1. SAGE Lecture Spark
February 19, 2019

2. Aspiring Rapper Willie McCoy Fatally Shot by California Police
On February 9th, 2019, Willie McCoy, a twenty-year old aspiring rapper, was fatally shot while sleeping in his car in the parking lot of a Northern California Taco Bell.
According to reports, the altercation began as a welfare check after witnesses had seen a man slumped over in a car.
The police department claims that Willie tried to grab his handgun after waking, which led to the use of deadly force.
The Vallejo Police Department has placed the six police officers involved in the shooting on administrative leave pending the results of the investigation.
Were the actions of the police officers involved in the shooting justified?
Here are a couple of sources regarding the shooting of Willie McCoy:
California rapper shot dead by police at Taco-bell drive-thru
By: Jason Murdock
Newsweek
02/11/2019
An Aspiring Rapper Who Was Asleep Inside His Car Was Shot and Killed By California Police
By: Salvador Hernandez
Buzzfeed News
02/13/2019

3. Key Concepts
Willie’s shooting and the previous incidents involving the Vallejo Police Department highlight a series of issues in policing, such as:
Racial profiling
Police brutality
Excessive use of force
What can the public and law enforcement agencies do to prevent incidents such as these from taking place?
The following sources provide information regarding the incident:
6 California Officers Fatally Shoot Rapper at Taco Bell Drive-Thru
By: Sara Boboltz
Huffpost
02/13/2019
Family says aspiring rapper shot to death by Bay Area cops was sleeping
By: Alejandra Reyes-Velarde
Los Angeles Time
02/11/2019
Six California officers fire shots at rapper who had been asleep in car, killing him
By: Sam Levin
The Guardian

4. Assessment
Writing: What has contributed to the distrust of law enforcement officials across the country?
Debate: Willie McCoy was racially profiled.
Poll: Do you believe that the police officers involved in the shooting of Willie McCoy were justified in using deadly force?
Short Answer: What constitutes excessive use of force?
Current Events Quiz
1. According to the Vallejo police department and witnesses, Willie McCoy was _____ shortly before he was confronted by police officers.
A. sleeping in his car
B. brandishing a firearm in front of bystanders
C. preparing to rob to the Taco Bell
D. on the phone while sitting in his car
2. According to the police department, Willie was in the possession of
A. narcotics.
B. open alcohol containers.
C. a handgun.
D. explosive materials.
3. The police officers involved in the shooting have been
A. fired.
B. placed on administrative leave.
C. cleared of any wrongdoing.
D. asked to resign from their positions.
4. The Willie McCoy shooting is not the first incident that has highlighted issues within the Vallejo Police Department. (T/F)
5. The investigation and autopsy report found that Willie was shot more than twenty times in the incident. (T/F)
6. Willie McCoy was awake when he was fatally shot. (T/F)
Answers
1) A
2) C
3) B
4) T
5) F
6) T