Johannes Mehserle, the Former BART Police Officer who Shot and Killed Oscar Grant III Arrested on Murder Charges

UPDATE

I am appalled that people engaged in rioting again over the tragic and senseless shooting of Oscar Grant III at the hands of a former transit police officer. There are elements in our society who jump at the idea of rioting and looting. What happened to peaceful protesting? Since when are people so depraved that they have to engage in criminal behavior? I agree that this is a racially motivated case, but do you have to trade violent behavior for this young man's murder? According to media reports, the protest was mostly peaceful before a small group went on a window-breaking rampage through downtown, smashing windows at several businesses and about 30 cars. Eighteen people were arrested mainly for vandalism. This is appalling.

Newly released court documents allege that Johannes Mehserle, who was charged Tuesday, shot 22-year-old Oscar Grant while Grant had his hands behind his back and another officer was kneeling on his neck. Alameda County District Attorney Tom Orloff made the rare decision to file a murder charge against a police officer for an on-duty incident. "At this point, what I feel the evidence indicates, is an unlawful killing done by an intentional act and from the evidence we have there's nothing that would mitigate that to something lower than a murder," Orloff said at a news conference. He said he would not speculate on whether the charge would end up being first-degree murder or second-degree murder.

Johannes Mehserle, the former BART police officer who shot and killed Oscar Grant III, who was unarmed man, early New Year's Day, has been arrested on a murder charge in Nevada today. Mehserle, 27, shot and killed Grant, 22, at an Oakland BART station in the early morning of New Year's Day. The shooting has prompted massive protests, especially after videos of the incident surfaced and rightly so.

According to Mercury News, a law enforcement official said that Mehserle was being held in Douglas County, Nev., on a no-bail warrant. Since he was arrested in Nevada, he will face an extradition hearing before returning to Alameda County, a process that could take at least a few days. Alameda County District Attorney Tom Orloff was expected to discuss the arrest further on Wednesday. Mehserle had been moving from place to place in recent days as he faced numerous death threats. He was reportedly arrested without incident. Source: Mercury News

"The family will certainly be relieved that (Orloff) has made some effort to bring him to justice," said attorney John Burris, who is representing the family in a $25 million claim against BART. "This is terrific. This is a very important step in healing the community."Mehserle's resignation last week took away BART's ability to get a statement out of him, since he could no longer be fired for remaining silent.

That was a deliberate move on his part. If he felt the shooting was justified, why quit the police force? Something smells here and I hope, if he is in fact found guilty, he will be charged as an everyday person would be -- life without parole. There are too many incidents involving police brutality and the use of excessive force. This is another life taken senselessly by a cop. It is one life too many.