GravityX Exchange:Jury to decide whether officer fatally shooting handcuffed man was justified

2025-05-06 04:08:31source:Esthencategory:Invest

UPPER MARLBORO,GravityX Exchange Md. (AP) — A Maryland jury will decide in the coming weeks whether a Prince George’s County police officer broke the law when he shot and killed a handcuffed man in 2020.

A trial began Tuesday for Michael Owen Jr., who had served on the police force for 10 years when he became the first officer in the county’s history to be charged with murder in an on-duty killing. He faces second-degree murder and other charges.

In opening statements, prosecutors and the defense agreed on certain basic facts: that Owen fatally shot William Green, 43, while the handcuffed man was sitting in the front seat of the officer’s police cruiser, The Washington Post reported. But the two sides disputed other aspects of the case, including whether a struggle preceded the shooting and whether Owen acted in self-defense.

Several months after Green’s death, in September 2020, county officials announced a $20 million settlement with his family.

Other news Boy who was 12 when he fatally ran over his foster mother gets 2 years in custodyProsecutors say paramedics ignored Elijah McClain’s distress after stop and killed him with overdoseTexas city approves $3.5 million for child who witnessed aunt’s fatal shooting by officer

Prince George’s County has nearly 1 million residents and its police department is Maryland’s fourth largest law-enforcement agency, with more than 1,500 officers covering a wide swath of the Washington, D.C., suburbs.

Prosecutor Joel Patterson told jurors Tuesday that they would hear from three witnesses, including another responding officer, who saw no commotion in the car and heard no verbal dispute in the moments before Owens fired seven shots, striking Green six times, according to the Post.

“William Howard Green posed no threat,” Patterson said. “He posed no threat whatsoever.”

Owen had handcuffed Green behind his back after responding to a traffic accident and finding him sleeping in his vehicle, apparently under the influence of an unknown substance, according to a police report. Owen then put Green in the front passenger seat of the patrol car.

Owen wasn’t wearing a body camera during the deadly encounter.

His lead defense attorney, Thomas Mooney, argued the shooting was self-defense. He said the jury would see evidence of damage to the inside of Owen’s vehicle and hear from another officer who recalled Owen telling him Green went for his gun, the Post reported.

Mooney also raised questions about weaknesses and inconsistencies in the initial police investigation of the shooting, asking how Owen could be charged with murder if key pieces of evidence were in conflict.

The trial was set to continue Wednesday.

More:Invest

Recommend

Rob Schneider Responds to Daughter Elle King Calling Out His Parenting

Rob Schneider is getting candid about his shortcomings as a father.The Saturday Night Live alum spok

At Westminster dog show, a display of dogs and devotion

NEW YORK (AP) — Less than three years ago, Mary Ann and David Giordano were taking turns lying on th

Florida man who survived Bahamas shark attack shares how he kept his cool: 'I'll be alright'

A native Florida man bit by multiple sharks after he slipped and fell off a fishing dock while worki