Danziger Bridge Shootings

The Danziger Bridge were police shootings took place on September 4, 2005 in New Orleans, Louisiana. This shooting happened six days after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. Two people were shot by New Orleans Police Department, four others injured. A cover-up was made by the police, reporting that officers were responding to a man down call with suspects firing weapons upon the arrival of police.

The Shooting

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Several New Orleans officers surfaced at the Danziger Bridge on September 4, 2005 in a rental truck, none of whom were wearing uniforms. They started firing at the Bartholomew family without any warning with assault weapons. A nineteen-year-old, James Barset, who was a family friend was killed along with Ronald Madison, and four people wounded.

Two police officers chased down the Madison brothers, Ronald and Lance, in an unmarked state issued police vehicle. The two officers that chased them were SGT. Robert Gisevius and Officer Robert Faulcon. Ronald Lance, a developmentally disabled man, succumbed to his injuries sustained from the shooting. Ronald was fired upon by Faulcon, shooting him in the back five times. SGT. Kenneth Bowen was convicted of kicking Ronald’s back before he died. However, because of lack of evidence, the conviction was overturned. The other Madison brother, Lance, was arrested and charged with 8 counts of trying to kill officers. After being held for three weeks, Lance was released.

There weren’t any weapons found at the scene despite witnesses, both police and innocent by standers, claiming that the victims were unarmed.

Investigation and False Reports

The officers alleged they had been shot at and were made to return fire. The homicide detective that was assigned to the case was Arthur Kaufman and was made the lead investigator. Kaufman was later found to be guilty of conspiring with the other officers to cover up evidence to make the shooting appear to be justified. A lieutenant with the New Orleans Police Department, Michal Lohman, coaxed the officers to lie about the happenings of the shooting and to place weapons near the scene.

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It wasn’t until 2007 that the officers that were involved were arrested and charged. Three officers were charged with killing James Barset. Officer Robert Faulcon was charged with first degree murder for the death of Ronald Madison. Seven officers in total were charged with attempted murder of the four victims. However, the charges were dropped in