Questions are swirling after video surfaced of state troopers killing an unarmed hitchhiker 20 miles outside of Las Vegas, Nevada.
D’Andre Berghardt had been walking down the highway trying to hitch a ride when police approached him. His behavior was erratic, and eventually he tried to climb inside a police vehicle — at which point he was shot dead.
There was an assault rifle inside the vehicle, and police couldn’t take the chance that he would reach for it, The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.
What is baffling to people who watched the video, however, is the fact that the cops didn’t restrain Berghardt when they had the chance.
Police had several opportunities to handcuff Berghardt, and even had him pinned on the ground at what point. But each time, they allowed the man to escape their custody, escalating the situation. (RELATED: Recording the police is NOT a crime … but cops will still beat you up for doing it)
The video was recorded by two men stuck in traffic while the incident occurred. Both can be heard questioning the officers’ actions.
“Why don’t they just cuff him and be done with it?” wondered one of the men.
“They keep letting him get up and run away,” observed the other.
The Las Vegas police department and Nevada Highway Patrol are both investigating the killing, according to the Review-Journal.