There’s a lack of tangible evidence despite witness accounts that claim the truck driver didn’t pose a threat.
Things escalated quickly on I-95 in Florida as a semi-truck caused a collision with an off-duty police officer. The cop commanded the trucker to stop driving and fired four shots into the cab. But he won’t face any charges.
Florida police officer doesn’t face charges in shooting
Marc Crawford, a police officer, was heading south on I-95 near Atlantic Boulevard when his vehicle was struck by a semi-truck. The driver of the truck was a 70-year-old man.
The first collision occurred as Crawford merged into the trucker’s lane, then the semi-truck struck the rear of the vehicle a second time. Crawford jumped out of the vehicle and confronted the man, then fired four shots into the cabin.
Two bullets entered the cabin, and one struck the trucker in the stomach without penetrating the skin. Luckily, the velocity was reduced due to passing through the truck’s frame. Both men went to the hospital as Crawford had an injured shoulder.
But Crawford wasn’t wearing a body camera. He claims he “feared imminent death or great bodily harm and discharged his weapon.”
According to News 4 Jax, Crawford claims that the trucker accelerated after he exited his vehicle, and he was afraid that he was going to be crushed between the truck and another car. That’s when he fired the gun.
The truck driver maintains that he was confused and unaware of what happened. Plus, this is the fourth shooting Crawford was involved in. Also, the incident occurred at speeds under 20 mph.
The state does not have proof beyond a reasonable doubt that Crawford’s use of deadly force wasn’t justified. None of the men face criminal charges at this time.
However, Crawford has been administratively reassigned without police powers as the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office conducts an investigation.
