List of law enforcement officers convicted for an on-duty killing in the United States
This is a list of law enforcement officers convicted for an on-duty killing in the United States. The listing documents the date the incident resulting in conviction occurred, the date the officer(s) was convicted, the name of the officer(s), and a brief description of the original occurrence making no implications regarding wrongdoing or justification on the part of the person killed or officer involved.
Five officers beat Tyre Nichols during a traffic stop, leading to his hospitalization and death three days later. The five officers were charged with second-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, and other charges in state court, and excessive force and obstruction of justice in federal court. One of those officers, Mills, initially pleaded not guilty to all charges but later changed his plea to guilty.[1] Another officer, Martin pleaded guilty to excessive force and witness tampering in August 2024.[2]
While responding to a felony in progress Jillson made a U-turn and struck motorcyclist Denzil Broadhurst. Jillson did not have his lights or sirens on at the time. He accepted a plea deal of voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 90 days in county jail, which is suspended pending 100 hours of community service.[3]
10 June 2022
Kyle Alan Gould
16 November 2023 (pleaded guilty)
Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office (Colorado)
Officers from several different departments responded after 22-year-old Christian Glass called to report his vehicle got stuck. Glass showed signs of being in mental distress. At one point he asked if he could drop his geology tools out the window, but was told not to. Eventually, one deputy broke Glass's car window and shot him. Gould was not present at the scene, but was the supervisor of Buen, the deputy who fired. Gould was charged with failure to intervene and pleaded guilty in 2023. Buen faced second degree murder and reckless endangerment charges, and several other officers present at the scene were charged with failure to intervene.[4] Buen was convicted on reckless endangerment while the jury deadlocked on other charges.[5]
Johnson and a trainee officer were responding to a backup call for a robbery. Johnson was driving 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) in a 35-mile-per-hour (56 km/h) zone when he drove through a red light and struck a vehicle, killing Jeremiah Ruffin and Tracey Williams. He was convicted of involuntary manslaughter.[6]
Mendoza and three other officers stopped 12-year-old Thomas Siderio and a 17-year-old. After a shot was fired into a police car, Siderio and the 17-year-old split up and ran, with Mendoza pursuing Siderio. Mendoza shot at Siderio three times as he fled. Siderio initially had a handgun, but he had dropped it after the first shot was fired. Mendoza fired the third and final shot at Siderio was 10 feet away and surrendering. Mendoza pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and possession of an instrument of crime in 2024.[7]
27 August 2021
Brian Devaney
10 November 2022 (pleaded guilty)
Sharon Hill Police Department (Pennsylvania)
Three officers were working as security at a high school football game when gunfire broke out. The officers fired at a vehicle they wrongly believed to be involved in the shooting, striking four people in a crowd leaving the game, including 8-year-old Fanta Bility. Ballistic testing could not determine which shot killed Bility. The three officers all pled guilty to ten counts of reckless endangerment in exchange for having manslaughter charges dropped.[8]
Officers found 27-year-old An'Twan Gilmore sleeping in a car with a gun in his waistband. When an officer knocked on the window, the car moved several feet, then stopped, then moved again, at which point Jevric fired ten shots, hitting Gilmore three times. Jevric was charged with murder but accepted a plea deal for involuntary manslaughter.[9]
27 July 2021
Cecil Morrison
30 March 2022 (pleaded no contest)
Hocking College Police Department (Ohio)
Morrison, an officer with Hocking College, responded to a domestic dispute call and shot Michael Whitmer as he attempted to drive away. Another officer was wounded by a ricocheted bullets, and Whitmer's child, in the backseat, was wounded by shattered glass. Morrison pleaded no contest to negligent homicide. Between the shooting and his arrest, Morrison was hired by the Nelsonville Police Department.[10]
Cummings pursued an armed robbery suspect in a vehicular chase through a residential neighborhood. Driving upwards of 100 miles per hour (160 km/h), Cummings struck the vehicle of Leneal Frazier, an uninvolved motorist driving to his girlfriend's house, at 78 miles per hour (126 km/h). Cummings pleaded guilty to criminal vehicular homicide. Frazier was the uncle of Darnella Frazier, who filmed the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police.[11]
23 June 2021
Michael Davis
18 March 2022
Lonoke County Sheriff's Office (Arkansas)
During a traffic stop, Davis shot and killed Hunter Brittain as he went to grab a jug of antifreeze to prevent his truck from rolling into Davis's. Davis was found guilty of negligent homicide and sentenced to a year in prison.[12]
11 April 2021
Kim Potter
23 December 2021
Brooklyn Center Police Department (Minnesota)
During a traffic stop, Potter attempted to arrest Daunte Wright for a warrant. She shot him, claiming that she meant to use her taser.[13] She was found guilty of both first-degree and second-degree manslaughter and was sentenced to two years in prison.
