On Thursday morning, September 18, 2014, 29 year-old Charles Smith was shot and killed, while handcuffed, by Savannah-Chatham Police Officer David Jannot.

There is no denying the fact that Charles Smith had a criminal record. Indeed, this (outstanding warrants) is what led to the fateful arrest that preceded his death. But does this make him any less human? Any less worthy of defense? ANY LESS WORTHY OF LIFE?

Of course not. Remember, we’ve seen this before. As California Attorney General Kamala Harris once put it, “Our penal code was not created just to protect Snow White.”

But didn’t he kick out the window of the police car, in an apparent attempt to flee? The answer is yes, he did. And no one will argue that he shouldn’t have been detained. But, again, kicking out the window of a police car is not a crime punishable by death.

Nevertheless, witnesses agree that Smith was still handcuffed, his feet had not touched the ground, and he had no gun when Officer Jannot fired the first shot that killed him. Officer Jannot and another officer fired more shots to Smith’s lifeless body once his body dropped out of the car to the street, according to the witnesses. The officers then pushed witnesses back and positioned the police car in a way that resulted in the obstruction of some witnesses’ view of the murder scene. Subsequently, witnesses say a gun suddenly appeared before Smith’s lifeless body. Indeed, it is dubious, to say the least, that a gun would escape the attention of the officers who initially (thoroughly) searched and arrested him (as the surveillance video shows).

There is now a natural distrust of local authorities amongst the witnesses and the broader West Savannah community.  So join the family of Charles Smith, their attorney, and other community leaders as we call on the U.S. Department of Justice to takeover the investigation of this case to ensure its integrity, and to ensure that yet another black life is not swept under the rug! #HeStillDeservedLife

(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/renaldo-pearson/charles-smith-hestilldese_b_5980490.html)