Johannes Mehserle Sentenced in Controversial BART Shooting

Johannes Mehserle, the former BART officer, who shot and killed Oscar Grant at an Oakland station was sentenced to two years in prison according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Johannes Mehserle Sentenced

The two year sentence was the maximum sentence that could be imposed for the fatal shooting of Oscar Grant, an unarmed passenger. A video of the incident, which shows Mehserle shooting the man, became widely publicized in the weeks after the incident.

Oscar Grant, Fair use image

Due to concerns of not receiving a fair trial, the case was moved to Los Angeles County where the jury said the 28-year-old ex cop was guilty of involuntary manslaughter, but acquitted of more serious charges.

Johannes Mehserle’s defense was that he mistook his pistol for his Taser when he shot Grant in the back on New Year’s Day in 2009.

Dozens of Grant supporters showed up to the courthouse and chanted: “Mehserle is guilty, guilty. The whole system is guilty, guilty,” according to the Los Angeles Times.

In Oakland, Oscar Grant Sr. expressed Mehserle should serve more time behind bars.

“It’s a bad decision. No time can bring Oscar back. But Mehserle should have served some time,” Grant told the Times. “Otherwise, they’re telling the public, though he went to trial, a policeman can shoot someone and go free. These guys have a license to kill.”

However, Grant Sr. said no violent protests should happen in his son’s name. “My message to the public is don’t use this as a reason to destroy this city,” he told the newspaper.

Johannes Mehserle apologized to Grant’s family during the sentencing.

“I did not become an officer to take a life, but because it gave me the opportunity to protect and save lives. I pray the public can understand that police officers are also human,” he said, according to the Chronicle.

“I am deeply sorry. I am. … Nothing I can ever do will heal the wound I have created.”

Follow Unheard Voices on Twitter for more coverage.