At the Manhattan Detention Complex, jail Captain Hillman was on-duty when inmate Ryan Wilson attempted suicide. According to prosecutors Hillman hesitated to call for medical support and filled out non-essential paperwork instead of responding to Wilson, who died. Hillman was convicted of negligent homicide.[14]
Police pursued 20-year-old Karon Hylton-Brown for riding a moped without a helmet. After chasing Hylton-Brown through ten city blocks and an alley, he was struck by an oncoming vehicle as he exited the alley. Sutton was found guilty of second-degree-murder, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and obstruction of justice, while Zabavsky was found guilty of the latter two charges.[15]
Soto was texting and driving when he struck and killed 51-year-old Jose Pulido, who was pushing a bicycle across a crosswalk. He was sentenced to one year of probation and 400 hours of community service.[16]
Chauvin knelt on the neck of George Floyd for about nine minutes while Floyd was handcuffed and lying face down on the street, calling out "I can't breathe" during an arrest made with three other officers, identified as Tou Thao, J. Alexander Keung, and Thomas Lane.[17]
In April 2021, Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter and was sentenced to 22+1⁄2 years in prison. Chauvin later pleaded guilty to the federal charge of deprivation of rights under color of law and was sentenced to a concurrent 21 years in prison.
In May 2022, Lane, who held Floyd's legs down, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in exchange for having his aiding and abetting second-degree murder charge dropped, and was sentenced to three years in prison.[18]
Later that year in October, Kueng, who also held Floyd down, pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting in manslaughter shortly before he and Thao's trial was set to begin.[19] He was later sentenced to 42 months (3+1⁄2 years) in prison with 82 days credit for time already served.[20]
Lastly, Thao was convicted of aiding and abetting manslaughter in a bench trial in May 2023. His conviction marked the final prosecution of officers for their involvement of Floyd's murder.[21]
15 December 2021 (pleaded guilty) (federal charges)
While on duty, Streicher drove through a red light and struck community activist Ceasar Stinson. Streicher pled guilty to homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle.[23]
27 December 2019
Albin Pearson
1 September 2022
Newport News Police Department (Virginia)
Officers arrived at the home of Henry Berry for abusing the 911 system. Following a struggle, Pearson shot Berry in the back. A second officer was acquitted of manslaughter.[24] Pearson was later sentenced to six years in prison.[25]
DeValkenaere shot Cameron Lamb, 26, in his own backyard after police responded to a report of a traffic incident involving Lamb's truck. Prosecutors argued DeValkenaere did not have a warrant or probable cause to be in Lamb's backyard at the time of the shooting and planted evidence at the scene.[26]
Dean responded to a welfare call by a neighbor of Atatiana Jefferson, who reported that her front door was open. Dean walked into Jefferson's backyard, and after seeing her, he ordered her to put her hands up, then shot her. Jefferson had a legally owned gun, although prosecutors argued no evidence was found that Dean had seen it when he fired. Dean was found guilty of manslaughter.[27]
Police were called as Elijah McClain walked home wearing a black ski mask. Police restrained McClain, followed by paramedics administering ketamine, resulting in McClain's death. Three officers and two paramedics were charged with McClain's death in 2021. Roedema was found guilty, while a second officer was acquitted.[28]
4 July 2019
Joshua Taylor
8 November 2021
Wilson Police Department (Oklahoma)
Taylor and Dingman tased 28-year-old Jared Lakey 53 times, resulting in his death.[29]
Lyons and another deputy responded to an apartment complex and approached a vehicle where Ryan Twyman was sitting. Both deputies opened fire after Twyman put the vehicle in reverse, but Lyons retrieved his semiautomatic assault rifle and fired at Twyman again, after the vehicle had stopped moving. Lyons pleaded no contest to one felony count each of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and assault under the color of authority in exchange for having his voluntary manslaughter charge dropped.[30]
31 May 2019
Jeffrey Nelson
24 June 2024
Auburn Police Department (Washington)
Nelson responded to reports of a man causing damage at a convenience store and encountered Jesse Sarey, a Cambodian-American homeless man. Nelson punched Sarey seven times, pinned him against a wall, and shot him. He then reloaded his gun and shot Sarey in the forehead. The killing was Nelson's third in his career. He was convicted of second-degree murder and first-degree assault.[31]
During a traffic stop Crespo shot two men who drove away. Crespo jumped out of his moving patrol car three separate times to shoot, killing the driver, Gregory Griffin, and seriously injuring the passenger. Crespo stated he saw guns in the car, but other officers said they could not see inside the vehicle because of tinted windows.[32]
