A Cop Killed A White Teen And The #AllLivesMatter Crowd Said Nothing

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

On the evening of July 26, Zachary Hammond pulled into the parking lot of a Hardee's in Seneca, South Carolina. Seated next to him was a young woman who had arranged to meet someone there to sell a bag of weed. It's unclear what Hammond knew about the transaction, but neither the 19-year-old nor his passenger had any idea that the buyer was actually an undercover police officer. Moments later, another officer fatally shot Hammond.

What we know about how Hammond ended up dead in a minor marijuana sting depends on whom you believe.

Police say a uniformed officer, on hand to support the undercover cop, was approaching Hammond's vehicle. There's disagreement about what happened next. Seneca Police Chief John Covington says Hammond drove the car at the officer, who, fearing for his life, fired twice into the vehicle, shooting a fatal round into Hammond's upper torso. Eric Bland, a lawyer for Hammond's family, says that the officer shot Hammond twice from behind and that an autopsy supports this claim. More than a week after the shooting, Oconee County coroner Karl Addis -- one of the few people who should know for sure -- has still not said publicly which direction the bullets came from.

Wherever the bullets struck Hammond, police say they were fired from near point-blank range through the open driver's side window. This detail has raised particular concern amid a string of police killings in which the official law enforcement narrative has not always held up.

As in those previous incidents, Hammond's family is left with painful questions: Was the car headed directly at the officer, or, as Hammond's father has suggested, did the officer shoot because his son was beginning to flee? Was the officer truly in danger? Or does the fact that he was so close to the vehicle when he fired indicate otherwise? Will the dashcam video, reportedly turned over to state investigators and requested by local news outlets, offer any answers?

These questions sound familiar because they've been asked before. Many of us have gotten used to asking them. We've gotten used to the confusion and disbelief around a life taken so abruptly, used to the frustration of hearing an officer's claim that the only choice was to shoot. Police have released minimal information about Hammond's killing, but with familiar questions have so far come familiar answers.

While aspects of Hammond's case evoke memories of other police shootings over the past year, one element does not: Hammond was white, as is the still-unidentified officer who shot him.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/zachary-hammond-police-killing_55c0e240e4b0c9fdc75dfda3?kvcommref=mostpopular

[Darnell 8,478]

dashcam video, now !

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Hammond's death also highlights a truth many white Americans seem reluctant to face: that police violence can affect anyone -- their white friends, cousins, brothers, sisters, even themselves. Though bad policing may take a disproportionate toll on communities of color, the calls for reform now being voiced loudest by people of color would benefit all of us.

Black Twitter is talking about his. All lives matter to black people. Thank you Black Twitter!

[Jacque67 7,328]

Hammond's death also highlights a truth many white Americans seem reluctant to face: that police violence can affect anyone -- their white friends, cousins, brothers, sisters, even themselves. Though bad policing may take a disproportionate toll on communities of color, the calls for reform now being voiced loudest by people of color would benefit all of us.

Black Twitter is talking about his. All lives matter to black people. Thank you Black Twitter!

Looks 13!!

#introduceanticrimecolorballs#knuckleballbilly.

Edited August 5, 2015 by Jacque67

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Looks 13!!

He does!! He looks like a sweet kid. Can't believe he was shot!!

[Jacque67 7,328]

He does!! He looks like a sweet kid. Can't believe he was shot!!

Must be an old photo!

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Must be an old photo!

It is. If you go to the hashtag with his name, you'll see a more recent photo of him.

[Jacque67 7,328]

It is. If you go to the hashtag with his name, you'll see a more recent photo of him.

I know. It was an oblique reference to all the nonsense posted here regarding the photo of TM that was used by much of the press;)

[Janelle2002 3,865]

I know. It was an oblique reference to all the nonsense posted here regarding the photo of TM that was used by much of the press;)

hahaha you see that crowd hasn't jumped in here yet.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Hammond's death also highlights a truth many white Americans seem reluctant to face: that police violence can affect anyone -- their white friends, cousins, brothers, sisters, even themselves. Though bad policing may take a disproportionate toll on communities of color, the calls for reform now being voiced loudest by people of color would benefit all of us.

Black Twitter is talking about his. All lives matter to black people. Thank you Black Twitter!

Black twitter. SMH

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Black twitter. SMH

You do realize that anyone can be on black twitter? There's quite a few white people that are there and enjoy having conversations with other black people about social issues.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

You do realize that anyone can be on black twitter? There's quite a few white people that are there and enjoy having conversations with other black people about social issues.

BAM! That right there.

Black twitter. SMH

Hey, people working together to get the word out here and make a change. Nothing is wrong with that. Instead of shaking your head, please comment on the issue at hand.

Or are you scared?

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

I know. It was an oblique reference to all the nonsense posted here regarding the photo of TM that was used by much of the press;)

Yes, surprisingly, there hasn't been any digging into his background. No one is calling him a drug dealer or a thug. His family isn't getting drug through the dirt. Like the article says, little to no interest when it's a white person because a large majority think the cops are validated in their decisions.

[Darnell 8,478]

what? Folk have conversations on the Twitter/Twatter? No way !

[Operator 1,927]

At the risk of sounding stupid...

I read the second autopsy report and it notes a tattoo on the left posterior arm "OHIGAM". Anybody have any ideas what 'OHIGAM' might mean?

Oh and I think that if you are driving somewhere to sell some weed the possibility of getting shot is higher than if you aren't going to sell weed. That doesn't mean that I think he deserved to be shot in the back it just means that risky behavior sometimes has bad results.