent homicide. Officer Williams was placed on desk duty after the shooting but was immediately placed back on full active duty at the conclusion of the DOJ investigation per the Beavercreek Police Chief’s orders. John Crawford III’s family has filed a civil suit which is ongoing.


Sources:

Ohio Police Officer Who Shot and Killed Black 22yo Says He Faced 'Immenent Threat';  Officer Who Killed Walmart Shopper Carrying Air Rifle Won't Face Federal Charges;  Beavercreek Police Officer Darkow Back On Job;  Beavercreek Officer Who Shot John Crawford III Back on 'Full Duty';  Beavercreek Officers Granted Third Lawsuit Delay in Crawford Case; 

Officer Sean Williams

Perpetrator

Victim

Date:

August 5 2014

Location:

Beavercreek, Ohio


What happened:

A white Ohio police officer fatally shot a black man, John Crawford III, in a Walmart store on August 5 2014 after Crawford took a bb/pellet gun off a Walmart store shelf. Williams and his partner were called to the store after someone made a 911 call claiming someone was waving a rifle in the air of the store. Officer Williams later claimed he believed he faced an “imminent threat”, although he acknowledges he and his partner didn’t observe anyone running, screaming or in pain and didn’t hear or smell gunfire ever. Moreover, he never saw Crawford point (what turned out to be a pellet gun) or threaten anyone. Additionally, Ohio is an “open carry state”. Crawford was only 22 years of age when murdered and left behind two sons- nearly 2-year-old John Henry IV and 5-month-old Jayden. Another Walmart shopper Angela Williams, 37, who worked at a Springfield nursing home, died of a heart condition after Officer Williams fired his weapon and she tried to flee the store. Williams, a nine-year veteran on the force, was involved in Beavercreek’s first fatal police-involved shooting on June 27, 2010. In that shooting, Williams shot and killed retired Air Force Master Sgt. Scott A. Brogli, 45, after the man allegedly charged him and another officer while carrying a large kitchen knife. Brogli died from a single gunshot wound to the chest, as his 17-year-old son watched the incident unfold.


About The Perpetrator:

Sean Williams is a white male.


About The Victim:

John Crawford III, an African American male, was only 22 years of age when murdered and left behind two sons- nearly 2-year-old John Henry IV and 5-month-old Jayden.


Outcome:

The DOJ Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Southern Ohio conducted an investigation and informed the public on July 11, 2017 that evidence from their investigation was “insufficient to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Officer Williams violated [Crawford’s] federal civil rights. As a result, a grand jury in Greene County declined to indict Officer Williams on charges of reckless homicide or negligent homicide. Officer Williams was placed on desk duty after the shooting but was immediately placed back on full active duty at the conclusion of the DOJ investigation per the Beavercreek Police Chief’s orders.

John Crawford III’s family has filed a civil suit which is ongoing. The initial civil lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Dayton by members of Crawford’s family, listed 17 counts against the defendants, ranging from assault and battery against the officers directly involved in the shooting, to negligent training and supervision against Evers and the city of Beavercreek, to negligence against Wal-Mart, as well as other charges. In the lawsuit documents, the family asked for a jury trial and compensatory damages in excess of $75,000.


Sources:

Ohio Police Officer Who Shot and Killed Black 22yo Says He Faced 'Iminent Threat';  Beavercreek Officer Who Shot John Crawford III back on 'Full Duty';  Officer Who Killed Walmart Shopper Carrying Air Rifle Won't Face Federal Charges;  Beavercreek Police Officer Darkow Back on Job;  Beavercreek Officers Granted Third Lawsuit Delay; 

Victim: Mike Brown

Perpetrator

Victim

Date:

2014-08-09

Location:

Ferguson, Missouri


What happened:

Brown, an 18-year-old African American, was a suspect in a “strong-arm” robbery of a convenience store. Brown was fatally shot by Darren Wilson, a 28-year-old white police officer in an encounter that took place a short distance away from the convenience store, several minutes after Officer Wilson received a radio alert which included a description of a suspect. Brown was accompanied by his friend Dorian Johnson who was 22. Wilson said that an altercation ensued when Brown attacked Wilson in his police vehicle for control of Wilson’s gun until it was fired. Brown and Johnson then fled, with Wilson in pursuit of Brown. In the entire altercation, Wilson fired a total of twelve bullets.


About The Perpetrator:

Darren Dean Wilson is a white man.  He was born in Fort Worth, Texas on May 14, 1986. He lives in Crestwood, Missouri, southwest of Ferguson and was 28 years old when he murdered 18 year old Mike Brown. Wilson had only been a police officer for 6 years First spent 2 years in Jennings, Missouri. Wilson had no previous disciplinary actions on his record although his first department was so dysfunctional all officers were fired.


About The Victim:

Michael Brown was an African American male, murdered on August 9th, 2014. At the time of his death, he was 18 years old, was 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) tall, and weighed 292 lb (132 kg). He graduated from Normandy High School in St. Louis County eight days before his death and was two days from starting a training program for heating and air conditioning repair at Vatterott College technical school.


Outcome:

The shooting sparked great unrest in Ferguson. Although a subsequent FBI investigation found that there was no evidence that Brown had his hands up in surrender or said “don’t shoot” before he was shot, protesters believed that he had done so, and used the slogan, “Hands up, don’t shoot.” in protest. Protests, both peaceful and violent, continued for more than a week in Ferguson resulting in police establishing a nightly curfew. The response of area police agencies in dealing with the protests was strongly criticized by the media and politicians. There were concerns over insensitivity, tactics, and a militarized response. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon ordered local police organizations to cede much of their authority to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

 

A grand jury was called by Robert McCulloch, the St. Louis County Prosecutor, and was given extensive evidence. On November 24, 2014, McCulloch announced the St. Louis County grand jury had decided not to indict Wilson. On March 4, 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice reported it had concluded its own investigation and cleared Wilson of civil rights violations in the shooting. It found forensic evidence supported the officer’s account, that witnesses who corroborated the officer’s account were credible, and that witnesses who had incriminated him were not credible, with some admitting they had not directly seen the events. The U.S. Department of Justice concluded Wilson shot Brown in self-defense.


Sources:

Michael Brown Robbed Convenience Store, Stole Cigarillos Before Darren Wilson Shooting;  Michael Brown Shooting: What Darren Wilson Told the Ferguson Grand Jury;  Gunshots, Looting After Grand Jury In Ferguson Case Does Not Indict;  DOJ Report;