Hendren shot and killed fellow officer Katlyn Alix while playing a variation of Russian roulette, while he was supposed to be on duty. Hendren pled guilty and was sentenced to seven years in prison.[33]
Fox and two other officers threw 62-year-old George Robinson out of his vehicle before striking and kicking him, leading to his death. Fox was convicted of culpable negligence manslaughter and sentenced to five years in prison, while the other two officers were cleared of murder charges.[34]
Prosecutors say Heese was parking her police cruiser to watch children board school buses at Battle High School when she struck 4-year-old Gabriella Curry. Heese pled guilty to careless and imprudent driving.[35]
11 November 2018
Andrew Hall
26 October 2021
Danville Police Department (California)
Hall shot and killed 33-year-old Filipino-American Laudemer Arboleda as he slowly maneuvered his car between two police vehicles. Hall was convicted on assault with a firearm, but the jury deadlocked on charges of manslaughter.[36]
18 September 2018
Stephen Flood
19 May 2022
Horry County Sheriff's Office (South Carolina)
In the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, Flood drove a police van past a National Guard barrier while transporting two women, Wendy Newton and Nicolette Green, to a mental health facility. The van was swept into a rail by floodwaters, making it impossible for the women to leave, and neither Flood nor another deputy had the key to a second door. Both of the women drowned. Flood was found guilty of two counts of involuntary manslaughter and reckless homicide each and sentenced to 18 years in prison. Charges against the second deputy were later dropped.[37][38]
8 September 2018
James O'Brien
27 August 2021
Boulder County Sheriff's Office (Colorado)
O'Brien and Lunn picked up 23-year-old Demetrius Shankling and transported him in a police van to a detoxification center. When they arrived, the deputies found Shankling unresponsive and not breathing. An autopsy found that Shankling died from positional asphyxia due to how he was positioned in the van. O'Brien and Lunn were found guilty and sentenced to six and three years in prison, respectively.[39][40]
Adam Lunn
1 September 2018
Bau Tran
1 June 2023 (pleaded guilty)
Arlington Police Department (Texas)
Tran pulled over the vehicle of O'Shae Terry. After officers told Terry and another man they were going to search the vehicle, Terry began to drive away. Tran grabbed the side of the vehicle and fired several shots, killing Terry. Tran pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide and was sentenced to six years deferred adjudication and a $600 fine.[41]
Darby was convicted of shooting and killing Jeffrey Parker, 49. Parker had been having suicidal ideations and was pointing a gun at his head when Darby entered his residence and shot him.[43] His conviction was later overturned.[44] He later pleaded guilty to manslaughter.[45]
Six seconds after arriving at a scene, Ruch shot and killed Dennis Plowden as he sat with one hand raised and the other in his pocket. Plowden did not have a weapon, but did have heroin in his pocket. Ruch was convicted of manslaughter.[46]
24 December 2017
Mike Holmes
6 February 2020
Grundy County Sheriff's Office (Tennessee)
During a chase, Holmes shot at a car that drove by him, hitting Shelby Comer, who was a passenger.[47]
Bessner tased Damon Grimes as he rode on an ATV, causing him to crash into a truck and die from blunt-force trauma. Bessner stated he believed Grimes was reaching for a gun.[49]
Barker was responding to a call driving at 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) when he struck James Short, a student at Central Piedmont Community College, who was walking in a crosswalk. A jury found Barker guilty of misdemeanor death by vehicle, but acquitted him of involuntary manslaughter.[52]
Oliver fired three rounds from his rifle into a vehicle full of people leaving a party, killing 15-year-old Jordan Edwards.[53]
22 October 2016
Andrew Bass
20 September 2018
Wetumpka Police Department (Alabama)
Bass drove at 97 miles per hour (156 km/h) without lights or siren, striking a car driven by Elaine Merritt. Bass was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide and sentenced to a year in jail.[54]
9 August 2016
Lee Coel
16 October 2019 (pleaded guilty)
Punta Gorda Police Department (Florida)
During a role-playing scenario during a firearms safety demonstration, Coel accidentally shot and killed retired librarian Mary Knowlton. Coel was charged with manslaughter and initially pled not guilty, but later took a plea deal, taking a sentence of 10 years' probation.[55][56][57]
4 March 2016
Bobby Joe Smith
15 March 2017
Laurel County Constable's Office (Kentucky)
Smith shot and killed Brandon Stanley as he raised his arms. Smith said he believed Stanley had something in his hands when he raised them.[58]
3 March 2016
Jesse Santifort
6 October 2020 (pleaded guilty)
Kenly Police Department (North Carolina)
Following a chase, Santifort tased Alex Thompson multiple times, resulting in his death. Santifort was indicted on involuntary manslaughter, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of assault.[59]
