Horrifying Video Shows Cops Kill Man as He Had His Hands in the Air

Charlotte Mecklenburg, NC — Rueben Galindo, 29, wanted to turn in his gun to Charlotte Mecklenburg Police. No longer wanting to be in possession of his firearm, according to his wife Azucena Zamoraro, he decided to call police to make arrangements to turn it in. Little did he know calling 911 would be the last phone call he’d ever make.

Answering the 911 call, an unnamed police dispatcher asked Galindo (as police officers were en route to his apartment) if he had any guns in the home. He said he had a gun in his bag. He asked her if she wanted him to retrieve it and she said, “si, si”, meaning yes in English. Spanish-speaking Galindo had spent 15 minutes prior talking to 911 operators who decided police would have to come to the home.

Galindo was more than happy to retrieve the gun to give it to the officers when they arrived. Over and over again, he told the 911 dispatcher that he had no bullets for his gun. She also reassured him that they were there to help him. In her defense, she did tell the allegedly drunk man that he should leave the weapon. Clearly, he was confused, and possibly perceived her message to mean he must leave it with the policemen.

He explained to her that he would be happy to “leave” it with police but he didn’t know where they were. He asked:

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Donde Estan? (Meaning where are the police so I can give it to them – implied)

When officers arrived, they began shouting to Galindo “manos” which means only “hands” in Spanish. Other officers told him to throw the gun down. Still, another officer told him to put his hands up, which he did. He had his hands up for several seconds before one officer opened fire, hitting him twice, killing him. Galindo can be heard taking his final gasping breaths as the 911 call ends.

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Instantly, Galindo’s family went into hysteria, screaming, crying, cursing, expressing the only emotion they could at the horror they had just witnessed before their eyes. In the chaos, the very officers who’d just shot and killed their father and husband, now had their guns trained on them as well.

Experts and community leaders are now calling the officer-involved shooting a homicide and, understandably, they want the officers to be held accountable for their actions. They point to multiple camera angles of video footage obtained through court order by the Charlotte Observer as the proof they need to demand justice.

Standing with Officer David Guerra, who apparently fired the fatal shots, is CMPD Chief Kerr Putney. Chief Putney said at some point during the contact with police, Officer Guerra perceived Galindo to be a threat. The chief said:

I’m not going to second-guess how (officers) perceive a lethal threat

While it is clear the chief of police is standing by his officer’s decision to shoot and kill Galindo, others are calling what happened to the man who called 911 for help either manslaughter or murder. The Charlotte Observer consulted with former police officer and criminal justice expert Phil Stinson who teaches sat Bowling Green State University.

In and of itself, the video does not show that the officers are legally justified to shoot…Without legal justification you’re left with either murder or manslaughter. This one, I’ve watched it a dozen times and I question whether a murder has been committed.

From the body camera footage released this week, officers can be seen approaching the apartment with long guns, something that is not standard procedure arguably when people are attempting to surrender a firearm. The reason they did so, according to the Charlotte Observer, was because Galindo had been charged in April with assault for pointing a weapon at someone. Also, the dispatcher told them he did not want to put it down prior to their arrival.

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Galindo’s death is the latest in a series of controversial shootings in the Charlotte area within the last few years.

Did Galindo have a death wish? Was the police shooting justified? Should police be charged with manslaughter or murder for shooting someone who refused to put down a gun that reportedly had no bullets inside? These questions and more remain. Feel free to like, share, and comment below.

Bodycam Footage Shows Police Kill Unarmed Man for Driving in Reverse

Oklahoma, OK — Ordering a deceased man to get his hands up is just about as futile as convincing some law enforcement officers it is not justified to shoot unarmed civilians. But that’s precisely what the Okalahoma Highway Patrol officers commanded 38-year-old George Lee Seeton to do, immediately after they fatally shot the fleeing suspect on March 4th. Now, with the release this week of the patrolman’s body camera footage, the public can know precisely just how he died.

Seeton, who’s a convicted felon, reportedly stole the brown truck and was attempting to make his getaway. Troopers Mike Moler, and Jarrod Jackson pursued the truck, eventually exiting their squad cars when Seeton ran off the road and into someone’s yard. The suspect then put his truck in reverse, apparently attempting to back into the street to continue his getaway. That’s when both officers opened fire, killing him. The shouts for him to get his hands up fell on deaf ears as it seems Mr. Seeton had already succumbed to his gunshot wounds.

Oklahoma officials released the body camera footage this week revealing Seeton’s final moments on this earth. The shooting, accompanied by the various camera angles, will undoubtedly lead to a deeper discussion as to whether or not officers can claim a suspect was trying to kill them by putting their car in reverse in an attempt to get away.

From the camera angle, it does not appear as though Mr. Seeton was attempting to hit or inure either one of the officers closing in on him. But camera angles can be deceiving. A fish-eye lens may not accurately describe just how close the officers were to the truck at the time it began to back up. At any rate, the district attorney will decide if any charges will be filed against the officers who claim the shooting was justified.

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The shooting and the release of the bodycam footage comes on the heels of the conviction of a Louisiana police officer, Derrick Stafford, for the murder of six-year-old Jeremy Mardis. The little boy was killed in a hail of bullets after police opened fire on the small SUV his father was driving. Those officers, like the ones in the video below, also claimed they feared for their lives. However, the jury didn’t buy it.

A jury convicted Stafford of manslaughter and attempted manslaughter. As The Free Thought Project reported less than two weeks ago, “Stafford said in court he shot to protect Greenhouse from Few’s vehicle, which he believed posed an imminent threat when the father put it in reverse, possibly to flee the scene.” In other words, the officers claimed the proverbial “fear for their lives” defense but the jurors weren’t buying the now worn-out defense.

It remains to be seen if Jackson or Moler will be charged with manslaughter, in the shooting death of Seeton. However, it appears opinions about when police are justified in taking a person’s life are now changing. While rare, Stafford’s conviction brings new hope for those who believe the taking of any person’s life, especially suspects who are unarmed, is hardly ever justified.