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September 3, 2020

California Police Officer Charged with Shooting Dead Black Man in Walmart
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In news from California, a police officer in San Leandro has been
charged with felony manslaughter after shooting dead a 33-year-old Black
man named Steven Taylor inside a Walmart on April 18. Within a span of
40 seconds, officer Jason Fletcher entered the Walmart, shot Taylor with
a Taser and then shot him in the chest with his gun. In a statement, the
Alameda County district attorney stated, "Mr. Taylor posed no threat of
imminent deadly force or serious bodily injury to defendant Fletcher or
anyone else in the store." Police were first called to the Walmart
because Taylor was trying to leave the store with a tent and a bat. His
family said he was homeless at the time.


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