Smith shot 58-year-old Greg Gunn seven times, killing him, after Gunn fled a stop-and-frisk search. Smith claimed that Gunn had attacked him with a pole, a claim prosecutors disproved during the trial.[60][61]
While on duty, Candelario Rivera shot Commander Frank Román RodrÃguez, Lieutenant Luz M. Soto Segarra, and Agent Rosario Hernández de Hoyos, all of whom were also members of the Puerto Rico Police Department. Candelario Rivera was sentenced to more than 200 years in prison.[62]
25 November 2015
Patrick Feaster
18 October 2016
Paradise Police Department (California)
Feaster responded to a drunk-driving crash that killed a woman. As the driver, Andrew Thomas, exited the car, Feaster shot him in the neck. Thomas died of his injuries in December 2015.[63]
3 November 2015
Derrick Stafford
31 March 2017 (Stafford) 29 September 2017 (pleaded guilty) (Greenhouse)
Stafford and Greenhouse fired 18 rounds into the car of Christopher Few after a brief road chase, resulting in the death of Few's six-year-old son, Jeremy Mardis, who was sitting in the backseat.[64][65]
While on duty as a plainclothes officer, Raja shot and killed 31-year-old Corey Jones as he awaited a tow truck for his broken-down vehicle on a highway exit ramp. Raja claimed that he was investigating an abandoned vehicle when Jones confronted him, armed.[66][67]
Rankin shot and killed William Chapman in the face and chest during a fight after he was accused of shoplifting. Rankin was found guilty of manslaughter, but not guilty of murder.[68]
Slager fatally shot 50-year-old Walter Scott in the back as he fled after being stopped for an inoperative brake light. Slager then dropped his Taser by Scott's lifeless body.[69]
2 April 2015
Robert Charles Bates
28 April 2016
Tulsa County Sheriff's Office (Oklahoma)
Bates, a reserve deputy, shot Eric Harris after mistaking his taser with his revolver.[70]
Olsen shot and killed Anthony Hill, who was naked and unarmed. Olsen was found guilty of one count of aggravated assault, two counts of violating his oath of office, and one count of making a false statement, and found not guilty of felony murder.[71] In 2024 his conviction was overturned.[72]
1 January 2015
Jason Kenny
16 October 2015
Chatham County Sheriff's Office (Georgia)
Kenny and eight other deputies were fired after Nigerian student Mathew Ajibade was tased and beaten, later dying from his injuries. Kenny, a second deputy, and a nurse were all acquitted of manslaughter charges, but Kenny was found guilty of cruelty to an inmate.[73]
Liang was patrolling a stairwell in a public-housing development in Brooklyn when he fired one round at 28-year-old Akai Gurley, killing him. Liang claimed that he was startled and had fired accidentally.[74][75]
Van Dyke shot and killed 17-year-old Laquan McDonald after officers stopped him while carrying a knife in the middle of the street. Dashcam video released later showed that McDonald was walking away when Van Dyke opened fire.[76]
12 October 2014
James Ashby
23 June 2016
Rocky Ford Police Department (Colorado)
While on duty, Ashby followed 27-year-old Jack Jacquez into his mother's home and shot him in the back. Ashby claimed he thought Jacquez was a burglar.[77]
Piercy arrested Brandon Ellingson on the Lake of the Ozarks on suspicion of operating a boat while intoxicated. Ellingson fell from the boat and his improperly secured life vest came off, causing him to drown as he was still handcuffed. Piercy was charged with negligent manslaughter, but pled guilty to negligent operation of a vessel.[78]
12 May 2014
Steven Homanko
20 September 2016 (pleaded guilty)
Nesquehoning Police Department (Pennsylvania)
Homanko attempted to pull over a woman who had illegally passed another vehicle, when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into another vehicle, killing Carola Sauers. Homanko was sentenced to three to 23 months in jail.[79]
11 April 2014
Marcus Eberhart
16 December 2016
East Point Police Department (Georgia)
Eberhart and Weems repeatedly tasered Gregory Towns while he was handcuffed. Eberhart was convicted on all counts and sentenced to life in prison, while Weems was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, reckless conduct, and violation of oath of office, and sentenced to five years in prison.[80]
Howard Weems
9 February 2014
Justin Craven
4 April 2016 (pleaded guilty)
North Augusta Police Department (South Carolina)
Craven shot and killed Ernest Satterwhite after a slow-speed chase ended with Satterwhite pulling into his own driveway. A lawyer for Satterwhite's family stated that video showed Craven lunge into the car with his gun drawn, before pulling back and firing.[81]
12 January 2014
Jonathan DePrenda
6 August 2015 (pleaded guilty)
Williamsport Police Department (Pennsylvania)
While responding to a call, DePrenda's cruiser struck the vehicle of James David Robinson travelling 88 miles per hour (142 km/h). As part of a plea deal, DePrenda also pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment of another person, failure to drive at a safe speed, careless driving resulting in unintentional death, and reckless driving in exchange for having vehicular manslaughter charges dropped.[82]
