Our Challenge To NFL Players Protesting

*AKIEL DENKINS – Shot and killed on February 29, 2016 in Raleigh, North Carolina by Police Senior Officer D.C. Twiddy following a chase and struggle during an attempt at a lawful arrest. Twiddy was trying to take Denkins into custody for an outstanding drug warrant when the latter fled and a foot pursuit ensued. Twiddy caught up to Denkins, who then reached into his waistband where he had a stolen Smith and Wesson revolver. Denkins raised the gun while Twiddy ordered him to drop it. Denkins refused the lawful order and Twiddy fired two rounds at him from his service weapon. Denkins, although wounded, then grabbed the barrel of Twiddy’s gun. The officer was able to step back and fire two additional rounds at Denkins, finally ending the threat.

Fall 2017 Issue

After a lengthy investigation, the district attorney decided not to press charges against Twiddy due to the circumstances, autopsy and DNA forensic evidence backing up the officer’s testimony. ‘Eyewitnesses’ claimed that Denkins was shot in the back, but forensic evidence proved otherwise, as well as the perpetrator’s DNA recovered from the barrel of Twiddy’s weapon. Denkins’s firearm was also recovered at the scene.

POLICE POINT OF VIEW

A solid case for a ‘good shooting’ by the police. The perpetrator was wanted, fled when approached by the officer and then tried to shoot him with not only his own (stolen) gun, but the officer’s weapon, as well.

If Twiddy had not fired, Denkins would have certainly done so. He was not an innocent man, by any stretch of the imagination, being wanted on a criminal warrant and then committing multiple felonies during this incident. He obviously was determined to not go to jail, even if it resulted in shooting a cop. And anyone thinking objectively would have done exactly what this officer did. It was a situation of kill or be killed. Instead of lamenting why a “white cop shot another black man,” the discussion should be why Denkins’s abhorrent criminal behavior led to his own death.

Denkins – black, Twiddy – white

@iThinkIsee12 I would love the opportunity to discuss the #NFLProtest issue with you, more specifically a case-by-case basis between the police & public: https://t.co/6SrWzUZ6yS

— Joe Pietaro (@MuscleSportMag) August 13, 2018