In November of 2013, Michael Blair, age 26, was shot nine times in his home by a Richmond, Texas police officer. The police were called because Blair suffered from schizophrenia and was acting suicidal. Blair locked himself in an upstairs bathroom while police pounded on the door. At first the officer seems to try to coax Blair out of the bathroom. But when the door opened, the officer screamed, “He’s got a knife, tase him.” Blair is tased multiple times and he begs “Please don’t shoot me!” But because of his agitated mental state and presumably cramped muscles, he doesn’t let go of the knife. While Blair is lying on the ground, the police officer shoots him nine times, unloading a full clip.
The officer, however, did not know there was a camera system in the house and the whole incident was caught on video. Despite the clear evidence that there was no need to shoot Blair nine times or even once, the officer was cleared of charges. Now the family has turned to community activist Bro. Quanell X for help seeking justice for Blair. The family has given the video and statements to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, hoping for a federal investigation.
Warning: The video footage that follows is graphic.
The full video can be viewed by clicking on this link.
An alternative version with computer simulated graphics with the final real video shooting and death of Blair can also be viewed below:
[jwplayer mediaid=”625816″]
