Posted on 11/07/2013 10:41:41 AM PST by equaviator
A community is looking for answers after 19-year-old Renisha McBride was shot in the head after seeking the help of residents in what media reports are describing as a predominantly white Detroit suburb following a car crash in the early morning of Nov. 4.
While Dearborn Heights authorities have refused to release details of the investigation, they have "identified the person who fired the shot and killed the woman."
According to her family, McBride was likely forced to go door-to-door because her cell phone had died.
"She probably wanted to ask him to make a call for her or if she could use the phone," said McBride's maternal aunt, Bernita Spinks told WJBK News.
Yet McBride and others have no idea how their loved one ended up dead.
"This man just came to the door, by somebody just knocking? She didn't break in his house; she didn't break a window. What, you seen somebody on your porch and you just start shooting? And then you say it was accidental? That wasn't accidental; that wasn't accidental, no," Spinks said.
The family believes that McBride, who is black, was likely racially profiled and is relieved that the police have decided to seek charges in the case.
"I just want justice. I'm not going to stop until we get it," Spinks told Detroit News.
At a Wednesday night vigil, close to 40 family members and friends gathered to pray and share in their grief. Some chanted "No justice, no peace" and "Justice for Renisha."
"We are not going to let him get away with this senseless act he committed against this 19-year-old girl," Rev. W.J. Rideout told Detroit News.
According to Spinks, prosecutors have informed family members that the shooter is in his 50's. An autopsy has not yet been released.
McBride's case recalls a September incident where 24-year-old Jonathan Ferrell knocked on the front door of a house in Georgia in the early morning following a car accident. The homeowner, instead of opening the door, called 911. When three police officers arrived, Ferrell ran towards the squad before officer Randall Kerrick drew his gun and shot him 10 times, killing the unarmed Ferrell.
With a locked door between the offensive lineman and the girl? Probably not, no. If/when the guy starts trying to break down the door, then sure.
I agree that it's too early to jump to any conclusions. But, at first glance, this just doesn't smell right.
The homeowner is claiming the shotgun went off by accident, no surprise there. She wasn't shot in the back, which the family claimed. Nobody has made any claim that she was armed or that she was trying to force a door open or anything like that. The homeowner likely panicked and shot on sight.
The homeowner probably should have called 911 and let the police come and shoot her, like that case down in Georgia recently.
If that is precisely how it happened, then certainly.
That's what is great about FR. I remember even on the TM case, amidst several debates about Zimmerman, MANY MANY FReepers kept posting, "We don't have all the facts yet!"
BTW - Me too.
“I’m not condoning or blaming.”
Neither am I but going door-to-door like that? I dunno...
given that we dont know what she said...and how .when approaching the homeowner I dont know.
was she was acting in a threatening manner?
..the shooter likely wasnt in the mood to be vicitimized and may have reacted too rapidly..
I can only offer likely scenarios
I profile when someone knocks on my door. I am a civilian homeowner and can profile how I chose! I have friends who drop by from time to time during daylight hours, but never at night without calling first. A stranger at my door during the day light would be very rare. At night a stranger would be immediately seen as a very possible threat.
That is horrible, insensitive, belligerent and a little funny too. Shame on you.
One very strange thing from that article, though:
“I’ll confirm that she was in an accident in Detroit and that she left the accident scene, and then some hours transpired” before the shooting, Serwatowski said. He declined to say what police believe she was doing before and after the accident.
What happened in the interim? Was she knocked out in the accident? Drunk? Otherwise disoriented? Odd...
:: Meanwhile last night in Detroit 9 people were shot (3 killed) over a gambling dispute. ::
Got a news-link for that? M-Live, maybe?
I hear it was at “street-wise” barber shop that had previously been frequented by some famous (and not-so-famous) hip-hop artistes.
They wouldn't of come unless (1) she was a dog, or (2) a box of dognuts was promised to the officers.
From this article, all we know are assumptions from the girl’s family who weren’t there.
Especially after Trayvon, I need a lot more information.
Obviously, if the facts are anything like what is presented here, the shooter is in a heap of trouble.
My reaction as well... :)
This is similar to what the Zimmerman case looked like - at first.
The facts that come out could go in either direction at this point.
Am I wrong in remembering that Dearborn has a high percentage of muslims?
I thought it was Tajickistan lite?
I’m Pro 2nd. Amendment, but if you aren’t going to bother learning how to safely handle a gun, you probably shouldn’t have one.
“Everyone racially profiles everyone else.”
Unfortunately, I have to agree.
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