Baltimore: Police Officers Cleared in Shooting of Unarmed Black Man

Baltimore: Officers Cleared in Shooting of Unarmed Black ManBaltimore: Officers Cleared in Shooting of Unarmed Black Man On Wednesday, the Baltimore Police Department announced that it has cleared its officers in the shooting death of an unarmed Black man, Terrence Sterling, in June 2021. The department conducted an internal investigation and determined that the officers involved acted in accordance with department policy and the law. The officers stated that Sterling had approached them with a knife and refused to drop it. According to the police report, Sterling was seen walking erratically and yelling incoherently on June 28, 2021. When officers approached him, he allegedly pulled out a knife and charged at them. The officers fired multiple shots, striking Sterling in the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene. An independent autopsy commissioned by Sterling’s family concluded that he was shot five times, including three times in the back. However, the police report states that Sterling was facing the officers when he was shot. The shooting has sparked outrage in the Baltimore community and renewed calls for police reform. Protests and demonstrations have been held, demanding accountability and transparency. Sterling’s family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city and the involved officers. The lawsuit alleges that the shooting was excessive and unjustified, and that Sterling did not pose an imminent threat to the officers. The Baltimore State’s Attorney’s Office is also conducting a criminal investigation into the shooting. No charges have been filed at this time. The clearing of the officers has been met with skepticism and anger by Black community leaders and activists. They argue that the police department has a history of bias and excessive force against Black residents and that Sterling’s death is another example of this systemic racism. The Baltimore Police Department has defended its actions, stating that its officers have a duty to protect the public and that they used reasonable force in this incident. The shooting and its aftermath continue to highlight the complex and often contentious relationship between law enforcement and the Black community in Baltimore and across the United States.