Summary:
On February 20th, 2009, a white police officer in Homer, Louisiana gunned down an unarmed 73-year-old black cancer survivor in his own home, then allegedly attempted to tamper with evidence to make the shooting appear to be a case of self-defense.
A Family Reunion:
Bernard Monroe, who was frail and had lost his voice due to throat cancer, hosted a small family reunion on February 20th, 2009 in the small city of Homer, Louisiana. The reunion gave him the opportunity to spend time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. His son, Sean, was among those in attendance.
Searching for Sean Monroe:
Police were also looking for Sean Monroe that day, as they thought he might be a witness in an upcoming case. Two white police officers interrupted the gathering searching for Monroe, who fled into his father's house. His decision made perfect sense in light of the reputation that local law enforcement carries among black Homer residents.
A Legacy of Hostility Towards Black Residents:
Police hostility towards black residents was an open secret:
"People here are afraid of the police," said Terry Willis, vice president of the Homer NAACP branch. "They harass black people, they stop people for no reason and rough them up without charging them with anything."
That is how it should be, responded Russell Mills, Homer's police chief ... "If I see three or four young black men walking down the street, I have to stop them and check their names," said Mills, who is white. "I want them to be afraid every time they see the police that they might get arrested."
The Last Moments of Bernard Monroe's Life:
According to witnesses, officers did not follow normal police protocols in pursuing Sean Monroe. Officer Tim Cox charged towards the Monroe home, saw the elder Bernard Monroe on the other side of it, and shot him repeatedly through the screen.
Refusal to Call Ambulance, Attempts to Cover Up Evidence:
According to witnesses, Cox refused to call an ambulance to treat Monroe--instead asking for backup with an "Officer in distress" code. The other officer then allegedly put on gloves and moved Monroe's rifle, which he kept on the porch for self-defense, close to the body so that it would appear that he was armed at the time of the shooting.
Current Status:
There is a Louisiana State Police investigation ongoing, and the U.S. Department of Justice has expressed interest in the case.
Theories:
The most parsimonious explanation may be that Cox mistook Monroe's sports drink bottle for a firearm, shot him, and then let him die so that he would not be able to dispute the officers' account of the story. Autopsy results and results of the official state investigation will likely shed more light on the story, and may alter the explanation.