Torres shot and killed John Geer as he raised his hands unarmed. Torres was sentenced to a year in prison and released after five days due to 10 months already served.[83]
31 July 2013
Jason Blackwelder
10 June 2014
Conroe Police Department (Texas)
Blackwelder shot Russell Rios, who had shoplifted two iPod cases, in the back of the head while chasing after him. He was found guilty of second-degree manslaughter.[84]
7 July 2013
William McKinney
6 November 2014
Buckner Police Department (Illinois)
While responding to a dispute, McKinney struck 62-year-old Roy Barnhart in the head. Barnhart was treated for a head injury and brain bleed, but died a few days later. McKinney took a plea deal for official misconduct.[85]
14 March 2012
Randy Trent Harrison
26 November 2013
Del City Police Department (Oklahoma)
Captain Harrison shot 18-year-old Dane Scott Jr. in the back as he ran away after Harrison disarmed him.[86]
Wright shot and killed Patricia Cook, 54, in her own vehicle as he was investigating reports of a suspicious vehicle. Wright had claimed that Cook had rolled her window up, trapping his arm, and began to drive away, but this was discredited by witness statements and the fact that Cook's vehicle had manual roll-up windows.[88][89]
16 December 2011
John Swearengin
14 August 2014 (pleaded no contest)
Kern County Sheriff's Office (California)
While responding to a call, Swearengin struck two pedestrians, Daniel Hiler and Crystal Jolley. Swearengin pleaded no contest to one count of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter.[90]
30 August 2011
Kenneth Bluew
12 October 2012
Buena Vista Township Police Department (Michigan)
While on duty, Bluew strangled his pregnant girlfriend, Jennifer Webb, to death. Bluew was convicted of first-degree murder, assault causing a miscarriage, and having a firearm in a felony, and was given the mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.[91]
14 July 2011
Teddie Whitefield
20 January 2015
Wichita Falls Police Department (Texas)
Whitefield's patrol car struck a vehicle, killing 18-year-old Yeni Lopez, 13-year-old Gloria Montoya, and Lopez's unborn child. Prosecutors say Whitefield was traveling at 75 miles per hour (121 km/h) before the crash and that he had prescription drugs in his system.[92]
2 May 2011
Richard Combs
1 September 2015 (pleaded guilty)
Eutawville Police Department (South Carolina)
Combs, the police chief and only officer in Eutawville, shot and killed Walter Bailey after Bailey came to town hall to dispute his daughter's speeding ticket. Combs pled guilty to misconduct in office in exchange for having his murder charges dropped.[93]
Despite not responding to a call, Hambie was driving 74 miles per hour (119 km/h) in a 35-mile-per-hour (56 km/h) zone, when her cruiser struck another vehicle, killing Shelley Amos and Cheryl Burton. Hambie pleaded guilty to reckless driving, violation of oath by a police officer, and two counts of vehicular homicide.[94]
Chrisman was responding to a report of a domestic dispute in a mobile-home park when he shot and killed 29-year-old Daniel Rodriguez and his dog at point-blank range. A fellow officer testified that Rodriguez posed no threat and was intent on leaving when Chrisman shot and killed him.[95][96]
Mundy's police car struck another vehicle after he ran a stop sign, killing Gary Wayne Cox and Sandra Standridge Cox. Mundy pled guilty to two counts of criminally negligent homicide before his trial began.[98]
Folstom struck bicyclist Donnell Worsley while responding to a nonemergency call. Folston accepted a plea deal and was convicted of reckless driving.[99]
28 March 2010
Brian Massa
1 December 2011
Southwest City Police Department (Missouri)
Massa fired four shots at Bobby Stacy's vehicle after it had passed him. Massa was convicted of involuntary manslaughter.[100]
20 March 2010
Andrew Ringeisen
20 May 2011 (pleaded guilty)
Overland Police Department (Missouri)
Ringeisen shoved 49-year-old Kenneth Hamilton down an interior staircase at Hamilton's home, causing fatal head injuries. Ringeisen pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter.[101]
20 January 2010
Coleman Brackney
2 December 2010 (pleaded guilty)
Bella Vista Police Department (Arkansas)
Following a chase, Brackney fired at James Ahern six times, the first five as the vehicle was moving and the last after it had stopped. Brackney was sentenced to 30 days in jail. He was later appointed police chief of Sulphur Springs.[102][103]
Jones was on duty while acting as a lookout during a drug robbery that resulted in the murder of Arvel Alston, 40, and the shooting of one other person.[104]
24 July 2009
Steven Merchant
1 March 2012 (pleaded guilty)
Colfax Police Department (Louisiana)
Merchant shot and killed 54-year-old Harold Phillips from behind.[105]
13 June 2009
Jason Anderson
4 May 2016 (pleaded no contest)
Milford Police Department (Connecticut)
Anderson was responding to a call without his sirens on, when his cruiser struck the vehicle in front of him, killing David Servin and Ashlie Krakowski. Anderson pled no contest to misconduct with a motor vehicle, criminally negligent homicide, and reckless driving, and was sentenced to one year in prison.[106]
