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A little while back, I posted a story on the eyewitness account of the death of Ronald Madison. Madison, a 40-year-old mentally handicapped man, was shot in the back by police officers on the Danziger Bridge in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The eyewitness in question says he saw Madison running with his hands in the air when he was shot in the back. All told, 6 people were shot by police on the bridge that day. In addition to Madison, James Brissette, was was killed by police near the base of the bridge.

According the Ronald’s brother, Lance Madison, the two of them were crossing the bridge on foot to go to another brother’s dental office when a group of teenagers began firing behind them. Lance Madison said, at that point, he and his brother began running. Then, Madison says, a group of seven police officers pulled up in a moving van and began firing at them. Then, officers pointed a rifle at this brother as the two were running up the bridge. Ronald Madison was shot 7 times, 5 of those times were in the back.

As a result of this incident, 7 officers were indicted yesterday. Four were charged with first-degree murder and attempted first degree murder. Two were charged with attempted first-degree murder and one was charged with attempted second-degree murder. For the four accused of first-degree murder, they could face the death penalty, if convicted.

List of charges

The officers and the charges they face:

Sgt. Kenneth Bowen: one count of first-degree murder of Brissette and seven counts of attempted first-degree murder of Leonard Bartholomew, Susan Bartholomew, Lesha Bartholomew, Jose Holmes Jr., Lance Madison and Ronald Madison.

Sgt. Robert Gisevius: one count of first-degree murder of Brissette and two counts of attempted first-degree murder of the Madisons.

Officer Anthony Villavaso: one count of first-degree murder of Brissette and four counts of attempted first-degree murder of the Bartholomews and Holmes.

Officer Robert Faulcon: two counts of first-degree murder of Brissette and Ronald Madison and attempted first-degree murder of the Bartholomews and Holmes.

Officer Robert Barrios: four counts of attempted first-degree murder of the Bartholomews and Holmes.

Officer Michael Hunter: two counts of attempted first-degree murder of the Madisons.

Officer Ignatius Hills: one count of attempted second-degree murder of Leonard Bartholomew IV.

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