This on-scene account of a police shooting last night in Los Angeles has been retweeted over 27,000 times:
LAPD just murdered an unarmed man right in front of me. #LAPD pic.twitter.com/8vdvJYrww0
— j o r d a n w h i t e ♐︎ (@jordanwhiteLA) December 6, 2014
The man later died:
#BREAKING: Man shot by police at Hollywood and Highland has died according to LAPD http://t.co/BTpu79pkxT pic.twitter.com/ufvHdBWIWY
— KTLA (@KTLA) December 6, 2014
According to the LAPD, the man was carrying a knife when he was shot:
#LAPD Ofcrs respond to ADW in progress, Susp armed w/ knife, #OIS occurred, knife recovered. @LAPDHollywood pic.twitter.com/63eWDpYBZj
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) December 6, 2014
@LAPDHQ @LAPDHollywood And there it is @jordanwhiteLA , the knife you didn't see.
— Andrée (@MissAndree2U) December 6, 2014
That was no excuse, according to Jamelle Bouie and others responding to the news:
https://twitter.com/jbouie/status/541112019332907009
Exactly RT @jbouie: Let’s say this man had a knife. Why is it necessary to kill him? http://t.co/7keHoRwxN9
— Zerlina Maxwell (@ZerlinaMaxwell) December 6, 2014
@LAPDHQ Are you KIDDING ME??? Ur officers shot him down in the street like a dog and all you can tweet is a pic of a stick????
— Sammy’s Planet is Burning (@OccupyDisabled) December 6, 2014
@LAPDHQ @LAPDHollywood Why did you shoot him several times in the HEAD when he allegedly just had a knife Why not his HAND? Answer that one.
— ⛓??⛓✋???? (@RenagadeGirl) December 6, 2014
@LAPDHQ @LAPDHollywood was he at least wielding it? If it comes out that it was in his pocket, there's going to be a shit storm…
— Burke Leo (@brandovan) December 6, 2014
https://twitter.com/787Cap9Phoenix/status/541125337963569152
https://twitter.com/AngeredPopulist/status/541126215701389312
@LAPDHQ @LAPDHollywood you killed a man over a pocket knife? #policestate
— Jen (@jl_goodman) December 6, 2014
@LAPDHQ @LAPDHollywood so you shot him 10 times in the head over a pocket knife?
— KdotKdot (@theKatrinaM) December 6, 2014
.@LAPDHQ @LAPDHollywood THIS is the knife that required #LAPD to use deadly force? NO other option but death? #ICantBreathe
— ?? Anna ?? (@TallyAnnaE) December 6, 2014
“@theKatrinaM: @LAPDHQ @LAPDHollywood you placed innocent bystanders in danger for a pocket knife. Let's think about that" #EricGarner
— Leadfoot _LA (@Leadfoot_LA) December 6, 2014
How can it be justified to shoot someone over a lil' knife as such!? #PowerAbuse RT @LAPDHQ: #LAPD @LAPDHollywood pic.twitter.com/jhLmznce9o
— Esteban (@esteban91104) December 6, 2014
https://twitter.com/luvsmytwoboys/status/541241235890241536
Killed him for a nail file RT @CassandraRules: Really @LAPDHQ? Y'all couldn't disarm someone with that little thing? pic.twitter.com/0Kcwk2Y5JN
— Dark Skin Aunt Viv (@OMusing) December 6, 2014
@LAPDHQ @LAPDHollywood LOL so do you think him having that little knife justify 10 cops killing him? ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS RIGHT NOW???
— yunika☆ #teamwinner (@lislmae) December 6, 2014
@911LAPD @LAPDHQ LAPD RISKED HUNDREDS OF LIVES IN THE MOST CROWDED INTERSECTION IN THE CITY FOR A SWISS ARMY KNIFE? WTF
— sephtical (@sephtical) December 6, 2014
https://twitter.com/Rod_rigo3/status/541126611186499584
You killed someone over a pocket knife?? My phone is even bigger than that knife. @LAPDHQ @LAPDHollywood
— yunika☆ #teamwinner (@lislmae) December 6, 2014
@LAPDHQ @vintagegalholly @LAPDHollywood deadly force for a pocket knife?
— Holding everyone accountable (@NeedHeadCoach) December 6, 2014
https://twitter.com/marendanoelle/status/541128345371439104
https://twitter.com/DustinMartian/status/541128446051508225
@ABC7Gisela @LAPDHQ Swiss army knife?? How many bystanders could have been killed by LAPD opening fire at our busiest intersection???
— sephtical (@sephtical) December 6, 2014
According to KTLA, the man allegedly approached officers while carrying the knife.
Cue conspiracy theory:
https://twitter.com/boywithgrenade/status/541127180550688768
Update from a reader to clarify a tweet included above:
@TwitchyTeam You included this tweet https://t.co/F7yw0rQtAs Should clarify race: White
— Becca H (@LadyOnTheRight1) December 6, 2014
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