In the wake of the videotaped police slayings of two black men on opposite sides of the country this week, it’s worth noting that white people, even when armed, get kid-gloves treatment from police in comparison to African Americans.
Alton Sterling was killed by Baton Rouge police for allegedly waving a gun, but video evidence shows Sterling never reached for his weapon, but he was shot multiple times at point-blank range while subdued anyway.
And in Minnesota, Philando Castile was shot and killed during a routine traffic stop after reaching for his ID. Even though Castile was armed, he had a license to carry, his gun was registered, and he never threatened the officer with his gun.
However, white people on multiple occasions have gotten away with pointing guns directly at police, yet somehow survived the encounter. Here are seven instances where white privilege allowed armed and dangerous people to brandish weapons at police officers.
1. White woman in body armor shoots randomly into traffic
In January of 2015, Julia Shields went on a shooting rampage in Chattanooga, Tennessee, firing randomly at cars and people as she drove by, clad in body armor. Shields reportedly held her gun out of her driver side window as if it were a cigarette, even firing upon a nearby car at a stop sign, disabling the car’s radiator. When police were called, she led them on a chase, during which she pointed her weapon at the pursuing officers. Despite the imminent danger, Shields was “taken into custody without incident or injury.”
2. White men shoot up Walmart with a BB gun
In 2014, two drunk white men walked into an Idaho Walmart, opened and loaded up two BB guns, and started shooting randomly. According to local police, the two men had been making comments about how they were going to “shoot up” the store before the incident occurred. However, law enforcement agencies were able to set up a perimeter and apprehend the two men peacefully. This is a stark contrast to how police treated John Crawford III.
Crawford was killed inside an Ohio Walmart while holding an air rifle and talking to his wife on the phone. Police didn’t even give Crawford a chance to put down the rifle, killing him almost instantly after encountering him. Crawford never pointed the rifle at anyone, and the surveillance video above shows he never pointed it at the officers.
3. White man shoots at police conducting traffic stop with BB gun
In September of 2014, 22-year-old Jesse Deflorio fired a BB gun at police while they were in the midst of conducting a traffic stop in downtown Concord, New Hampshire. A year before, Deflorio had been arrested for firing a BB gun at a random driver. Despite the aggressive behavior toward police, Deflorio was only charged on one count of reckless conduct. However, 12-year-old Tamir Rice was killed instantly by police for simply playing in a park with a toy gun.
Rice, who had been playing in the park without incident, was killed by Cleveland police officer Timothy Loehmann seconds after he arrived on the scene. While surveillance camera footage didn’t capture audio, the time between Loehmann’s arrival and Rice getting shot was only seconds apart, meaning the 12-year-old was never given the opportunity to put down the gun. Rice died of gunshot wounds the following day.
4. Drunk white guy points rifle at police, calls for revolution
Kalamazoo police never once shot at 63-year-old Joseph Houseman during a 40-minute armed standoff in a Dairy Queen parking lot in Michigan. Even though Houseman was brandishing an assault rifle and taunting police, calling them a “gang” and shouting about “revolution,” police still managed to de-escalate the situation without firing a single shot at Houseman. The bizarre audio of the standoff shows Houseman felt entitled to threaten the officers present:
HOUSEMAN: I can threaten you. I can threaten your family. I didn’t threaten your family; I said I could.
POLICE: You said a war was coming.
HOUSEMAN: I didn’t say a war was coming.
POLICE: You said a revolution is coming.
HOUSEMAN: Think about it. You know it is.
Houseman, an open carry advocate, had his gun returned to him by local police the very next day, and he apologized for his actions. Ironically, Houseman complained that he was “losing his rights,” which apparently caused him to initiate the armed standoff. He was not charged with any crimes.
5. White man points loaded gun at police and small children
In 2014, 46-year-old Lance Tamayo survived an encounter with San Diego SWAT officers in a local park, despite waving a loaded 9mm pistol at police and child bystanders. Tamayo refused officers’ orders to put down his weapon, eventually charging at them with his gun pointed.
Tamayo was shot in the stomach as he rushed officers. After a 15-minute conversation between Tamayo and police on his cellphone, Tamayo agreed to surrender. In 2015, he was sentenced to 180 days in jail on a charge of exhibiting a firearm in the presence of a peace officer, along with three years of probation.
6. Texas man points handgun at police during DUI stop
In January of 2015, 25-year-old Jed Frazier drove his truck off of the road and into a ditch in Pennsylvania while driving intoxicated. When officers responded, Frazier refused orders to unlock his doors. After police attempted to force the doors open, Frazier pointed a handgun in their direction. The car windows were broken, and Frazier was eventually removed from his car and arrested with only minor injuries, likely sustained in the crash.
This is a stark contrast to what happened Wednesday, when Minnesota police killed Philando Castile.
Castile’s girlfriend livestreamed the aftermath of the shooting, in which Castile is seen bleeding severely from gunshot wounds sustained during a routine traffic stop. Castile was reportedly shot after reaching for his ID. While Castile had a weapon in his possession, he had a license to carry a firearm, and informed the officer of the firearm after he was pulled over.
7. White man survives armed standoff with Phoenix police
In 2014, Phoenix, Arizona, firefighters went to the apartment of 53-year-old Stephen Whitlock to conduct a welfare check. After receiving no answer when knocking on the door, firefighters prepared to leave when Whitlock suddenly opened the door, pointing a gun at the firefighters. Whitlock barricaded himself inside his apartment, and police engaged in an hour-long standoff with him before finally storming the apartment and taking Whitlock into custody.
However, police in St. Louis treated Kajime Powell, a 25-year-old black man, very differently in a similar situation. Powell, who was armed with a knife and not a gun, was killed after he refused officers’ orders to drop his weapon. Powell’s hands were at his sides when he was shot, and he was not within striking distance of the officers.
These multiple cases make it clear that there’s a definitive double standard in how police treat armed white people vs. armed black people. And it also proves that the standard police excuse of fearing for one’s life is tailor-made to justify the killing of black people, while white people are always given the benefit of the doubt.
Tom Cahill is a writer for US Uncut based in the Pacific Northwest. He specializes in coverage of political, economic, and environmental news. You can contact him via email at tom.v.cahill@gmail.com.
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