7 N.O. cops charged w/murder surrender | Video: What Happened on the Danziger Bridge?

[Sapphire Blue]

Video - What Happened on the Danziger Bridge?

Jan. 1: It was one of the ugliest incidents in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and now several police officers are accused of murder. NBC News captured a critical part of the evidence, and correspondent Martin Savidge takes a close look at what unfolded.

View the video @ http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?f=00&g=6ee1b073-7771-4ce4-94ee-6bf68c3df066&p=Source_Nightly%20News&t=c24&rf=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/&fg=

7 officers charged in bridge shootings surrender amid applause
1/2/2007, 12:00 p.m. CT
By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN
The Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — With more than 200 supporters applauding them, the seven New Orleans police officers indicted in a deadly bridge shooting following Hurricane Katrina arrived at the city's jail Tuesday to turn themselves in.

Each faces at least one charge of murder or attempted murder in shootings of six people on the Danziger Bridge.

(snip)

One protester shouted "Police killings must stop" and "Racism must go." But a small group protesting the killings was shouted down by the crowd yelling "Heroes, Heroes."

(snip)

Faulcon, Sgts. Kenneth Bowen and Robert Gisevius, and officers Anthony Villavaso are charged with first-degree murder. Officers Robert Barrios and Mike were charged with attempted first-degree murder, and Ignatius Hills was charged with attempted second-degree murder.

A judge said there would be no bond for the four accused of first-degree murder. Bond will be $100,000 per count for the other three officers.

http://www.nola.com/newsflash/louisiana/index.ssf?/base/national-0/1167754764207180.xml&storylist=louisiana

7 N.O. cops indicted in killings on bridge
SHOOTING DEATHS CAME 6 DAYS AFTER KATRINA
Friday, December 29, 2006
By Laura Maggi

Seven New Orleans police officers were indicted Thursday on an array of murder and attempted-murder charges stemming from a shooting on the Danziger Bridge six days after Hurricane Katrina, which victims have portrayed as an ambush by police that left two dead and four wounded.

The state grand jury refuted the New Orleans Police Department account of what happened on Sept. 4, 2005, which had been portrayed by officers as an appropriate response to reports of both sniper fire and people shooting at police officers near the bridge, on Chef Menteur Highway in eastern New Orleans.

(snip)

Four police officers -- Sgt. Kenneth Bowen, Sgt. Robert Gisevius, officer Anthony Villavaso and officer Robert Faulcon -- were charged with the first-degree murder of James Brissette, 19. Faulcon was also charged with the first-degree murder of Ronald Madison, a 40-year-old mentally retarded man whose body was found riddled with seven gunshot wounds to his back. Three more officers face attempted-murder charges.

The charge of first-degree murder carries a potential death sentence, which prosecutors said was warranted because the accused had shot the men while trying to harm or kill others. Chief Judge Raymond Bigelow, who received the grand jury indictments, said he would not set bond for the officers facing the first-degree murder charges.

Continued @ http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-7/116737516647820.xml&coll=1

[ThomCat]

1. It's amazing that they're got any supporters.

x(

It was racist motivated murder, clear and simple.

[WillParkinson]

3. Yes, of course...

They haven't had their day in court yet but we know their motivations.

Innocent until proven guilty, remember?

I don't know what happened. Nor do you. Let's let the system do it's job.

[Sapphire Blue]

4. If you haven't yet done so, please watch the video. It is compelling.

Edited to add: Did you happen to miss this: "Faulcon was also charged with the first-degree murder of Ronald Madison, a 40-year-old mentally retarded man whose body was found riddled with seven gunshot wounds to his back."? (http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-7/116737516647820.xml&coll=1)

[WillParkinson]

11. I did.

And I still don't know the motivations. I can assume what they are but I can't say with definitive conviction.

[ThomCat]

6. Speak for yourself, and only for yourself.

[WillParkinson]

12. No problems...

How silly of me to think that "innocent until proven guilty" was no longer in effect once we're sure that the reason was racism.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

13. Question.

If the two black guys on the bridge had shot the cops would you still be reminding us about due process?

