This shooting death of an unarmed man by a police officer took place on March 21, 2015. In case you’re wondering why this never made the national news or why you’re just hearing about it now…we’ll give you a hint: The man who was shot and killed by a white police officer was also white. There were no riots following his death, no looting and no sign of Eric Holder coming down to AZ to conduct a federal investigation. Guess why? It’s not divisive enough, so Eric Holder couldn’t care less. Holder’s up to his eyeballs investigating police departments across the country for potential acts of racism. He can’t be bothered investigating the death of a white Christian homeless man. #WhiteLivesDontMatter to the mainstream media and Eric Holder.
Police released video Friday that appears to show a chaotic brawl in an Arizona Walmart parking lot that left one suspect dead and two others shot, including an officer.
The shooting occurred during a fight between up to eight members of the Gaver family and at least four police officers. The video was captured by a dashboard camera and indicated the fight lasted for about seven minutes.
The fight happened after police were called to the Cottonwood, Ariz., Walmart on March 21 after a call reported that multiple suspects assaulted a female employee in the store. When officers arrived, the suspects were in the parking lot and attacked them, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
Cottonwood Police Chief Jody Fanning said that during the brawl, Enoch Gaver, 21, disarmed Sgt. Jeremy Daniels and shot him in the leg. He said Gaver was still armed with Daniels’ gun when officer Rick Hicks started hitting him with a baton.
After Hicks determined the baton had no effect, he resorted to shooting Gaver to death, Fanning said. Hicks also shot and wounded David Gaver, who had been on top of Daniels and had charged toward Hicks, Fanning said.
Hicks initially was placed on leave after the March 21 shooting, but he went back on patrol Friday night.
“The preliminary investigation has given me enough evidence to place him back on duty,” Fanning said, adding that he believes Hicks’ actions were justified.
“The officers did a very good job of restraining themselves,” Fanning said. He said they resorted to deadly force only when the Gavers left them no other choice.
The Gaver family is well-known in Boise, where at least three members played in a Christian band called Matthew 24 Now outside an Albertsons supermarket and posted signs with a biblical verse.
The incident began when a female Walmart employee tried to use a women’s restroom and was prevented from doing so, getting pushed out of the way. Nathan Gaver told police that his mother, Ruth, was using the restroom, and that he and his brother Jeremiah were guarding it.
In another video clip, police arrive at the scene, where a large group of people are standing near a Chevrolet Suburban. The brawl ensues almost immediately after the third and fourth officers arrive.
Fanning said he still does not understand why the Gavers chose to fight his officers, rather than simply speaking to them. He said the likely outcome of the call would have been a misdemeanor citation with no one going to jail if the Gavers had not escalated the incident.
“I have no reason why they decided to fight us,” Fanning said.
The officers and the Gavers are seen punching each other on the video. At some point, an officer attempts to use a stun gun to bring the Gavers under control, but that appears to have little effect.
After Daniels is seen on the ground, struggling with one of the Gavers, Hicks is seen using the baton to strike the man. Later, Hicks pulls out his gun. The video captures the flash from the gun’s muzzle.
But even the fatal shooting doesn’t end the brawl. Additional officers arrive on the scene and fight with other members of the Gaver family to bring them under control.
Five Gavers were arrested by police and booked into the Yavapai County Jail on a variety of charges, including aggravated assault on a police officer, hindering prosecution and resisting arrest. Via:USA Today
HERE IS THE FULL UNEDITED VERSION:
THE FOLLOWING CHARGES HAVE BEEN FILED AGAINST THE FAMILY:
All of the family members were charged with resisting arrest and hindering prosecution. Those are the only two charges facing Peter Gaver, but his wife, Ruth, 52, and all three sons are charged with additional counts including “riot.”
David Gaver, who was shot in the abdomen during the melee, is facing the most serious slate of offenses including 16 counts of aggravated assault and four counts of disorderly conduct plus two counts each of resisting arrest, and hindering prosecution.
The third son, Nathaniel, 27, also entered a not guilty plea to charges of 4 counts of aggravated assault, 2 counts of resisting arrest, 2 counts of hindering prosecution, 1 count of riot, 1 count of assault (misdemeanor) and 3 counts of disorderly conduct (misdemeanors).
Enoch Gaver, 21, was shot and killed during the incident.
Two other members of the family, an 11-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy, face charges in juvenile court.
h/t Verde News
