Milwaukee Police on Thursday released body camera video of a fatal officer involved shooting from August. Before the video was shown to media, Police Chief Alfonso Morales noted that the fatal officer involved shooting was still under investigation. That means no updates on legal procedures or a number of other questions that would follow.
Still, Morales says for the sake of transparency, the Milwaukee Police Department from here on out will seek to release the video of any officer involved shooting within 45 days if that release does not hinder the investigation.
“This was not an easy decision. This video was not created to embarrass or upset the members of the deceased family or the officers involved. But because I am committed to improving community relationships,” Morales says.
Editor's note: This video may be disturbing to some. Viewer discretion is advised.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w71IOVLZqws&feature=youtu.be
Faces in the video were blurred to protect privacy. The heavily edited video narrated by police shows what happens from the perspective of officers. On Monday, Aug. 13, officers saw Mario Hobson on the near south side. They were looking to pick him up on two felony warrants.
Initially, he was the passenger in a vehicle. When he was asked to exit the vehicle, Hobson moved into the driver seat as though he was going to exit from there, but instead drove off, knocking an officer down.
Hours later, Hobson was found in the backseat of another vehicle. He exited holding a gun to his own head. Police say the video shows Hobson moving toward them with the gun still to his head and that’s when two officers fired six shots. Hobson died at the scene.
Police Chief Morales says that because Hobson did not listen to police commands and had a gun, Hobson forced the outcome. The Milwaukee Police Department Internal Affairs Division is also looking into whether officers followed training.