22 February 2009
Paul Carrier
1 December 2010
Humboldt Police Department (Tennessee)
After a traffic stop, Carrier shot Roy Glenn Jr. once in the back after Glenn fell on his hands and knees facing towards Carrier. Carrier was found guilty of reckless homicide.[107]
Mehserle shot and killed 22-year-old Oscar Grant after an altercation on a train platform. Grant was on the ground and restrained when Mehserle drew his service weapon and fired one round into Grant's back, fatally injuring him. Mehserle claimed that he believed Grant was reaching for a weapon in his waistband.[108]
3 March 2008
James Council
7 May 2009 (pleaded guilty)
Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office (California)
Council fell asleep at the wheel while in his patrol car, and killed cyclists Matt Peterson and Kristy Gough.[109] He was sentenced to four months of house arrest and 20 weeks of community service.[110]
While responding to a crash near O'Fallon, Mitchell's vehicle crossed the median and struck another car, killing 18-year-old Jessica Uhl and her 13-year-old sister Kelli Uhl. Mitchell was writing an email on his computer and making a phone call before the crash.[111]
Police restrained Miguel Cáceres during a traffic stop after he insulted a police officer. While restrained, Pagán Cruz shot him several times. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to 109 years in prison.[112]
3 August 2007
Robert Shawn Richardson
March 2008 (pleaded no contest)
Noble Police Department (Oklahoma)
Rogers shot 5-year-old Austin Haley while shooting at a snake in a birdhouse. Rogers and Richardson, his supervisor, pled no contest to second-degree manslaughter.[113] Rogers's record was later expunged.[114]
Taharka shot and killed Anthony Smashum as he attempted to climb a fence while fleeing. Smashum was shot twice, once in the leg and once in the back. Taharka pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter.[115][116]
7 February 2007
Joseph Corbett
15 January 2009 (pleaded guilty)
Taylorsville Police Department (Utah)
Corbett responded to reports of a chase by preparing to set up spike strips. While at an intersection, Corbett crashed into the vehicle of John Douglas, killing him. Corbett pled guilty to speeding, failure to stop, and improper lookout.[117]
20 January 2007
Stuart Merry
20 August 2009
Beverly Police Department (Massachusetts)
Merry was found guilty of negligent homicide for a crash that killed Bonney Burns. Merry's attorney claimed he suffered a seizure before the crash, although prosecutors disputed this. Merry was sentenced to three years of probation, 200 hours of community service, a $1,000 fine, and the loss of his driver's license for 15 years.[118]
While executing a drug raid based on faulty information from an informant, plainclothes officers shot and killed 92-year-old Kathryn Johnston and later planted marijuana in her home.[119]
Thompson repeatedly struck Otto Zehm with a baton after he was accused of stealing money from an ATM. Zehm died two days later and his death was ruled a homicide. Thompson was convicted of excessive force and lying to investigators.[120]
Trooper Larry P. Norman shot Joseph Erin Hamley, a man with cerebral palsy, as he lay on his back after Hamley was mistaken for a fugitive. The trooper pled guilty to negligent homicide.[121]
Corcran struck a Cadillac while driving south of Las Vegas, killing Victor De La Cruz-De Leon, Reymunda Lopez-Vazquez, Jose Sanchez Lopez, and Jose Roberto Mejia Lang, as well as injuring a pregnant teenager. Corcran pled guilty to five counts of reckless driving.[122]
22 December 2005
Matthew J. Hinkel
1 May 2007 (pleaded no contest)
Coopersburg Borough Police Department (Pennsylvania)
While responding to a nonemergency call, Hinkel sped 40 miles per hour (64 km/h) over the speed limit and collided with the vehicle of Shirley Tuomela, killing her. Tuomela's son and an officer in Hinkel's vehicle were injured in the crash. Hinkel pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter.[123]
14 October 2005
Brandon Tagayun
March 2007 (pleaded guilty)
Charleston Police Department (West Virginia)
While responding to a call, Tagayun's cruiser clipped a pick-up truck, killing the driver, Patsy Sizemore. Tagayun accepted a plea deal and pleaded guilty to speeding and failure to operate an emergency vehicle with lights and sirens.[124]
Four NOPD officers not in uniform at the time opened fire on a family on the Danziger Bridge, killing 17-year-old James Brissette and 40-year-old Ronald Madison and wounding four others. The officers claimed that they had been fired upon when they responded to a call about an officer under fire.[125][126]
31-year-old Henry Glover was shot with a .223 rifle by NOPD officer David Warren from a second-story balcony. Glover had been retrieving loot at the time.[127][128]
Williams kicked and beat Raymond Robair with a baton. A federal jury convicted Williams of violating Robair's constitutional rights by kicking and beating him. In addition, Williams' partner was found guilty of lying to investigators.[129]
18 December 2004
Billy Anders
4 March 2006 (pleaded guilty)
