BILLINGS – After listening to more than 8 hours of evidence over two days, a coroner’s inquest jury took just 30 minutes to determine Billings Officer Grant Morrison was justified when he shot and killed an unarmed man in April.
Chief Rich St. John, who testified at the hearing, agreed.
“Our officers, as well as any other officer in the country, are authorized to use deadly force when there is an imminent threat of serious bodily injury or death,” St. John told the jury during his testimony.
Morrison testified that the actions of Richard Ramirez, who was killed during the encounter, left him no choice but to use deadly force.
“It was his left hand that was most concerning because he repeatedly refused to follow my commands to keep his hands up,” Morrison said. “He continued to reach down to the area along his waste that I couldn’t see whatsoever. I couldn’t see what he was reaching for. I couldn’t see where his hand was, it completely disappeared from my view and it was making me more and more afraid.”
Ramirez was killed when Morrison fired three shots.
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18 comments:
To the person who just sent in a very long comment, I warned you. If you curse, I'M REJECTING IT.
That sure was a waste of your time now, wasn't it.
Sounds like a clean shoot to me.
Every citizen should get the same level of benefit of the doubt! The meth-head couldn't have cared less if it was a cop or a citizen that stopped him....
what is the point of a bullet proof vest then. simply kill everyone that frightens you. boo
A cop is trained not to fire his weapon until he visually confirms the threat I.e. guns knives etc. A cop can't assume. This is murder or negligent homicide
Come on out and do a ride along. In fact sign a waiver and see if they will let you handle a call or even a traffic stop at night with a vehicle loaded with people who dont want to cooperate. Yes bullet proof vests stop some bullets. But the vest only covers about a 12-12 area of the body. But hey if u get shot in your primary arm no problem shake it off and return fire right? This isnt the movies. You should post the news video of the average citizen who one was a main protester as of lately against cops. He did a mock response to a call and shot in every scenario, even unarmed people. His response is great. So come one computer cops, get off the couch and come for a ride along.
EXCELLENT JOB OFFICER!!! GOOD SHOOT! To all the critics out there, Meth Heads are DANGEROUS! Now cut the crap and try to comprehend that we are "one threat" safer thanks to that officer.
11:44 doesn't matter what it is, he wont be prosecuted.
My training in the military says different. I breached doors. Point was my job. I never once fired at an unarmed person. There could've been 20 people inside start moving frantically, and I never fired. That is over seas where everyone is a suspect. Most cops are former military. They have the ability and training.
And no dept would let a ride along interact. It is for observation only dumb dumb. No Leo can justify this . A one on one situation.
The threat was in the scared cops eyes. By training this man was no threat. And even if so , if the cop can't fight then observe until help gets there. I see five cops on traffic stops at times in a matter of minutes. He could've waited for back up. Poor discretion by a scared cop.
Hey 2:24-Kops are more dangerous. I feel safer around a meth head that I do around a "scared" kop.
It IS a volunteer job, boys.
If you are so afraid of everything that moves, maybe you need a job in a shirt factory or something.
I don't want someone packing a 9mm, a bulletproof vest, mace, a nightstick, a Taser and the biggest gang in the country ready to show up and deal out some REAL punishment, to EVER say "I was afraid."
YOU have a gun POINTED AT A SUSPECT...he's fidgeting.
Since the police will also tell you that most people MISS when shooting a handgun under stress, to say that a man who SEEMED like he had a gun, and "scared you" is ludicrous.
Let me hold a bead on you. I'll let you TOUCH your gun. Then blow you away before you level your weapon.
Afraid? An excuse. And a sissy one, too. Stop acting like the world's baddest dude when there are 10 OTHER cops standing around WAITING for some trouble to bust off, but SO "afraid" when it's just one against one and YOU have a gun.
Use your name.
Here's a bit more info on Mr. Morrison. The Billings PD has had five police shootings in the five years this POS has been a cop there. And, 40% of them are by this a**hole., that's right 2 of the 5 are this arrogant POS's kills. Most cops go their entire career w/o one and this scumbag has two in five years.
Morrison is nothing short of a hunter. He has had his taste of human blood and he's addicted. The question now is, how long before his 3rd, 4th or 5th kills?
Your post is spot on and completely accurate. This cop is a bad apple. And a main reason why we are seeing what we see today.
The cop shot that P.O.S. drug addict. So what?
Is that your answer? Just run around shooting people with issues? Is it OK if I shot you and said I shot a pos blog commenter so what? You obviously have worse issues than a drug user!
To the person who just made a comment, (and I rejected it) about Ginn. Ginn is NOT a contributor to Salisbury News. In fact, the Ginn who comments on here is a MALE.
Now, if you'd like to rephrase your words and not attack us by tying this person to us, so be it.
Comply or die ! weed out the idiots !
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