http://www.thenation.com/blog/171645/anger-rises-cleveland-after-police-fire-137-shots-unarmed-couple
A public forum exploded in Cleveland last night as controversy continues following a shocking police shooting barrage a few days ago that has been likened to the final bloody scene of the movie Bonnie and Clyde. It’s gained little national attention, for some reason.
A car chase that started in Cleveland ended a few minutes later with thirteen local cops firing a total of 137 bullets into a car killing a man and a woman inside. They each were struck by more than two dozen bullets. Police claimed it all started with shots, or a shot, fired from the car at police, but no weapons or shell casings were discovered in the car.
Also: the two dead are black and twelve of the thirteen cops are white and the other Hispanic. They have been put on temporary leave but the department firmly defends the shooting—pointing out the dead pair had criminal records, while admitting no weapon was found.
Naturally, friends and family of the deceased and community members are outraged and the NAACP is drafting a letter calling for a Justice Department probe.
At last night’s public forum, the city’s mayor and two other top offiicals endured repeated cries of “Murder!” Attendees pointed to a pattern of race-tinged police actions. Before the meeting ended, the audience counted to 137, the number of shots fired. The mayor, Frank Jackson, said he, too, wanted to know why thirty police cars joined the chase and he pleaded for patience.
See earlier Plain Dealer story here raising all sorts of questions. More updates and reports on the public forum here and here. Local “gadfly” Roldo Bartimole’s commentary.
Short version
cops get told to no longer peruse vehicle, shoot 2 unarmed men 137 times claiming that they were fired on first but no weapon is found