Richard Ward, 32, was fatally shot on 22 February 2022 by Pueblo County deputy Charles McWhorter during an incident in Liberty Point International Middle School in Pueblo West, Colorado.[1]
Richard Ward was questioned by the police after being observed attempting to enter a car that was not his in the middle school's parking lot.[2] He was asked for his identification and if he had any weapons on his person. After admitting that he may be armed with a knife, he appeared to put something in his mouth. After being given multiple commands to exit the vehicle to which Ward failed to obey, McWhorter, one of two deputies at the scene, forcefully removed Ward out of the car and placed him on the ground. Ward appeared to continue to ignore commands given by the officers. As a result of the ensuing scuffle Officer McWhorter discharged his department issued firearm three times, striking Ward in the chest.[3]
After reviewing the results, District Attorney Jeff Chostner determined that the deputies' actions were “rational and justified” because they "believed their lives or the lives of others were in jeopardy".[3] On 17 February 2023, McWhorter was presented a Purple Heart award from the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office for injuries sustained during the incident. On 21 February 2023, Ward's family filed a federal lawsuit against McWhorter and his agency.[2]
According to the report by the district attorney Critical Incident Team (CIT), Richard Ward arrived with his mother Kristy Ward and her boyfriend Tommy Brown to the school, to pick up his brother from middle school. Richard went for a smoke in the lot and was seen trying to get into a vehicle that was not his. He was confronted by school staff and was told to leave the premises.[4] Tommy yelled at him to come back to the car.[4]
According to the report by the district attorney CIT, deputies were dispatched on a report that a "suspicious" individual was in the middle school's parking lot, trying to get into cars, became "aggressive" and was possibly "on something".[5][4] The deputies arrived at the scene shortly after that and approached the suspect sitting in the rear passenger seat of a white SUV. Richard identified himself and gave the deputies his version of events, saying that he had confused the vehicle for his mother's white SUV and apologized to the driver.[6]
The tone of the conversation shifted dramatically after Ward was asked for his identification and if he had any weapons on his person. After admitting to possibly being armed with a knife, Ward appeared to put a pill into his mouth, which was followed by McWhorter, one of two deputies at the scene, pulling Ward out of the car. A brief physical altercation ensued culminating with McWhorter discharging his service weapon three times, fatally wounding Ward.[3]
Body camera footage
The bodycam footage of the incident was released by the family's attorney. Ward can be seen in the footage sitting in the rear seat of a white SUV, telling officers that he had mistakenly tried to enter another vehicle.[2] The body camera footage shows Ward saying he was not comfortable around law enforcement officers since excessive force had previously been used against him.[6]
Ward is seen explaining to the officer what happened when he entered the wrong car. He emptied his pockets when Charles McWhorter, the Pueblo County sheriff deputy, demanded his identification. Ward also said he might have a pocketknife. Then he pulled a pill out of his pocket and placed it in his mouth, after which the tone of the conversation shifted dramatically.[6][1] "What did you just stick in your mouth?" McWhorter asked Ward. McWhorter then forcibly removes Ward from the car and takes him to the ground beside the passenger rear door of the suspects vehicle. Ward then responded, "it was a pill." McWhorter and another officer, Cassandra Gonzales, struggle with Ward on the ground as he continues to ignore commands and resist the officers attempt to handcuff him, after which three gunshots could be heard in the footage. Richard's mother is heard to ask "Is my son shot?" and was ordered to stay in her seat by the officers.[6] McWhorter and his partner confirmed with each other that the other was fine. McWhorter told Gonzales that Ward headbutted him in the nose and "tried to grab my stuff". Ward was later declared dead at the site.[6]
Aftermath
McWhorter, the deputy who fatally shot Richard Ward three times in the chest, subsequently stated that he thought Ward was reaching for his gun.[6] According to the report by the district attorney CIT, it was revealed that Richard possessed no weapon and autopsy found a prescription anti-anxiety pill in his pocket. In October 2022, Colorado's 10th Judicial District Attorney J.E. Chostner, eventually ruled that McWhorter's shooting of Ward was justified.[7]
Ward's mother, Kristy Ward Stamp, said the loss had "broken" her heart.[3] Ward's mother and the defense attorney for his family showed their disgust at how the Pueblo sheriff's office handled Richard Ward's killing.[8] "This was nothing short of state-sanctioned murder of a citizen who should not have been arrested, let alone killed in broad daylight," said the Ward family's attorney, Darold Killmer, in a statement according to the Washington Post.[6]
