Essay On Clemmons Shooting

After conducting my research, I will analyze the officer involved shooting incident that occurred in Nashville a little over forty days ago between Officer Joshua Lippert and Jocques Clemmons (Cardenas, Alund, & Sawyer, 2017). On February 10, 2017 at approximately thirteen hundred hours Officer Joshua Lippert was involved in a shooting that took the life of Jocques Clemmons (Cardenas, Alund, & Sawyer, 2017). Initially we will examine the facts of the incident provided to the media followed by the public’s response.

The initial circumstances released to the public regarding the incident were Officer Lippert initiated a traffic stop on Clemmons’ vehicle for failing to observe a posted stop sign (Cardenas, Alund, & Sawyer, 2017). It was initially

The Nashville Police Department stated at one point Clemmons had the gun in his hand and refused to drop it, which prompted Officer Lippert to feel he was in danger causing him to shoot Clemmons three times (Cardenas, Alund, & Sawyer, 2017). During the shooting incident Clemmons was struck twice in his lower back and once in the left hip (Cardenas, Alund, & Sawyer, 2017). Clemmons later died in surgery at Vanderbilt Hospital (Cardenas, Alund, & Sawyer, 2017). The public response to the incident included tremendous skepticism, because of how the incident was initially reported. The community was concerned that a white police officer was involved in the shooting of a black man, who appeared to be trying to runaway from the officer. Additionally, during the initial report released by the police department it stated Clemmons body checked the officer as he was exiting his vehicle, but video surveillance obtained later discredited that version of the incident, and showed Clemmons attempting to run around Officer Lippert (Cardenas, Alund, & Sawyer, 2017). Also, the Metropolitan Nashville Police

Connor. I believe since Clemmons was fleeing from Officer Lippert, and Clemmons dropped a gun on the ground during a physical altercation with Officer Lippert, that elevated his perception of danger. In addition to Clemmons dropping a gun on the ground, if Clemmons either attempted or actually hand possession of the gun, I feel Officer Lippert was justified to use deadly force at that point regardless of Clemmons’ body position. I believe since Officer Lippert and Clemmons had a previous physical struggle, Officer Lippert could only assume if Clemmons retrieved the gun from the ground his intention was shoot him with it. Due to analysis of the incident I believe the police response was justified during the