Police shootings a trend that must stop

It took less than two seconds for Connecticut State Trooper Brian North to fire the seven shots that killed Mubarak Soulemane in West Haven Jan. 15. Two seconds that ended Soulemane’s 19 years. Two seconds that will result in months of accusations, investigations and challenges to trust in law enforcement.

The time ahead must include an exploration of how this might have had a better outcome.

In the wake of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, much of the national discourse over guns has been about whether to address firepower or mental health. This incident was a capsule of both issues.

Soulemane suffered from mental illness, according to his family. Police chased him after he allegedly tried to swipe a phone from a Norwalk store and carjacked a Hyundai from a rideshare driver while carrying a knife.

Thirty miles later, troopers cut off the car after Soulemane got off Interstate-95 in West Haven. Body camera videos capture the standoff as the car is surrounded by troopers under a bridge over Campbell Avenue, with North aiming a pistol and a flashlight through the driver’s window.

The video was released in two days, which is the way the system mandating it within 96 hours should work. The footage is chilling, but doesn’t tell the entire story. We can’t see what North saw inside the car. We don’t know what changed that caused him to fire.

Tahir Mohammad, Soulemane’s uncle, uttered simple words that are impossible to ignore: “He was shot sitting down in the car.”

Yes, he had a knife. And police say a Taser was not effective. But as police train for such situations in the future, other alternatives must be explored. Could another Taser have been used? Or pepper spray? Do police need something else?

It all comes down to instincts. Norwalk police followed an instinct that chasing Soulemane could have escalated the situation and posed further dangers.

Soulemane’s instincts may have been compromised by mental illness. It’s asking a lot for police to be able to recognize such symptoms, but more training must be discussed.

It is the third fatal police shooting in Connecticut of this young year. An altercation in Waterbury ended with the fatal shooting of 57-year-old Edwards Gendron. A domestic violence call ended with police shooting 30-year-old Michael Gregory, who also apparently had a knife.

State NAACP President Scot X. Esdaile said “Police violence against Black and Latinx people is a pandemic in Connecticut.”

Others are saying they do not trust police to investigate themselves after such incidents. It’s not in the interest of law enforcement officials either. A third party should always be brought in. The Soulemane investigation will be led by Middlesex State’s Attorney Michael Gailor. He’ll have 120 days to release the results of his probe.

Four months to examine the two seconds that ended a life at 19 years. It’s a lot of time, but may not be enough.

Yes, he had a knife. And police say a Taser was not effective. But as police train for such situations in the future, other alternatives must be explored. Could another Taser have been used? Or pepper spray? Do police need something else?