Former AZ Police Officer Acquitted in Shooting Death of Unarmed Man

A former Arizona police officer has been acquitted by a jury of second degree murder and reckless manslaughter for the January 2016 shooting death of 26 year old David Shaver. The incident occurred after a call from a La Quinta Inn that someone was pointing a gun outside a window of a fifth floor room. 

Responding officers believed David Shaver was the person with the gun and ordered him out of his room.  A nearly 5 minute video has been made public of the incident, in which Mr. Shaver can be seen on his knees with his hands behind his head - following all of the commands of the shouting officer.  Shaver can be heard begging for his life and appeared to be sobbing and confused as he followed instructions to crawl down the hallway towards the officers.

Former officer Philip "Mitch" Brailsford shot David Shaver 5 times as he inched forward (as commanded to) towards him.  His reason for the shooting was that Shaver was allegedly reaching for something in his waistband - another officer reviewing the video said it appeared Shaver was pulling his pants up.  Either way, in the video the officer seems very angry and aggressive.  If he perceived Shaver had a gun and was reaching for it, why did he have to shoot him 5 times?  Wouldn't once had been enough to disarm him? Shaver did not have any weapons found on his body.

I understand officers have a difficult job and have to make split second decisions but after hearing and viewing this video, the shooting seems excessive and unnecessary.  Watch it for yourself and see what you think.  

David Shaver - 26 year old married father of two shot by officer

The acquittal on all charges was surprising.  David Shaver's widow plans to file a $75,000,000 lawsuit against the police for excessive force.  Mr. Shaver also leaves behind 2 children.  Two pellet rifles were discovered in Shaver's hotel room - it seems likely he may have been the one seen at the 5th floor window. If I hadn't watched the video and heard David Shaver begging the officers not to shoot him, I may have a different opinion of this shooting but it's disturbing that this former officer fired an assault rifle 5 times at a man crawling on the hallway floor and following the instructions of law enforcement.  The officer's voice is also concerning - quite frankly he sounds pissed off.  Maybe something happened before the body camera began recording but I didn't see or hear anything to justify the seemingly angry officers commands.

David Shaver seemed clearly confused and the man was sobbing.  He seemed to be in emotional distress but not dangerous!  Another senseless shooting.  Do police just get a pass when they kill someone in this manner?  I believe his widow would win an excessive force suit because it doesn't seem like it was necessary to fire 5 shots into this man. Officer Brailsford was terminated immediately by Mesa Police Chief John Meza after he reviewed the case and video footage.  Smart move.  My condolences to the family of David Shaver.  I don't believe the police had to shoot him and I hope you prevail in your civil suit.

Baltimore Police Commissioner "Still Not Ruling Out Suicide" in Det. Suiter's Death

Baltimore Police Commissioner Davis reportedly has stated that they still are not ruling out suicide in the shooting death of Detective Sean Suiter.  This is the most ridiculous theory yet and makes me even more suspicious that the department has something to hide.  How can there be a "brief but violent" struggle - even heard on a brief radio transmission call for help by Suiter and this be a suicide?  I seriously doubt a detective who was planning to kill himself would make a radio call for help with a suspicious man.  The struggle theory was based on Suiter's clothing - there are witnesses who don't want to be identified who saw a subject running down an alleyway after the shooting.  How can they raise this ridiculous theory?  What a slap in the face to Det. Suiter's family.  What is the theory based on?  Was he suicidal?  Was he in financial trouble or did he have marital problems?  If they are going to put this theory out there they should explain why they believe this is plausible.

I don't buy it for one minute.  Why would he kill himself while on duty with a partner in a public place?  This theory needs to be put to rest and they need to focus on finding the shooter.  Find the shooter and you will find out who was really behind this murder.  It seems much more likely that Suiter's fellow officers who were facing serious federal charges had motive to want him dead.  Particularly the officer that set Suiter up to find the planted drugs in the car of a person they had pulled over.  If these officers have admitted to and plead guilty to the serious crimes they committed while on duty, why is it so hard to believe they could have something to do with Suiter's murder? They need to explain the basis of the suicide theory or keep it out of the news.  How disrespectful to his family these statements are.

The people of Baltimore want answers - Suiter's funeral was attended by thousands of people who turned out to show support and respect for the murdered detective.  I believe the truth will come out.  The mayor of Baltimore needs to tie a big fat reward for information leading to the arrest of the killer and somebody out there will talk.  The murder took place in a reportedly "troubled and dangerous" part of Baltimore.  People there may jump at the chance to collect a reward for information.  Even if they need to make a deal with the killer if he/she was hired to kill Suiter, it would be worth it to find the truth.

Det. Sean Suiter's funeral (ydr.com)

Det. Suiter's funeral (ydr.com)