[WillParkinson]

14. That's offensive

And yes, I would.

EVERYONE deserves due process.

To suggest otherwise, even in the form of a "question" is offensive.

[girl gone mad]

26. "Innocent until proven guilty" only applies to judge and jury..

The general public is not obligated to withhold personal judgement as the fate of the accused is completely out of our hands.

Edit: typo

[EFerrari]

22. Spike Lee filmed the witnesses. We effen KNOW what happened.

But I agree, let the system gorge on its on vomit.

[WillParkinson]

25. We heard ONE side of the story

As the song goes, "There's 3 sides to every story. There's your side, there's my side, and then there's the truth."

I'm NOT saying that it didn't happen the way they say.
I'm NOT saying that it didn't happen the way the police say.
I don't know what happened.
I don't know if it was panic on the part of the cops.
I don't know if the people involved were actually doing or had done something.

I DO NOT KNOW. But I refuse to rush to judgment for either side.

Seems that people are quick to condemn me for wanting to trust the system we've established instead of just grabbing a lynching rope. I thought we were supposed to be better than that.

[NNN0LHI]

2. I remember being called a conspiracy theorist here the day this happened

I had the gall to suggest that we not necessarily take the first police reports of this incident at face value.

Don

[NorthernSpy]

15. I remember some people actually applauding the shootings...

... despite the cops' bizarre and continually changing "explanation" for the incident.

:eyes:


Yeah, there were those who got on their "law-and-order" highhorses when some of us tried to point out the discrepancies. Some of those people have since gotten served the big granite cookie, I'm happy to say.

But there were a LOT of DUers who never bought this one at all, I hasten to add.

[NNN0LHI]

16. We don't hear much from the "law-and-order" contingent about this case any more

That is odd isn't it?

Don

[Sapphire Blue]

24. Just where IS the "law-and-order" contingent?

There certainly isn't any big rush to defend the 'system' right now.

[sproutster]

17. I was with ya'll. :) Remember first story was ... corps of engineer --

THEN gangstas
Then mentally retarded gangstas.

The Aftermath of NO ... I'm still reeling over the lack of compassion and humanity.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

5. Things seem to be changing.

Killer cops have been getting indicted recently, instead of promoted.

Hope it's not just a flash in the pan.

[gatorboy]

7. The Danziger Bridge incident always stuck in my craw.

I mean really. People had a hard enough time simply surviving. Are they going to take time out from looking for food and water to start sniping?

And the MSM ate the "sniper attack" story right up.

[mitchum]

23. That's why I believe the MSM are essentially accessories in the murders...

they were all a-twitter with unsubstantiated stories of murderous, sniping, gun toting, looting killers and certainly contributed to the hysteria of fear and confusion. Of course, those talking twits will assume no responsibility for their contribution to the murders. None at all.

[mtnester]

8. I knew I had been shot, just not where, it felt like all over, but my arm for sure as it was LAYING

on the ground next to me.

Man oh man.

Slightly paraphrased, but the extent of one of the victims statements in the video.

[BlackVelvet04]

9. What happened in the aftermath of Katrina

is a disgrace to this country. There are still many things happening in N.O. that need to be investigated and brought to light.

These officers will have their day in court and I hope the truth comes out.

[Catherine Vincent]

10. They're heroes for killing these men as they ran away?

How sick!

[EFerrari]

18. K&R

Back on DSL as of today. :woohoo:

Thanks for the heads up. :hug:

[goclark]

19. Thank you Sapphire for this Post

You are truly the voice of TRUTH and JUSTICE at DU and that voice is absolutely needed.

I am proud to lend my voice to a continued uncovering of the TRUTH.

And, may Justice flow like a mighty stream!

[beam me up scottie]

20. K & R

Video won't play for me but I listened to the story on NPR on the way home.

A good start.

[EFerrari]

21. kick

[lonestarnot]

27. Wheels of justice turn so damned slowly, but at least they keep moving.

[calimary]

28. What a mess.

This is bush's America, I guess.