OCT 2025. Blues Vol 41 No.10

to Rajon’s head. This

to Rajon’s head. This use of forcehad zero effect and only enragedRajon who then responded bytaking a “boxing stance”. Rajonballed his fists and said to theofficer, “You ready for this. Youready for this. You ready for this”as he stalked the officer throughthe street.The officer continued to backaway from Rajon and steppedoff of the sidewalk and onto thestreet. When Rajon got withina few of the officer - the officerfired three shots - fatally woundingRajon.As the officer fired the shots -two other individuals were alsoconverging on the officer.THE LAW“A peace officer is justified inusing deadly force if the peaceofficer has an objectively reasonablebelief that a lesser degree offorce is inadequate and the peaceofficer has objectively reasonablegrounds to believe, and doesbelieve, that he or another personis in imminent danger of beingkilled or of receiving seriousbodily injury.”ANALYSIS - LAWFUL OBJECTIVERajon fled a traffic stop andcrashed. Therefore, the officer didhave a legal reason to arrest Rajon.There was a lawful objective.USE OF FORCEThe officer utilized a slow progressionof force in this case:• The officer began with verbalcommands - which were unsuccessful.• The officer then attempted togo “hands on” and was knockedto the ground by Rajon.• The officer then drew his Taser(show of force) while deliveringverbal commands and this wasunsuccessful.• The officer then drew his firearmarm (an additional show offorce) while issuing verbal commandsand this was unsuccessful.• The officer then again attemptedto go “hands on” by strikingRajon and this was unsuccessful.• The officer then utilized deadlyforce.ADDITIONAL FACTORS• The officer was alone with nobackup on scene.• There was another gun on theground in the area.• Rajon was trying to convinceat least two other people to pickup the gun.• The officer was backing awayfrom Rajon and was advancingtowards the officer.• Rajon took a “fighting stance”.• Rajon verbally threatened theofficer.• Rajon had already physicallyoverpowered the officer.CONCLUSIONThe use of deadly force wasobjectively reasonable based on atotality of the circumstances.1. The officer attempted multipleother tactics before resorting todeadly force. Verbal commands,show of force, and going “handson” were all attempted and unsuccessfulat gaining control ofRajon.2. Rajon was advancing towardsthe officer. Often, police officersare pursuing criminals that theyare trying to arrest. In this caseRajon was pursuing the officer.Rajon advanced towards the officer.The officer would have reasonablybelieved that a fight wasimminent.3. The other gun and other people.Not only was Rajon instructing(at least) two other peopleto take possession of the gunon the ground, but those peoplewere also approaching the officer.Perhaps, those individuals weretrying to help de-escalate andhad no intent to harm the officer.But, the officer would be foolishto assume that.Police officers are not trainednor expected to be the bestbare-knuckle boxers in the world.If a police officer loses a streetfight - the opponent now hascontrol over their firearm. This iswhy the concept of losing fightis viewed by police officers as adeath sentence. This is why policeofficer will use deadly force toprevent themselves from taking apunch to the head.In two other instances Rajonproved that he could physicallyoverpower this officer. Rajonknocked the officer to the groundand did not even flinch whenthe officer punched him in thehead. When Rajon took a fightingstance and asked the officer if hewas “ready” - a reasonable officerwould believe that a fight wascoming and that they were goingto lose.Therefore, the officer has noother choice but to utilize deadlyforce as Rajon did pose an imminentdeadly threat to the officer.FINAL THOUGHTSBen Crump has been retainedand will undoubtedly spew liesabout the officer and facts of this case.The most important thing thatwe all can do to combat the dishonestnarratives is by respondingwith facts. Share and spread honestarticles and body cam footageof this incident.*We hope that the facts of thiscase will be more important thanthe political environment that policeofficers in Aurora exist in.22 The BLUES OCTOBER ‘25

There really is no way to put intowords the devastation left behindby the floods in the Texas HillCounty. The loss of life, especiallythose lost from the camps alongwhat was the peaceful GuadalupeRiver, is just incomprehensible. Ifyou’re the sheriff or police chiefof the town in the center of thedisaster, you are obligated to holddaily press conferences. You sharewhat you know and when youknew it. That’s what Kerr CountySheriff Larry L. Leitha tried to do.But each time he stood in front ofthe cameras, the idiots from themainstream media, launched intotheir blame-game questions.Owning a police magazinemeans you must wear two hats,one of a First Responder andanother as a representative of themedia. While I am proud to be amember of the first, I am embarrassedto admit I have anythingto do with the latter. The outrightdisrespect I witnessed from themedia towards the officials in Kerrville,just trying to do their jobsin unimaginable circumstances,was unbelievable.Sheriff Leitha showed greatrestraint in dealing with theselowlife reporters. Most I assumewere not from Texas. His job washard enough without MondayMorning Quarterbacks criticizinghim for his every move. I wish mygood friend Sheriff Grady Juddfrom Florida could spend a daySPECIAL MEMORIAL ON PAGE 229The BLUES - OCTOBER ‘25 23