Moral equivalency is a comfort, but rarely an excuse
Shoot Away
Crime Week’s free story
DEPUTY BUBBA JOE SNOW STUDIED THE JURY. None of them smiled when he caught their attention. Especially the black ones. But then the black ones always look that way at cops. It’s what they did since all that Black Lives Matter nonsense.
What about Blue Lives? We’re always in danger. Or White Lives? Who do they think pays taxes so we can keep the black ones safe?
The gavel pounded. “Are you even listening, Deputy?”
Bubba Joe woke from his reverie. The prosecutor stood two feet away, still in his face. This is what a good cop gets after twelve years of honest service.
The prosecutor repeated her question. “If the victim’s hands were free and raised in surrender, what possible threat could he pose?”
The prosecutor repeated her question. “If the victim’s hands were free and raised in surrender, what possible threat could he pose?”
Bubba cleared his throat. “They’re always a threat until you slam the bars on their cell. Any cop knows that.” But of course a cop wouldn’t prosecute this case. Which is why they got a woman to handle it, and a woman who was one of them at that.
The prosecutor leaned in. Bubba Joe wondered what she used to keep her hair so straight. “What kind of threat did a thirteen-year-old black boy walking home from church pose that you needed to shoot him nine times with your Glock?”
Bubba slammed his fist on the bar. “You’re going after me for shooting one kid? Twenty-five black people shot me with their cell phone cameras. Why aren’t they being charged?”
When the jury returned their verdict — after fifteen minutes deliberation — Bubba Joe’s lawyer promised to appeal.
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Wry noir author Phillip T. Stephens wrote Cigerets, Guns & Beer, Raising Hell, the Indie Book Award winning Seeing Jesus, and the children’s book parody Furious George. Follow him at Phillip T Stephens.
