Virginia Cop Who Fatally Shot Unarmed Black Teen Indicted for Murder
On Thursday, a police officer in Portsmouth, Virginia was fired and taken into custody after a grand jury indicted him for first-degree murder over the April shooting death unarmed black teen, NBC News reports.
According to police, Officer Stephen Rankin was responding to a suspected shoplifting at Walmart when he and 18-year-old William Chapman began to struggle in the parking lot. Authorities have yet to explain what happened next, but an autopsy obtained by The Guardian indicates Chapman was shot in the face and chest with “no evidence of close-range fire.”
Police have so far refused to say if Chapman was found to have stolen anything, the paper reports.
“First I would like to extend out my personal condolences to the entire Chapman family,” said Portsmouth Interim Police Chief Dennis Mook in a statement. “I am confident that the Grand Jury impartially weighed all the evidence presented before rendering their final decision.”
Attorney Nicole Belote, who represents Rankin, told WTKR her client’s actions were justified.
“He gives Mr. Chapman commands, and it’s at that point Mr. Chapman charges at him and the officer had to respond,” said Belote.
In addition to the murder charge, Rankin has been indicted for use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. In 2011, prosecutors attempted to charge Rankin with voluntary manslaughter after he shot a suspect 11 times, but a grand jury ultimately decided not indict, WVEC reports.
[Image via Portsmouth Police Department]