Tactical Grace
06-10-2004, 14:29
NEWARK, N.J. - Police reveal unarmed man shot dead Sunday "probably intended to buy a gun".
Thomas Stafford, 49, of New Brunswick, NJ was shot dead by police in a 7-Eleven parking lot late Sunday night, after he repeatedly refused demands to put down his gun. The gun later turned out to be a rolled-up newspaper concealling a 16oz bottle of whiskey.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Deputy Chief Max Zyzowski justified the use of lethal force, saying that although Stafford was not in possession of a gun at the time, he may have intended to acquire one. "This man had a record with the authorities as long as your arm," said Zyzowski, "he's done time for armed robbery, arson, only reason he wasn't serving life for murder was a technicality", this a reference to a collapsed trial in 1991. "Now we know there were advertisements for gun stores in that newspaper. Makes sense he might have been on his way to buy one. And then what? Look at his record. This city is better off without people like that walking the streets."
These claims were instantly disputed by Stafford's family. In a statement issued through an attorney, they defended his reputation, saying that the most recent conviction was several years old and that they had lost a loving son, and their community an honest citizen. The possibility of a lawsuit was raised.
Civil liberties groups also rushed to condemn "the instinctively defensive and unaccountable nature" of the police, pointing to the incident as just the latest in a long line of police shootings of unarmed black men in the state.
Deputy Chief Zyzowski was quick to dismiss accusations of racism. "It's just more liberal propaganda" was his blunt reaction. However, an officer who did not wish to be named was more forthcoming. "What business did that guy have wanting to have a gun? I know them niggers' ways. Probably on his way to shoot someone."
Thomas Stafford, 49, of New Brunswick, NJ was shot dead by police in a 7-Eleven parking lot late Sunday night, after he repeatedly refused demands to put down his gun. The gun later turned out to be a rolled-up newspaper concealling a 16oz bottle of whiskey.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Deputy Chief Max Zyzowski justified the use of lethal force, saying that although Stafford was not in possession of a gun at the time, he may have intended to acquire one. "This man had a record with the authorities as long as your arm," said Zyzowski, "he's done time for armed robbery, arson, only reason he wasn't serving life for murder was a technicality", this a reference to a collapsed trial in 1991. "Now we know there were advertisements for gun stores in that newspaper. Makes sense he might have been on his way to buy one. And then what? Look at his record. This city is better off without people like that walking the streets."
These claims were instantly disputed by Stafford's family. In a statement issued through an attorney, they defended his reputation, saying that the most recent conviction was several years old and that they had lost a loving son, and their community an honest citizen. The possibility of a lawsuit was raised.
Civil liberties groups also rushed to condemn "the instinctively defensive and unaccountable nature" of the police, pointing to the incident as just the latest in a long line of police shootings of unarmed black men in the state.
Deputy Chief Zyzowski was quick to dismiss accusations of racism. "It's just more liberal propaganda" was his blunt reaction. However, an officer who did not wish to be named was more forthcoming. "What business did that guy have wanting to have a gun? I know them niggers' ways. Probably on his way to shoot someone."