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NM Officers to Face Murder Trial for Fatal Shooting of Homeless Man

HeadlineAug 19, 2015

In New Mexico, a judge has ruled two Albuquerque police officers must stand trial on murder charges for the fatal shooting of a homeless man last year. James Boyd had been confronted by police for sleeping in an unauthorized campsite. Police say he was armed with knives, but video from a police helmet camera shows Boyd apparently agreeing to surrender and turning away to pick up his belongings before officers fire a flashbang grenade, release a dog on him and open fire. The incident sparked protests citing the involvement of Albuquerque police in more than 40 shootings since 2010. Dominique Perez and Keith Sandy are the first Albuquerque police officers to face trial for murder charges, despite a Justice Department probe which found most fatal shootings by Albuquerque police were unconstitutional.

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