Tabloid Backs Off Threat to Publish Cops' Addresses After Shooting

It came after a black man was killed in San Antonio
By Luke Roney,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 8, 2016 7:50 AM CST
Tabloid Backs Off Threat to Publish Cops' Addresses After Shooting
San Antonio Police Chief William McManus, center, says one of his officers feared for his life when he shot an unarmed man.   (AP Photo/Christopher Sherman)

Police in San Antonio, Texas, say that an officer shot and killed Antronie Scott last week after he mistook the 36-year-old black man's cellphone for a gun, the San Antonio Express-News reports. Now the case is generating national headlines after the editor of a local tabloid raised the idea of publishing the names and addresses of every city cop, reports KENS5. "Just as the names and addresses of sex offenders are publicized in order to protect the public from their wicked behavior, we feel that our community has the right to the exact same level of protection," said San Antonio Observer editor-in-chief Stephanie Zarriello on Saturday. She also likened officers to KKK members. The following day, after her office was swamped with angry phone calls and even death threats, Zarriello said the publication wouldn't actually publish the information, reports News4SA.

The purpose of the threat was to "make an officer think twice before shooting so fast and killing an unarmed person," she added. A police department spokesman wouldn't comment on the Observer's threat, but did say the shooting was under investigation. Police Chief William McManus tells CBS News that officers were following Scott, who was wanted on felony drug and weapons warrants. Officer John Lee approached Scott as he was walking away from his car. Lee told Scott to raise his hands. Scott spun around, and Lee, fearing for his life, fatally shot him in the chest, says the chief. Lee is on paid administrative leave. (More San Antonio stories.)

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