Police officers of the Bell County Sheriff Department in Middlesboro have shot an unarmed coal miner after mistaking him for a black criminal.
The 37-year old victim of the latest of police brutality, has been identified as Jason Morris. Morris who had just finished his night shift in a mine operated by the Bell County Coal Corporation, was boarding his vehicle to head home, when the deputies arrived and pumped him with lead.
The officers who saw a dark faced individual enter a brand new Lincoln Navigator worth more than $75,000, believed the man was an African American attempting to steal the vehicle.
Morris who had no idea what was going on didn't hear deputies scream at him. He was then shot five times in the back, in both legs and in the left arm.
Other miners who witnessed the incident, insisted that the shooting was totally unprovoked and unjustified.
“The deputy just shouted ‘hey you nigga’ a couple of times, then he started shooting,” says coworker, Bernie Donaldson. “The whole thing lasted less than 30 seconds, and I don’t even think Jason ever understood they were talking to him. I mean, he’s not even black!”
Fortunately for Morris, the officers immediately realized heir mistake and rapidly transported him to the Middlesboro ARH Hospital where his condition was stabilized.
Morris’ coworkers who seemed completely shocked by the incident, openly criticized the police intervention.
Bell County Sheriff Eddy Lange has however justified the actions of the deputies and insisted that they had certainly saved Mr Morris’ life by rapidly calling the paramedics after shooting him.
“The deputies were only trying to be vigilant since three vehicles have been stolen in the mine’s parking lot over the last year,” he told reporters. “They feared that he would enter the vehicle and try to use it as a weapon against them, so they shot him to defend themselves. And when they understood their mistake, they rapidly called an ambulance to try to save his life. Their actions were exemplary.”
The Sheriff’s Department also claimed that a loaded rifle was discovered in Mr Morris’ vehicle after the incident.
Sheriff Lange noted that the deputies made a mistake, but insisted that their intervention was justified.
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