A year ago in Aurora, Colorado, a 37-year-old black man named Rajon Belt-Stubblefield was driving drunk in his Jeep, with a blood-alcohol-content more than three times the legal limit. When an officer attempted to pull him over, Stubblefield drove away at a high rate of speed and eventually rear-ended a car, before flying over the median into oncoming traffic and hitting another car. At that point, Stubblefield exited his jeep with a handgun, which he immediately threw towards the grass nearby. Then, as the officer attempted to arrest Stubblefield, he fell to the pavement.
After regaining his balance, the officer drew his weapon and ordered Stubblefield to the ground. Instead of complying, Stubblefield squared up to fight. Stubblefield also walked towards the officer in a threatening manner, backing him up into traffic. While doing so, Stubblefield told his son (who was nearby) to retrieve the firearm from the grass. He also repeatedly taunted the officer, saying “You ready for this?” — another pretty unmistakable signal that he was about to attack. Finally, as Stubblefield rushed to close the distance with the officer, the officer responded by shooting him. Stubblefield was hit three times and died immediately.
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