As I write this article so many things race through my mind: I think about my brother who was pulled over because a stolen car had been reported. The only part of the description that my brother fit was race; African American. The car make nor model was correct and my brother and his friends did not fit the character descriptions by size, height, nor quantity. When my mother called the police in anger, the person she spoke with said my brother "was in the wrong place at the wrong time,"...I'm sorry, when is someone's neighborhood, his friend's place of residence, the incorrect place? I'm fortunate that this encounter did not turn left, but for Paul O'Neal and his family, things took a turn for the worst. Of course, a few details between the two scenarios are a bit different, but when is a life worth more than a material thing?

On July 28th, unarmed African-American teen, Paul O'Neal was fatally shot after attempting to flee police in an allegedly stolen car. O'Neal led police on a slight chase which led to a car collision with law enforcement. Within the confusion, officers involved believed that O'Neal was firing at them, but as evidence presents, O'Neal was unarmed. One of the five shots led O'Neal to his deathbed. These unnamed officers involved have been placed on desk duty until things get sorted out. Information has been released such as officers body cameras and transcripts of exchanged words from the cameras. Being that body camera are a new form technology to law enforcement, there are a few kinks but not many people are buying into it. Excuses as to why some, but not all cameras captured the event, concern individuals as to whether those involved (and alive) have something to hide, or did they "Making sure this (body-camera) is off", as the popular quote floating around social media from the incident suggested.

Dash cam video of O'Neal running into police vehicle.

WHAT WENT WRONG:

- Stolen car (duh, stealing is not cool, but one sin does not trump the other)

- Shooting into a car when it is a single threat to people is against their departmental policy. (Doesn't that count for the late, Philando Castile? Who was shot for reaching for his ID when pulled over?)

- The body camera of the officer shooting and killing O'Neal was not recording until after the event. Why? That is still unclear, but comments made after the shooting were captured.

- They shot him under the impression that he was armed but he was not...sound familiar? "All I heard was shots, I don't know if they were fired or not." ...."I didn't know if he was armed or not." (words from the cop-camera of the officer who shot O'Neal

I finally grew the guts to watch footage of the event. It took me a while to watch this video after watching the videos of the late, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile only days apart. I first watched the aftermath of the shooting from the angle of the cop-cam of the officer who fired. He seemed frantic, scared, and confused.

"I'm going to be f-cking crucified," he said hoping the end result would be positive just so he would not be identified as another person adding fuel to this raging fire.

Watching the footage of the event taking place (before the cameras lost track) two officers were ready to fire with their gun in hand SO OF COURSE THE COP HEARD MULTIPLE ROUNDS. The shots were made as the car tried to swerve around the officers who jumped out their car, the range being pretty close.

cop cam #1

Cop cam #2 - On the right picture you can see cop #1 near the truck and cop #2's arm in the right corner shooting (just for clarity)

All I heard were shots throughout the video...yet none were from O'Neal. One of the five or more officers surrounding him as they tried to handcuff him even said "F-cking shoot at us."

Another heartbreaking video. I'm not pointing out who is right and wrong because there is no win in this situation. Someone lost a family member, officers are being targeted, and this event will continue to ignite separation in the country. Before someone says "but he stole," lets not forget one sin is not bigger than the other. He stole, but I'm sure someone within that party has lied or cheated before (haven't we all?) But when is it acceptable to shoot? Didn't the cops have on bullet proof vests, to O'Neals t-shirt? Was the car really worth a life? Was the car really worth the outraged it has sparked? Were there not other outlets of stoping O'Neal without killing him?

I ask these questions as a student, learning and trying to understand in hopes that I, along with my fellow young adults can make a difference. If someone does not ask questions, we will continue to get the same results. If someone does not ask questions, then when will the funerals stop? When will the hashtags stop? When will we stop having missing seats at holiday dinners? When will we have father's/mother's day without missing the one we are supposed to be celebrating? (Yes, RIP to our queens as well)

I also ask readers to consider this before saying all cops are bad. Remember in grade school, when you couldn't go outside because a few students acted out? Making the whole class reap their repercussions? That's how officers feel. The good ones must face the repercussions of the bad ones. This goes for the perception of anyone before knowing anything of them.

There must be a solution to this madness; we see bullets only place holes in hearts, bodies, and relations, so that's not an option. But what is? Changing the media so people (predominantly black) aren't considered up to no good on site (RIP Trayvon Martin)? Meeting with area law enforcement so that they know who they are around (RIP Alton Sterling and Philando Castile)? Or treating a black suspect as one would a suspect of another race...not abusing first and questioning later.

I am only here to get your gears turning, and your mind working towards bettering this place we call Earth, and this country we call the United States. Unless you plan on moving out, I hope you plan on improving OUR country.

citations:

Paul O'Neal shooting: Police chief and protesters at odds over body cameras. (2016, August 07). Retrieved August 12, 2016, from https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/aug/07/pa...

Hinkel, D. (2016, August 11). City declines to identify cops in O'Neal fatal shooting, cites their safety. Retrieved August 12, 2016, from http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/...

Potter, D. (2016, August 08). Video Of Paul O’Neal’s Killing Has Been Released. The Police Officers Involved Will Likely Walk Free. Retrieved August 12, 2016, from Video Of Paul O’Neal’s Killing Has Been Released. The Police Officers Involved Will Likely Walk Free.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/video-of-paul-...