SHOOTING A WHEELCHAIR-BOUND MAN 9 TIMES IN THE BACK - OR THE FRONT - DOES NOT LOOK GOOD WHETHER JUSTIFIED OR NOT ..... COP IS FIRED

Arizona cop fatally shoots man in wheelchair nine times in the back 

 

By Yaron Steinbuch

 

New York Post

December 1, 2021

 

 

Cop Executes Elderly Man in a Wheelchair, Shooting Him 9 Times as He Rolled By

 

Harrowing footage caught the moment an off-duty Arizona cop working as a Walmart security guard shot a 61-year-old man in a wheelchair nine times in the back, killing him — after the disabled man allegedly shoplifted.

The officer, Ryan Remington, was on assignment at the Walmart in Tucson on Monday when an employee alerted him about 6 p.m. that a customer in a motorized wheelchair had swiped a toolbox, KGUN reported.

The employee caught up with the suspect, identified later as Richard Lee Richards, and asked him to show a receipt in the parking lot.

                                    

Richard Lee Richards, 61, who is wheelchair-bound, was fatally shot nine times by a police officer outside a Lowe's entrance after he allegedly stole a toolbox from Walmart

 

“Instead of providing the receipt, Mr. Richards brandished a knife and said, ‘Here’s your receipt,’” Police Chief Chris Magnus said in a statement, according to CNN.

 

Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus, with Mayor Regina Romero

 

The chief said Remington, a four-year member of the Tucson police force, also followed Richards while “attempting to gain his cooperation” and surrender the blade.

“Mr. Richards refused to comply, and instead continued to head through the Walmart and Lowe’s parking lots,” Magnus said. “According to the Walmart employee, Mr. Richards said, ‘If you want me to put down the knife, you’re going to have to shoot me.'”

 

Tucson police had repeatedly told the man not to enter the store before he was shot

 

A second officer then joined Remington at the scene, where they warned the suspect not to enter the Lowe’s but he again reportedly ignored the commands.

The graphic video shows Richards begin to enter the store as Remington tells him, “Do not go into the store, sir.”

He then opens fire at the suspect, who slumps over and crumples to the ground after being hit nine times. Remington is then seen handcuffing the man, who is not moving.

“To be clear, I am deeply disturbed by Officer Remington’s actions, his use of deadly force in this incident is a clear violation of department policy and directly contradicts multiple aspects of our use of force training,” Magnus said in a press conference Tuesday.

 

The suspect crumpled out of his wheelchair to the ground after being shot nine times

 

“As a result, the department moved earlier today to terminate Officer Remington,” he said, adding that the shooting will be reviewed by the Pima County Attorney’s Office.

Magnus said medical personnel were called to the scene “but a short time later Mr. Richards was declared dead.”

Mike Storie, an attorney for the Tucson Police Officers Association, said: “What you saw was the police department’s edited version of this event, which was cut and pasted pieces of video of this event,” KGUN reported.

“He thought it was appropriate at the time he used it and he still does,” Storie added, referring to Remington.

 

Ryan Remington moved to handcuff the man while he can be seen not moving

 

In a statement, Mayor Regina Romero said: “The actions of the officer involved in last night’s deadly shooting are unconscionable and indefensible. The County Attorney’s Office has my full support as they proceed with their investigation.

“It is moments like this that test our resolve to ensure justice and accountability. We owe this to all Tucsonans. I ask our community to remain calm and be patient as investigations ensue,” she added.