As of Tuesday, at least 3,000 people have shared a Facebook photo of the 24-year-old Milwaukee patrolman who fatally shot 23-year-old Sylville Smith – some of them adding furious and threatening comments.
“Now y’all see his face if he’s seen anywhere in the city drop him,” read one post. Another called for a gun so the person could “shoot him right in his head.”
The posters gave the officer’s name, Dominique Heaggan, and some included his home address. The Journal Sentinel has independently confirmed his identity, which has not been released by the Police Department. He is also known as Dominique Heaggan-Brown.
The Journal Sentinel is naming the officer because his identity already is widely known and readily available.
Heaggan and Smith, both of whom are black, knew each other from the Sherman Park neighborhood, multiple relatives and friends have said.
I’m not sure whether to be angry or sad about this story. Maybe both. Here we have a tale of two men who grew up in the same neighborhood, went to the same schools, and had the same opportunities in life. One of them made the choice to be a thug criminal. The other man made the choice to honorably protect and serve his community. The first man’s choices led to his death. The second man’s choices led him to a life-altering decision..
And now that it’s over, they are holding candlelight vigils for the criminal and terrorizing the good cop. What the hell?
Disgusting.
Is BLM going to denounce this?
No officer, white, or black should have to put up with this kind of evil.