Award to the deputy
On 17 February 2023, Charles McWhorter was awarded a purple heart by the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office for sustaining injuries to his forehead, fingers, back, knee, and neck while attempting to subdue suspect Richard Ward. Ward was fatally wounded in the incident. The award came four days before Ward's family filed a federal wrongful death case. [6] The family attorney stated that Ward's family were not aware of the award when they filed the complaint. Killmer added that the award was "truly a brazen act which mocks the very purpose of a Purple Heart".[7]
Lawsuit
Ward's family opened "a federal civil rights lawsuit alleging improper use of force" on 21 February 2023.[2] The complaint also challenges the arrest of Ward's mother and her boyfriend, seizure of their property and their subsequent interrogation.[3]
^ ab"Family of unarmed man killed by Pueblo County deputies in crowded middle school parking lot file lawsuit against sheriff's office". www.cbsnews.com. from the original on 2023-02-26. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
^ abcd"Family sue after unarmed man was shot dead at school pickup". The Independent. 2023-02-22. from the original on 2023-02-24. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
^ abcdeHauck, Grace. "He was picking up his brother at school. Now his family is suing in a fatal police encounter". USA TODAY. from the original on 2023-02-26. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
^ abc"District attorney CIT decision letter" (PDF). (PDF) from the original on 2023-02-27. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
^"Pueblo deputy awarded Purple Heart for injuries suffered during shooting of Richard Ward". from the original on 2023-02-27. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
^ abcdefghVargas, Ramon Antonio (25 February 2023). "Colorado sheriff honors deputy after he killed man who mistakenly got in wrong car". The Guardian. from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
^ ab"After a deputy shot a man, the man's family sued but the deputy got an award". WGCU PBS & NPR for Southwest Florida. 2023-02-26. from the original on 2023-02-27. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
^"Family sues after Colo. deputy wrestled man out of car, fatally shot him". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. from the original on 2023-02-26. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
March 30, 2023
killing, richard, ward, richard, ward, fatally, shot, february, 2022, pueblo, county, deputy, charles, mcwhorter, during, incident, liberty, point, international, middle, school, pueblo, west, colorado, richard, ward, questioned, police, after, being, observed. Richard Ward 32 was fatally shot on 22 February 2022 by Pueblo County deputy Charles McWhorter during an incident in Liberty Point International Middle School in Pueblo West Colorado 1 Richard Ward was questioned by the police after being observed attempting to enter a car that was not his in the middle school s parking lot 2 He was asked for his identification and if he had any weapons on his person After admitting that he may be armed with a knife he appeared to put something in his mouth After being given multiple commands to exit the vehicle to which Ward failed to obey McWhorter one of two deputies at the scene forcefully removed Ward out of the car and placed him on the ground Ward appeared to continue to ignore commands given by the officers As a result of the ensuing scuffle Officer McWhorter discharged his department issued firearm three times striking Ward in the chest 3 After reviewing the results District Attorney Jeff Chostner determined that the deputies actions were rational and justified because they believed their lives or the lives of others were in jeopardy 3 On 17 February 2023 McWhorter was presented a Purple Heart award from the Pueblo County Sheriff s Office for injuries sustained during the incident On 21 February 2023 Ward s family filed a federal lawsuit against McWhorter and his agency 2 Contents 1 Killing 1 1 Body camera footage 2 Aftermath 2 1 Award to the deputy 2 2 Lawsuit 3 See also 4 ReferencesKilling EditAccording to the report by the district attorney Critical Incident Team CIT Richard Ward arrived with his mother Kristy Ward and her boyfriend Tommy Brown to the school to pick up his brother from middle school Richard went for a smoke in the lot and was seen trying to get into a vehicle that was not his He was confronted by school staff and was told to leave the premises 4 Tommy yelled at him to come back to the car 4 According to the report by the district attorney CIT deputies were dispatched on a report that a suspicious individual was in the middle school s parking lot trying to get into cars became aggressive and was possibly on something 5 4 The deputies arrived at the scene shortly after that and approached the suspect sitting in the rear passenger seat of a white SUV Richard identified himself and gave the deputies his version of events saying that he had confused the vehicle for his mother s white SUV and apologized to the driver 6 The tone of the conversation shifted dramatically after Ward was asked for his