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Jury deliberates first-degree murder charge in William Chapman shooting
Source: The Guardian
Jury deliberates first-degree murder charge in William Chapman shooting
A jury in southern Virginia is considering whether or not to convict
police officer Stephen Rankin of murder for fatally shooting an
unarmed black teen
Jon Swaine in Portsmouth, Virginia
Wednesday 3 August 2016 23.26 BST
A jury in southern Virginia is considering whether or not to convict a police officer of murder for fatally shooting an unarmed black 18-year-old outside a Walmart store last year.
Stephen Rankin could face life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder for killing William Chapman during an early-morning confrontation over suspected shoplifting. It was his second deadly shooting of an unarmed man.
Rankin, 36, is accused of intentionally killing Chapman with premeditation and using a gun to commit a felony. He shot the teen in the face and chest after his attempt to stop Chapman in the store’s parking lot turned into a physical struggle. Rankin denies the charges and says he fired his gun because Chapman aggressively charged at him.
Late on Wednesday afternoon the jury – seven women and five men – entered its eighth hour of deliberations at Portsmouth circuit court. Their foreman had brought them back into the courtroom twice to ask the judge questions and to request a replaying of a video clip of the incident filmed by Rankin’s Taser.
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A jury in southern Virginia is considering whether or not to convict
police officer Stephen Rankin of murder for fatally shooting an
unarmed black teen
Jon Swaine in Portsmouth, Virginia
Wednesday 3 August 2016 23.26 BST
A jury in southern Virginia is considering whether or not to convict a police officer of murder for fatally shooting an unarmed black 18-year-old outside a Walmart store last year.
Stephen Rankin could face life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder for killing William Chapman during an early-morning confrontation over suspected shoplifting. It was his second deadly shooting of an unarmed man.
Rankin, 36, is accused of intentionally killing Chapman with premeditation and using a gun to commit a felony. He shot the teen in the face and chest after his attempt to stop Chapman in the store’s parking lot turned into a physical struggle. Rankin denies the charges and says he fired his gun because Chapman aggressively charged at him.
Late on Wednesday afternoon the jury – seven women and five men – entered its eighth hour of deliberations at Portsmouth circuit court. Their foreman had brought them back into the courtroom twice to ask the judge questions and to request a replaying of a video clip of the incident filmed by Rankin’s Taser.
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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/aug/03/william-chapman-trial-jury-deliberates-stephen-rankin