No charges for police in death of 'boogaloo' movement martyr

[WhiskeyGrinder]

https://apnews.com/article/media-maryland-us-news-police-shootings-1182a35615898c1ed8d5ebdbfc6ad962

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Maryland prosecutors have ruled out criminal charges against any police officers in the shooting death of a man whose family says he was sleeping in his bed next to his girlfriend when police opened fire, an attorney for the family said Thursday.

Howard County State’s Attorney Rich Gibson Jr. informed the parents and girlfriend of 21-year-old Duncan Socrates Lemp of the decision during a meeting conducted remotely, family attorney Rene Sandler told The Associated Press.

Gibson’s office concluded that police in neighboring Montgomery County were justified in using deadly force against Lemp, Sandler said. Members of a tactical unit were serving a “no-knock” search warrant at the Lemp family’s home about 4:30 a.m. on March 12 when an officer fatally shot him.

A spokeswoman for Gibson’s office didn’t immediately respond to a phone call and text message seeking comment on the decision.

[Hoyt]

1. From the article "Lemp's shooting galvanized a loose network of gun-toting, anti-government

extremists promoting the “boogaloo,” a slang term for a second civil war or collapse of civilization. Many “boogaloo” movement promoters have hailed Lemp as a martyr and turned his name into a hashtag campaign on social media."

[MichMan]

2. Similar to the Breonna Taylor murder?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

3. In some ways.

[PatSeg]

4. Wait!

A Boogaloo guy had a girlfriend???

These "no-knock" search warrants are unnerving. How can that not be unconstitutional?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

6. SCOTUS has heard cases involving them several times, finding them constitutional to prevent the

destruction of evidence in drug crimes. They're used almost always in drug cases, which of course hit the poor and BIPOC disproportionately; they also instantly increase the risk of violence.

[PatSeg]

10. I know

And I can think of instances where I might think it is justifiable, but unfortunately, we've heard of too many cases where it wasn't and resulted in serious harm or even death. Though there may be good reasons for such warrants, how can we trust police to use them responsibly and safely? And shouldn't they be used as the absolute last resort? Who determines if it is "unreasonable search or seizure"?

In this case, the Boogaloo guy might be guilty as sin of something, but did it justify an on the spot death sentence? Very disturbing.

[marie999]

5. Is Boogaloo now going to protest to defund the police?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

7. I'm not interested in making common cause with them. I am interested in abolishing the police

because it's a system that oppresses everybody and cannot be reformed.

[Amishman]

8. doubtful, why would they want to abolish their own day jobs?

[haele]

9. Doesn't matter how much of a dirtbag he was, if asleep, the police had no reason to open fire.

No Knock warrant entry? Unconstitutional, period. At least pound on the door and shout "Police; we have a warrant and we're police" before barging in. Yes, it gives idiots time to react, but unless there's a murder or assault going on, there's no reason for a no knock. That's part of the contract that civilized societies need to have in place between the policing organizations and the average citizens.

Were there bodycams filming what had gone on? If not, don't trust what the cops say, should be automatic charges if they were issued body cams and those devices were turned off.

Yes, yes, the Conservatives are up in arms because this time, it happened to one of them. And Liberals should be up in arms because it doesn't matter who it happened to, it shouldn't happen to anyone, so I don't care; this isn't an us v them situation.

Laws and contracts are there for a reason if you want to live in a fair, civilized society without getting scammed or randomly targeted just because someone in power got out of the wrong side of the bed that morning.

Haele

[yonder]

11. +1000. You said it very well.

Presumed constitutional protections against unreasonable search and seizure are in place. Murder while sleeping, uh, not so much.

[muriel_volestrangler]

13. His girlfriend, Kasey Robinson, said he *had been* sleeping, but pointed a gun at an officer

The report:

When further comparing Robinson’s and the SO’s statements, prosecutors also noted
similarities in their descriptions of the actions taken by Duncan Lemp. Both said that Robinson
was the first to respond to police activity. Both indicated that Robinson dove for cover to the
other side of the bed. Both indicated that Lemp stood up as opposed to crouching down for
cover. Both gave statements that Lemp picked up a rifle from the same general area and pointed
it at the officer. In fact, Robinson went a step farther and said that she believed Lemp fired 6
rounds at the window. That statement was not to true as there was no evidence, i.e. shell casings
or holes in the wall, that would indicate Lemp’s gun was fired. It was learned through
investigation that three of the bullets were recovered from inside Lemp’s body during the
autopsy. The last two exited Lemp’s body and were found in the bedroom wall below the
hanging rifle and bulletproof vest. Finally, both witnesses indicated Lemp collapsed against the
French doors leading to the kitchen which prevented other SWAT officers from being able to
access the room immediately.

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/SAO/Resources/Files/REPORTMarch2020Event.pdf

[Hortensis]

12. This precious 8-year-old hung himself from his bunkbed nearly 2 years ago.

When we purchased our child's bunkbeds it was to play on and have a bed for friends to sleep over. Beyond dreadful. The depraved negligence of that school's staff is unbelievable, but they did it.

I only hope that these past two years have been a fraction of the nightmare for the defendants as for Gabriel's parents. Principal Jackson and Asst Principal Jeffrey Mckenzie have had their names and pictures almost entirely scrubbed from normal internet searches some time ago, a professional job. "Principal" as in "pal.'

"The school principal, Ruthenia Jackson, and its assistant principal, Jeffrey McKenzie, argued that they are entitled to governmental immunity." "Defendants include the school, its principal and assistant principal, the school nurse, the superintendent, and the Cincinnati Board of Education."

[muriel_volestrangler]

14. Wrong thread? (nt)