Otero County Sheriff's Office (New Mexico)
Anders and his partner Bob Hedman responded to reports of shots fired after white supremacist Earl Flippen killed his girlfriend. After Hedman and Anders split up, a shootout between Anders and Flippen ended with Anders shooting and handcuffing Flippen. Afterwards, Anders went to the back of Flippen's house and discovered he had killed Hedman. Anders then returned to the front of the house and shot Flippen, still handcuffed, in the chest. Anders accepted a plea deal of voluntary manslaughter.[130][131]
While responding to reports that a boy had been assaulted by a teenager, Carbonneau and another officer entered an apartment without permission and lined up three teenagers, including Eli Eloy Escobar II, for identification. When Escobar, who was not involved in the earlier incident, tried to leave, officers attempted to handcuff him, and in the struggle, Carbonneau shot him. He was sentenced to 60 days in prison for negligent homicide.[132]
Officers beat Jose Antonio Rivera Robles during an arrest at a gas station, resulting in his death. Two officers were sentenced to 10 and 6.5 years in prison, respectively.[133][134]
Riverside County District Attorney's Office (California)
Riter, an investigator with the Riverside County district attorney's office, was attempting to detain a woman whose children had been declared wards of the court. Riter stuck his hand into a moving truck and fired, killing Jesus Pena "Jesse" Herrera, who was giving the family a ride. He was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to seven years in prison.[136][137]
27 December 2001
Joseph Warzycha
14 January 2003 (pleaded no contest)
East Providence Police Department (Rhode Island)
During a training exercise in a school bus lot, Warzycha, the department's sniper, brought his personal rifle to the scene. Thinking it was unloaded, he pointed it at his supervisor Alister McGregor and shot him. Warzycha pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter.[138]
29 December 1998
Scott Byron Smith
9 March 2000
New Milford Police Department (Connecticut)
Smith shot and killed Franklyn Reid, who was unarmed, but had a folding knife in the front pocket of his jacket. After his conviction, he was granted an appeal and retrial before which he agreed to a plea deal.[139]
24 December 1998
Scott Charles Cameron
4 November 1999 (pleaded guilty)
Easton Police Department (Pennsylvania)
Cameron shot and killed John E. Rapp in the back of the head at a park in Palmer Township. Cameron pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in exchange for having his voluntary manslaughter charges dropped.[140]
16 June 1998
William Scribner
19 April 2000
New Milford Police Department (Connecticut)
While responding to a call, Scribner struck another vehicle, killing Angela D'Aquila. Scribner was convicted of negligent manslaughter. His conviction came a few months after another New Milford officer was convicted of a separate killing.[141]
14 February 1998
Joseph Mantelli
1999
Las Vegas Police Department (New Mexico)
Mantelli shot and killed Abelino Montoya after a chase as he drove away.[142]
While on duty, Bachmeier picked up 35-year-old James Wren and killed him, intending to frame him for a fire Bachmeier set at his own home as part of an insurance scam. Bachmeier was sentenced to life in prison without parole.[143]
Officer Colecchia shot and killed Nathaniel Levi Gaines on a subway station platform after an altercation. Colecchia shot Gaines multiple times in the back and later admitted he was not in fear of his life when he did so.[144]
6 April 1995
John Charmo
11 October 2001 (pleaded guilty)
Pittsburgh Housing Authority Police Department (Pennsylvania)
During a chase for wrong-way driving on a one-way street, police pursued Jerry Jackson to a tunnel, where Charmo and other officers shot at him at least 51 times. After a mistrial, a plea deal was reached for involuntary manslaughter, and Charmo was sentenced to 11+1⁄2 months in jail.[145]
Forbes saw a group of people near a van and assumed it was a drug deal. After telling the men to leave, one man, Dan Davis, argued with Forbes. The two got into a fight and Forbes shot Davis three times. Forbes was charged with murder but convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to ten years in prison. He was released in 2000.[146]
While in plain clothes, Nevers struck Malice Green in the head with a flashlight after the officers noticed Green outside a known drug den. Nevers was sentenced to 12 to 25 years in prison, while Budzyn was sentenced to 8 to 18 years. Charges against a third officer were dropped.[147]
McGowen obtained a fake arrest warrant for Susan Diane Harrison White after she complained about him. McGowen went to White's home and shot her, later claiming White pointed a pistol at him. McGowen's first conviction was overturned as his attorney was not allowed to make an opening statement, but he was convicted again in 2002.[148]
Bright shot and killed Douglas Oralfy at a traffic light. Bright maintained that he accidentally shot Oralfy when the car jerked backwards, but Oralfy's passenger disputed this.[149]
27 January 1992
Jeffrey Hodge
May 1993 (pleaded guilty)
