In Katrina shooting death of unarmed man, cop testifies he felt life in danger
The Danziger Bridge in New Orleans was the scene of a shooting just after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
July 28th, 2011
01:04 PM ET

In Katrina shooting death of unarmed man, cop testifies he felt life in danger

A New Orleans police officer involved in the shooting death of an unarmed, mentally disabled man after Hurricane Katrina said in court Wednesday that he saw civilians with guns on the Danziger Bridge and believed his life was in jeopardy. He is among five current or former officers facing trial in the incident.

In addition to the death of 40-year-old Ronald Madison, teenager James Brisette was also killed during the shooting. Four other civilians were wounded in the incident on September 4, 2005, nearly a week after the hurricane, when much of the city was underwater and in chaos.

The shooting happened after a dozen officers took a rental car to the bridge after receiving a radio call that police had been fired on and shooters were heading toward the Danziger Bridge, reports say.

"I knew we were going into a bad situation. I just expected to be shot at," Robert Faulcon said, according to Reuters.

He described how he felt once on the scene.

"I became paralyzed with fear, really, that we were going to be shot at," he said, according to Reuters.

Faulcon admitted, under cross examination, that he fired at civilians between him and two men he testified were armed, The New Orleans Times-Picayune reported.

Faulcon and the other officers are charged with civil rights violations related to the shooting and an alleged coverup, according to Reuters.

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Filed under: Courts • Justice
soundoff (53 Responses)
  1. jimbo

    Yep. Coulda been zombies. In NewOrleans you cant be too careful. Read some of Anne Rices history books.

    July 29, 2011 at 6:24 am | Report abuse |
  2. @Centrist

    I bet you are an athiest doodoo eater.

    July 29, 2011 at 9:33 am | Report abuse |
  3. @kev

    It is not a black or white issue. The police on this bridge may have encountered flesh eating zombies. They can be any color. They are only interested in 1 thing and that is eating brains ! I have seen many movies on the subject. Zombies are something you shouldnt mess with.

    July 29, 2011 at 9:38 am | Report abuse |
  4. Centrist

    YOU IDIOTS NEED TO REALIZE BOTH OF THE JIGS SHOT WERE ARMED. EACH HAD 2 ARMS. THE POLICE WERE DEFENDING THEMSELVES. THE ENCOUNTERED ARMED BLACK CRIMINALS AND DEFENDED THEMSELVES.

    July 29, 2011 at 9:58 am | Report abuse |
  5. Centrist

    You must all be ultra liberals or blacks for showing such disrespect to law enforcement. They put their lives on the line daily to protect you from coloredz.

    July 29, 2011 at 10:02 am | Report abuse |
  6. another cop dead

    IM GLAD THOSE WHITEGUYS SHOT THOSE PUNK PIG POLICE UP IN SOUTH DAKOTA!
    KARMA IS COMING FOR THIS POLICESTATE!

    August 3, 2011 at 3:55 pm | Report abuse |
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