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Indybay Feature

Body Camera Video of the Killing of Luke Smith by Police and Santa Cruz Sheriffs

by Santa Cruz Police News
Some of the body camera video footage of the killing of 15-year-old Luke Smith by sheriff's deputy on November 19 was released by the Santa Cruz Sheriff's Office at a press conference today. Warning: This video is extremely graphic.
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The video shows that after deploying "less lethal" rounds at Luke, and tasing him, a canine was deployed. Luke was then shot with an AR15 rifle. After being shot with the firearm, and while lying on the ground, police shoot him with less lethal rounds and the taser again.

Sheriffs then deployed the canine again, and the dog bit and attacked Luke as the teenager struggled and moved on the ground during his last moments of life.

The dog continued to bite Luke for a few seconds until the 15-year-old stopped moving.

Besides the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Capitola and Watsonville police are visible in the video.
§Background
by Santa Cruz Police News
Santa Cruz Sheriffs Shoot and Kill a 15-Year-Old Aptos High Student
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/11/21/18793944.php

Memorial Fund Established for Luke Smith
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/11/21/18793946.php

Video of Santa Cruz Sheriff's Office Press Conference on November 21
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/11/21/18793944.php?show_comments=1#18793981

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by FTP
sm_weapons_used_on_luke_smith.jpg
But they'll tightly hold forever anything they don't think works in their defense.

"It's under investigation. We can't release the video. I can only tell you I believe my guys were in fear of their lives and they followed protocol. We'll release evidence after the investigation," and then they never do."

Of course, this video shows that they are murderous pigs and didn't have to kill Luke, but sadly it's probably enough for Santa Cruz liberals to walk away and not care about the completely unnecessary death of a teenage boy. All the shouting about "drop the knife" makes Luke sound scary, even if he never moved on the cops. The pigs know that and so we now have the video.

"We're here to help you, buddy." Either that or establish "lethal coverage" and gun him down.

After they shoot him, then they pretend they are his friend again. "Stay with us." They pigs killed him and then pretend they didn't want him to die.

Pigs are not mental health workers. Pigs are paid killers serving white power and the rich.

What about the other pigs' body cams? Where's that video?
by Christy
A 15 KID, whose under the influence of LSD, is suppose to know how to handle this situation?! He's suppose to know NOT to "resist", while this huge attack dog is MAULING him, and ripping him up like an old chew toy??! This is f***ing b***sh**!! They murdered this kid. How sad, that he'll never have a chance to maybe change his life, or even live to become an adult! It should be illegal to stick an attack dog on a child anyway. What?! These GROWN MEN couldn't get maybe 5 of them to all rush him at the same time, and take him down??! Even if one of them got hurt, they'd at least all still be alive! The tasers weren't good enough, after he was lying on the ground, to get control of the situation? ALL these ADULT POLICE OFFICERS couldn't find a better way of getting control over this situation, other than KILLING this 15 year old boy?? Right on. Way to go police. You're a bunch of incompitant morons. And you're all accomplices to murder.
sm_chris-vigil-santa-cruz-county-cop-sheriff-officer.jpg
Killer cop Chris Vigil murdered 15-year-old Luke Smith. The ten other cops are accessory to murder.

Killer cop Chris Vigil was previously affiliated with a gang based in north county, known on the streets as "SCPD" and "Santa Cruz police," before switching sets and joining a click referred to as the sheriff's department.

Reporting from the Sentinel with translations from police-speak to real talk.

Body-camera footage, which Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart released Monday, shows [15-year-old] Luke Smith running frantically and "wrestling with" [getting mauled by] "K-9 officer Kato" [vicious German Shepard attack dog] at the 300 block of Pioneer Road, about a quarter-mile from his part-time home at the end of Amesti Road. That is where authorities [pigs] said he stabbed his father and uncle multiple times and fled. Eleven law enforcement officers [incompetent pigs] from three agencies pursued him until one fatal round was [cowardly] fired from an AR-15, an assault rifle, [by nine-year veteran officer Chris Vigil].

[Spokes-pig] Jim Hart said "hitting" [shooting] [15-year-old] Luke Smith in the chest [with an AR-15 assault rifle] was the only option.

"SHOOTING THE 15-YEAR-OLD IN THE CHEST WITH AN AR-15 ASSAULT RIFFLE AT POINT BLANK RANGE, WHILE THE CHILD WAS ON THE GROUND AND BEING ATTACKED BY OUR GERMAN SHEPARD, WAS THE ONLY OPTION."
- santa cruz county cops
by Z
Using lethal force and then trying to help the kid live? Choose if u want to kill him or not beforehand next time... crazy how little value life has in this situation
by Denise D Wiscowiche
I am so sick to my stomach. lucas never once showed a threat towards anyone but the dog that was chewing him up. all of would have done the same. Another senseless death of a young beautiful soul. R.I.P. Lucas. Rott in Hell officers. I graduated community Police Academy. Top of the class and this is uncalled for cruelty, they did not need to kill this boy.
by Richard Brown
The police have become SISSY COWARD MURDERERS afraid of getting their uniforms dirty let alone wrestle a kid to the ground and risk a cut from a 4 inch knife. This is a disgrace of a man who willingly and wanted to Murder another human being to get his nut and ejaculate to the thrill of it... I am glad my years are numbered, I am ashamed to say I am human!
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