I’ll certainly be willing to bet that it won’t be an all white jury, which is what you claimed (did you notice that the judge in the CNN clip that set bail was black btw?). Once the jury is made up we can see what it is and one of us can come back to the thread and eat some crow. Deal? 
I agree.
Nobody thinks police officers say that to themselves. It’s just that they’re full of surprises!
No, but like XT said, the cop totally panicked and fired from panic. Reaching into a car should not cause panic, much less shooting. The victim is not responsible for the fact that this cop was unreasonably panicky. The lesson here should be to ensure that we don’t have panicky cops. Panicky cops are much, much more dangerous to the general public than people who follow cops’ instructions without narrating every move.
Ah, Smapti, I love how it’s our responsibility to not get shot by cops. It’s on us.
You’d do well in a police state.
In a police state, Smapti’s neighbors would definitely turn him in as a traitor. Considering his views, that would be by far the safest option were Smapti your neighbor.
If panicky cops exist, then is it not common sense to avoid triggering them?
Usually, there’s no such crime anywhere.
At common law, an attempt means that you specifically intended to commit a crime, and made a substantial step towards completing that crime, but were frustrated in your effort to complete it by some reason or force external to you.
Second degree murder typically refers to a murder that happened without premeditation – in the heat of passion and without a pre-formed intent.
So if that’s what second-degree murder means, that also forecloses any charge of “attempt.”
Of course, different jurisdictions have different definitions and degrees, so I certainly acknowledge that “attempted second degree murder” might indeed be a viable charge somewhere.
It’s not your responsibility to not be burglarized, but that doesn’t mean that you should leave your door unlocked because you shouldn’t have to.
Suggesting that you protect yourself != victim-blaming.
Everyone knows that the gas isn’t actually stored in the pumps, right? And that shooting a gas pump is going to result in, at worst, an inoperable gas pump?
Everyone knows that, right?
Not according to any Michael Bay movie I’ve ever seen.
An acquaintance of mine, fueled by drugs and in a domestic fight, shot her partner in the stomach and paralyzed her, and was convicted of 2nd degree attempted murder (unless my memory is off, I’m pretty certain this was the charge). This was in Louisiana about 10-15 years ago.
If true, the law should be changed. Jones did nothing to merit fear of the officer’s life. If turning around and reaching into your car immediately after being ordered to produce something people often keep in their cars is justification for trying to kill someone, the bar is set ridiculously low.
For this particular panicky cop, there’s no telling what actions would trigger his panic. Freezing in place might have triggered this panic, for all we know.
Alright, so what advice would you give to someone who finds themselves in a confrontation with a “panicky cop”?
Freeze in place? Take the fetal position? Pray? I’m not sure if there is any wise and consistent advice to be given in the presence of a panicked person with a gun.
Who cares if some pundit judge is black? I’ll be waiting.
It does exist (well, attempted second degree murder does, not second degree attempted murder, if you go in for that kind of nitpickery). If you do something without premeditation that you intend to result in killing somebody – like say if you get angry during a fight and without thinking about in advance you shoot them – that can definitely be an attempted second degree murder. Does not appear to be the case in South Carolina, though.
If only he’d had vitiligo!
Given your apologia for cops in every thread, my only conclusion is that it should be considered valid self-defense to shoot cops on sight just in case they decide to shoot.