University of Toledo Police Department (Ohio)
While on-duty, Hodge pulled over University of Toledo student Melissa Herstrum before handcuffing and kidnapping her. He took Herstrum to the university's Scott Park campus, where he shot her 14 times. The next day he placed a 911 call and responded to the call along with other officers. He was arrested a week later after a detective noticed marks on his handcuffs caused by the gunshots. He pleaded guilty to Herstrum's murder in 1993.[150]
30 December 1991
John McDonald
5 June 1992
Cairo Police Department (Illinois)
McDonald stopped 25-year-old Roy Lee Jones to question him about a robbery. When Jones refused to answer questions and tried to leave, the two scuffled and McDonald fired 13 shots at Jones, all of which missed. He then fired a 14th shot, killing Jones. McDonald claimed his supervisor told him to fire the last shot, but the supervisor disputed this. McDonald was convicted of second-degree murder and aggravated battery and sentenced to 10 years in prison.[151]
Hall shot and killed 16-year-old Christopher Rogers as he hid under a truck outside his home in Dorchester. Although he was on duty, Hall was outside his assigned district. Hall, who claimed he fired accidentally when he lost his balance, was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to five and a half to ten years in prison.[152]
Lozano shot and killed 23-year-old Clement Lloyd as he fled police in his vehicle. Allan Blanchard, 24, was killed in the resulting crash. Lozano later claimed that Lloyd was attempting to run him over.[153]
Duckett met 11 year-old Teresa McAbee at a convenience store, and then drove her to a nearby lake where he sexually assaulted and then murdered her. He was convicted on circumstantial evidence and sentenced to death, although made numerous appeals.[154]
Mueller, who had been hired despite a previously diagnosed mental illness, shot John Graham in the back of the head, killing him, during a marijuana arrest. Mueller was charged with first-degree murder and sentenced to life in a mental institution.[156]
Koenig shot Donald Harp after he was involved in a car crash. Koenig claimed he thought Harp was reaching for a gun, but a medical examiner stated Harp was near unconscious when he was shot. Koenig was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to seven years in prison.[157]
Armstrong and other deputies called a false disturbance complaint to the home of Delois Young, which they believed was part of a PCP operation. When Young, eight months' pregnant, opened her door holding a shotgun, Armstrong shot her, killing her unborn fetus and wounding Young. Armstrong stated he identified himself as a deputy and ordered Young to drop her weapon, but other deputies disputed this. He was convicted of second-degree murder, which was reduced to involuntary manslaughter, but later reinstated. He was also convicted of attempted murder in the shooting of Young.[158]
While on duty, Nelson picked up runaway Michelle Busha and raped, tortured, and strangled her. Eight years later, Nelson confessed to the murder while being held for unrelated charges in Texas. Busha was not identified until 2015.[160]
27 February 1978
Marcus Giardino
1978 (pleaded guilty)
Philadelphia Police Department (Pennsylvania)
Giardino shot Michael Carpenter in the back as he ran away, killing him. He pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, the second time a Philadelphia police officer was convicted of killing a Black man.[161]
Several officers, including Danson and Orlando, beat Joe Campos Torres at a secluded spot near a bayou. When a jail officer refused to take him before he was seen at a hospital, the officers brought him back to the secluded spot, where he was shoved into the water. Two of the other officers were granted immunity in exchange for their testimony.[162]
Cain shot and killed 12-year-old Santos Rodriguez after arresting him on suspicion of having burglarized a local gas station. Cain shot Santos in the head after pointing his gun at the child in an attempt to extract a confession from him.[164]
Fowler shot and killed unarmed civil rights activist Jimmie Lee Jackson during a peaceful demonstration in Marion, Alabama. Forty years later in 2005, Fowler admitted he had shot Jackson. In 2007, he was indicted for manslaughter, and in 2010, he pled guilty and was sentenced to six months in prison.[165]
Grady shot and killed Daniel Bell after a chase. Grady claimed Bell had lunged at him with a knife, but two decades later, his partner revealed Bell had planted the knife. In 1979, Grady was convicted of reckless homicide and perjury.[166]
Police responding to a hotel were asked by the manager to remove Berry Lawson. The three officers severely beat Lawson, leading to his death. They claimed Lawson fell down the stairs and attempted to bribe a witness with $85 and a train ticket to Portland, Oregon. A jury found all three officers guilty of manslaughter, but none of them were jailed.[167]
Whiteside chased Henry Truman into an alley following a shoplifting. When Truman asked the officer what he did wrong, Whiteside shot him. Whiteside was found guilty of manslaughter.[168]