Cop Gets Off With Involuntary Manslaughter of Oscar Grant

San Francisco/Oakland BART police officer, Johannes Mehserle was found guilty on Thursday in the New Year’s Day 2009 killing of 22-year-old Oscar Grant, an unarmed man who was killed after being shot in the back by Johannes Mehserle, while he was handcuffed laying on the ground. Involuntary manslaughter carries a sentence of two to four years. Prosecutors said the 28-year-old Mehserle became angry at Grant for resisting arrest. Mehserle claims he mistakenly drew his gun instead of his Taser.

At least five bystanders videotaped the incident – one of the most racially polarizing cases in California since four Los Angeles officers were acquitted in 1992 in the beating of Rodney King.

The trial was moved to Los Angeles after racial tensions boiled over into violence in Oakland. The verdict was far less than the family of Oscar Grant and his supporters wanted and now the anger has taken to the street of Oakland aka The Town. At first the march through the city was peaceful with about 1000 people protesting the verdict. At about 9PM PST, the frustration grew and the rioting began. A foot locker has been looted and there have been numerous confrontations with the police, where dozens have been arrested.

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