identification and if he had any weapons on his person After admitting to possibly being armed with a knife Ward appeared to put a pill into his mouth which was followed by McWhorter one of two deputies at the scene pulling Ward out of the car A brief physical altercation ensued culminating with McWhorter discharging his service weapon three times fatally wounding Ward 3 Body camera footage Edit The bodycam footage of the incident was released by the family s attorney Ward can be seen in the footage sitting in the rear seat of a white SUV telling officers that he had mistakenly tried to enter another vehicle 2 The body camera footage shows Ward saying he was not comfortable around law enforcement officers since excessive force had previously been used against him 6 Ward is seen explaining to the officer what happened when he entered the wrong car He emptied his pockets when Charles McWhorter the Pueblo County sheriff deputy demanded his identification Ward also said he might have a pocketknife Then he pulled a pill out of his pocket and placed it in his mouth after which the tone of the conversation shifted dramatically 6 1 What did you just stick in your mouth McWhorter asked Ward McWhorter then forcibly removes Ward from the car and takes him to the ground beside the passenger rear door of the suspects vehicle Ward then responded it was a pill McWhorter and another officer Cassandra Gonzales struggle with Ward on the ground as he continues to ignore commands and resist the officers attempt to handcuff him after which three gunshots could be heard in the footage Richard s mother is heard to ask Is my son shot and was ordered to stay in her seat by the officers 6 McWhorter and his partner confirmed with each other that the other was fine McWhorter told Gonzales that Ward headbutted him in the nose and tried to grab my stuff Ward was later declared dead at the site 6 Aftermath EditMcWhorter the deputy who fatally shot Richard Ward three times in the chest subsequently stated that he thought Ward was reaching for his gun 6 According to the report by the district attorney CIT it was revealed that Richard possessed no weapon and autopsy found a prescription anti anxiety pill in his pocket In October 2022 Colorado s 10th Judicial District Attorney J E Chostner eventually ruled that McWhorter s shooting of Ward was justified 7 Ward s mother Kristy Ward Stamp said the loss had broken her heart 3 Ward s mother and the defense attorney for his family showed their disgust at how the Pueblo sheriff s office handled Richard Ward s killing 8 This was nothing short of state sanctioned murder of a citizen who should not have been arrested let alone killed in broad daylight said the Ward family s attorney Darold Killmer in a statement according to the Washington Post 6 Award to the deputy Edit On 17 February 2023 Charles McWhorter was awarded a purple heart by the Pueblo County Sheriff s Office for sustaining injuries to his forehead fingers back knee and neck while attempting to subdue suspect Richard Ward Ward was fatally wounded in the incident The award came four days before Ward s family filed a federal wrongful death case 6 The family attorney stated that Ward s family were not aware of the award when they filed the complaint Killmer added that the award was truly a brazen act which mocks the very purpose of a Purple Heart 7 Lawsuit Edit Ward s family opened a federal civil rights lawsuit alleging improper use of force on 21 February 2023 2 The complaint also challenges the arrest of Ward s mother and her boyfriend seizure of their property and their subsequent interrogation 3 See also EditKilling of Tyre Nichols List of school shootings in the United States 2000 present References Edit a b Family of unarmed man killed by Pueblo County deputies in crowded middle school parking lot file lawsuit against sheriff s office www cbsnews com Archived from the original on 2023 02 26 Retrieved 2023 02 26 a b c d Family sue after unarmed man was shot dead at school pickup The Independent 2023 02 22 Archived from the original on 2023 02 24 Retrieved 2023 02 26 a b c d e Hauck Grace He was picking up his brother at school Now his family is suing in a fatal police encounter USA TODAY Archived from the original on 2023 02 26 Retrieved 2023 02 26 a b c District attorney CIT decision letter PDF Archived PDF from the original on 2023 02 27 Retrieved 2023 03 02 Pueblo deputy awarded Purple Heart for injuries suffered during shooting of Richard Ward Archived from the original on 2023 02 27 Retrieved 2023 03 02 a b c d e f g h Vargas Ramon Antonio 25 February 2023 Colorado sheriff honors deputy after he killed man who mistakenly got in wrong car The Guardian Archived from the original on 26 February 2023 Retrieved 26 February 2023 a b After a deputy shot a man the man s family sued but the deputy got an award WGCU PBS amp NPR for Southwest Florida 2023 02 26 Archived from the original on 2023 02 27 Retrieved 2023 02 27 Family sues after Colo deputy wrestled man out of car fatally shot him Washington Post ISSN 0190 8286 Archived from the original on 2023 02 26 Retrieved 2023 02 26 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Killing of Richard Ward amp oldid 1147329939, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
