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By EDITORIAL EXEC BOARD
This week saw a continuation of national trends in lives lost due to gun violence. While some have claimed it as domestic terrorism, others press onward in their fight for second amendment rights. Three incidents in particular sparked outcry across the country. Details at press time are were follows.
San Bernardino, California On the morning of Wednesday, December 2, an armed man and woman killed at least 14 people, wounding an addition 17.
This is the largest mass killing since the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012. The married couple, Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik, were shot dead by police after fleeing the scene in an SUV. Approximately 21 officers were involved in the shootout.
The event took place at an office holiday party at the Inland Regional Center for the developmentally disabled.
Police allege that Farook was present at the party and left early, seemingly angry. He worked as an environmental health specialist.
Local police are fairly certain that these two are the only shooters involved and have taken no further suspects into custody.
Terrorism has not been ruled out as a motive, according to David Bowdich, assistant director of the Los Angeles F.B.I. department.
President Obama is, once again, calling for reformed background checks and restrictions in access to guns.
Minneapolis, Minnesota Jamar Clark, 24-year-old black male, was shot in the head by city police while allegedly in handcuffs on November 15.
Clark was suspected of disrupting paramedics as they worked to aid an assault victim, for whom they were called to the scene. Witnesses and police disagree whether Clark was effectively handcuffed at the time of shooting.
A video tape from nearby security cameras has the potential to reveal the answer, but has been withheld as further investigation is conducted.
In protest of Clark’s shooting and delayed release of video, protestors have gathered outside of Minneapolis Police Department’s 4th precinct for weeks following the incident.
In several public statements, Clark’s spoke out against violent protests, and has been partially credited with quelling potential riots.
On November 23 at 10:40 p.m., four men fired shots, wounding five protesters. No demonstrators were killed.
The four alleged shooters were arrested that week, two of which have since posted bail and been released. Court proceedings to follow.
Chicago, Illinois Over a year ago in October, 2014, Chicago PD officer Jason Van Dyke shot and killed black teenager Laquan McDonald. Van Dyke struck McDonald 16 times, 9 shots of which were fired at his back.
Dashboard video from the scene recorded Van Dyke shooting McDonald within seconds of exiting his vehicle. The video, however, had been previously withheld until just this month.
Cook Country Attorney Anita Alvarez advocated the video’s withholding, instead offering a $5 million settlement to the McDonald family. The family had not yet pressed charges against the state at the time of payment, according to CNN.
400 days after McDonald’s shooting, Alvarez filed charges against Van Dyke, who has a lengthy history of excessive force and police misconduct complaints.
As of this week, Van Dyke has been charged with first degree murder and will face sentencing later this month.
Immediately following the video’s release, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel forced the city’s police superintendent, Garry McCarthy to resign.
In light of the case, Chicago protestors are calling for the additional resignation of Alvarez from her position.
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