He obviously needed to be subdued. The metropolitan police department s homicide branch, which has jurisdiction over Marcelino Corniel s death, is investigating. Although fellow officers are involved, the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney who must review the results must be objective, fair and honest. The complaint alleges Corneil chased O'Neill down the sidewalk, a knife taped to a hand too crippled to grasp it, because O'Neill had been kicking Corneil and jabbing him with a nightstick shortly before. Some 40 days before Marcelino s shooting Interior Department officials had received a certified letter from the plaintiffs complaining that Officer O Neill, had abused his official authority by threatening to arrest Thomas for possessing signs in Lafayette Park.
Plaintiffs point out that has nothing to do with the complaint.
When Officer O Neill kicked and prodded Marcelino with his nightstick, he exceeded his legal authority and committed assault. With greater specificity, perhaps, Thomas et. Contrary to what may have appeared on the videotape, the fact finding process has at least managed to determine that Marcelino was actually shot by 'Officer X,' who was not even seen on the videotape, but fired coolly from off camera, where he faced absolutely no personal danger. Still, the plaintiffs are not satisfied with the progress of justice in this case. Considering how much federal judges, marshalls, and U.S. Attornys are paid, I have to wonder whether the taxpayers are getting their money's worth in this fact-finding process.