Reply #9: The Agents were Jailed for Shooting and wounding a fleeing suspect. [View All]

Under the Common Law, anyone could shoot a Fleeing Felon, but that was struck down by the Supreme Court in the 1980s as unconstitutional (On the understanding just because someone was running does not give anyone else, especially Police Officers, the right to kill them). It is against the law for an officer to shoot someone UNLESS that person is a danger to the officers or someone else.

In this case it appears to be that the shooting victim was RUNNING TOWARD THE MEXICAN BORDER WHEN HE WAS SHOT. Another agent at the Scene reported NOT SEEING A GUN (And kept his gun holstered while these two were shotting at the Driver). One agent shoot 14 times at the Victim (and missed every time) the other shot just once, but hit the victim (and the bullet was recovered by a US Army Doctor when the Victim came back across the border to give evidence, no one ever challenged WHERE THE BULLET CAME FROM). In fact after being hit the Victim testified he waited to be arrested BUT THE TWO OFFICERS JUST WALKED AWAY, he then swam across the Rio Grande back into Mexico.

For the prosecutor view on this case:
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Setting%20the%20Record%20Straight%204-25%202007.pdf

Sorry if you believe that the Police should always have the right to shoot, whenever they want to, then you support the right of the police to shoot is this case. If on the other hand if you believe the Police can ONLY SHOOT WHERE THEY ARE IN DANGER OR SOMEONE ELSE IS IN DANGER, then these two officer should stay in Prison ON THE FACTS AS I UNDERSTAND THEM.

The US Attorney Web Site on this matter (Which Included the Transcripts of the Trial if you want ot read them):
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/