Oscar Grant's father will be allowed to sue Johannes Mehserle, the Northern California transit officer who shot and killed his 22-year-old son, now that an appellate court has upheld a lower court's ruling that the shooting was indeed involuntary manslaughter.
The 2009 shooting of Grant has gained renewed attention in light of Trayvon Martin's shooting death, George Zimmerman's acquittal in that death and this year's theatrical release of Fruitvale Station, a riveting portrayal of the hours leading up to Grant's death. KTVU and AP Wires report:
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday rejected former officer Johannes Mehserle's claim that he was acting in his official capacity when he killed the younger Grant during a 2009 New Year's Day melee captured on video by several bystanders.
Violent demonstrations ensued after the videos showing the white officer shooting the unarmed black man were viewed by millions online …
Mehserle served 11 months in prison after he was convicted of involuntary manslaughter. The appeals court's decision affirmed a lower court ruling.
Read more at KTVU.