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Marquise's Last Night

Philippians 3:10

MATURE • MENTOR • MINISTER • MAINTAIN • INVESTING IN BLACK FUTURES THRU STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Nine seconds of videotape showing the fatal shooting
of 25-year-old Marquise Hudspeth on March 15, 2003.

Police statement: 

Shreveport Police Dept.

Date: March 16, 2003

Phone: 318/673-6932 Fax: 318/673-6933 

Contact: Kacee Hargrave, Public Information Officer 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

"Updated to include names of man shot and names of officers involved

Police investigate officer-involved shooting 

A 25-year-old Shreveport man was shot after he led police on a lengthy chase and attempted to run other drivers off the road.

The incident occurred after police received information about a gray Cadillac running people off the road at Hearne Avenue and Shreveport-Blanchard.  When police attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver, Marquise Hudspeth, refused to stop and continued driving erratically southbound on Hearne Avenue.

Officers were about to end the pursuit when Hudspeth pulled into the Circle K at Hearne and Midway.  He then exited the vehicle and walked away from the officers.  After ignoring several commands to stop, Hudspeth turned suddenly and pointed what clearly appeared to be a pistol in the officers' direction.

Videotapes taken of the incident verify officers' statements that the man acted like he had a gun.  He raised a black and silver object in front of him and aimed at one of the officers.

The officer retreated for cover, and two other officers discharged their weapons at the suspect.

Hudspeth was taken by Shreveport Fire Department to LSU Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

An investigation revealed that the object was not a gun but a cell phone.  It is not known at this time why Hudspeth acted as he did.

The three officers involved in the incident are on paid administrative leave pending an investigation. They are Cpl. Denver Ramsey, Officer Michael Armstrong and Officer Steven Hathorn."

http://www.ci.shreveport.la.us/dept/police/1031603.officer%20involved%20shooting%20hearne2.htm 

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Comment: 

People who knew Marquise said he was very stressed, very distraught, very upset over some personal problems.  Son was holding a communicational device (a cell phone that he had been talking on) but was unable to communicate as the confrontation escalated, and the phone was mistaken for a gun.  Fifteen shots were fired, 8 of them hitting Marquise in the back.  The officers involved were cleared by the District Attorney, but community outrage prompted City Council to involve the F.B.I. and the videotape was sent for review to the civil rights division of the U.S. Justice Department.

YUBM Ministries posts this material to mourn Marquise Hudspeth's passing.  Didn't know him, but his untimely end is way too sadly familiar.  Maybe this tragedy would prod a posse of God's saints enough to shake off their sloth, get past their fear and look to the One Who never retreated nor cocooned — and say, "Lord Jesus.  There are other Marquises out there (and cops, too) who You want to get through to before it's too late.  Here am I, Lord.  Go ahead — put me in the mix."

Christ came, lived, died and rose again to make that process possible (Philippians 4:13).

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"He was my oldest son.  He was an extension of my right arm," she said.  "I used to tell him his life would be harder than mine as a black woman.  I told him that he was a black male and no one was going to give him anything."  Marquise Hudspeth's Mom

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If you preach the Gospel in all aspects with the exception of the issues which deal specifically with your time—you are not preaching the Gospel at all.   Martin Luther

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