this post was submitted on 01 Mar 2025
386 points (100.0% liked)

News

28602 readers
6201 users here now

Welcome to the News community!

Rules:

1. Be civil


Attack the argument, not the person. No racism/sexism/bigotry. Good faith argumentation only. This includes accusing another user of being a bot or paid actor. Trolling is uncivil and is grounds for removal and/or a community ban. Do not respond to rule-breaking content; report it and move on.


2. All posts should contain a source (url) that is as reliable and unbiased as possible and must only contain one link.


Obvious right or left wing sources will be removed at the mods discretion. Supporting links can be added in comments or posted seperately but not to the post body.


3. No bots, spam or self-promotion.


Only approved bots, which follow the guidelines for bots set by the instance, are allowed.


4. Post titles should be the same as the article used as source.


Posts which titles don’t match the source won’t be removed, but the autoMod will notify you, and if your title misrepresents the original article, the post will be deleted. If the site changed their headline, the bot might still contact you, just ignore it, we won’t delete your post.


5. Only recent news is allowed.


Posts must be news from the most recent 30 days.


6. All posts must be news articles.


No opinion pieces, Listicles, editorials or celebrity gossip is allowed. All posts will be judged on a case-by-case basis.


7. No duplicate posts.


If a source you used was already posted by someone else, the autoMod will leave a message. Please remove your post if the autoMod is correct. If the post that matches your post is very old, we refer you to rule 5.


8. Misinformation is prohibited.


Misinformation / propaganda is strictly prohibited. Any comment or post containing or linking to misinformation will be removed. If you feel that your post has been removed in error, credible sources must be provided.


9. No link shorteners.


The auto mod will contact you if a link shortener is detected, please delete your post if they are right.


10. Don't copy entire article in your post body


For copyright reasons, you are not allowed to copy an entire article into your post body. This is an instance wide rule, that is strictly enforced in this community.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Summary

Matthew Huttle, a 42-year-old pardoned January 6 rioter, was fatally shot by an Indiana deputy during a traffic stop 6 days after Trump granted clemency to over 1,500 Capitol attackers.

Huttle, previously sentenced to six months in prison, was pulled over for driving 70mph (113km/h) in a 55mph zone and faced arrest as a habitual traffic offender.

According to newly released body camera footage, Huttle said "I'm shooting myself" before reaching for a loaded gun in his car, prompting the deputy to fire.

Prosecutors ruled the shooting "legally justified." His death adds to mounting legal issues among pardoned rioters.

top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [email protected] 108 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Instant Win American Bingo Card:

B. Loaded handgun in the car. I. Total disregard for road safety. N. Convicted criminal pardoned by convicted criminal president. G. Mental health crisis resolved by cop shooting. O. Legally justified homicide.

We're doing great. Good job all around, no notes.

[–] [email protected] 37 points 1 month ago (3 children)

The cop prevented the driver from committing suicide.

[–] [email protected] 33 points 1 month ago

Hero.

For reals though, ain't no way I'm letting a clearly deranged j6er grab a gun near me no matter what he says. Definitely a clean shoot (as evidenced by the fact they immediately released the bodycam footage).

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago

Only so he could go to heaven

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 month ago

Ftfy

Instant Win American Bingo Card:

B. Loaded handgun in the car.

I. Total disregard for road safety.

N. Convicted criminal pardoned by convicted criminal president.

G. Mental health crisis resolved by cop shooting.

O. Legally justified homicide.

We're doing great. Good job all around, no notes.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] [email protected] 77 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I'm starting to think those rioters had some issues.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 month ago

Maybe not the best decision making skills

[–] [email protected] 64 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

Police Activity posted the bodycam footage.

https://youtu.be/zf6BgUd86I4

It’s under 7 minutes and when the shooting happens it’s blurred out. It’s relatively tame from a gore point of view, but it’s still a video of someone being shot so watch with care.

Here’s my synopsis of the footage for people that don’t want to watch it themselves, you can skip the preamble if you just want to understand the shooting. In my opinion the officer acts reasonable, friendly, and professional throughout.

Preamble

  • Officer pulls the guy over for going 70 in a 55
  • Guy offers up unprompted that he’s a J6 defendant that was recently pardoned
  • Officer doesn’t seem to care one way or the other asks for license
  • Guy says he’s coming from church and his mother’s grave. He doesn’t have a license and has been trying to get a hardship license, produces an expired license
  • Officer asks how often he’s been caught driving suspended
  • Guy says “in my life”
  • Officer clarifies “recently”
  • Guy indicates not much
  • Officer goes back to his patrol car to run the guys information.

Shooting

  • Officer asks the guy out of the vehicle, they go to the rear of his vehicle
  • Officer explains that he’s reached habitual traffic offender status because of driving suspended.
  • Guy begs for leniency
  • Officer explains its now reached the point of being a felony and he has no choice but to arrest him.
  • Guy says he’s not going back to jail
  • Guy runs away from the rear of the vehicle and jumps back into the drivers seat
  • Officer gives foot chase back to drivers door, he provides verbal commands to stop
  • Before the officer can reach the guy, he says “I’m shooting myself” and reaches for something in the passenger seat.
  • Officer says “no no no” and fires three shots at the guy.

This is shown from his bodycam and also from his dashcam.

A felon retreated into a vehicle, stating he wouldn’t go back to jail, produced a firearm, and threatened violence. Was the guy lying about shooting himself, was his plan to fire the firearm at himself or the officer? Based on my view of the video, the officer acted within his lawful authority, was polite and professional, and only used force consistent with what the situation required. But I’d encourage you to watch the evidence and make up your own mind.

There are a ton of bad cops and awful shootings. I don’t like J6 but I don’t see this as justified because the guy is an asshole, but justified because of his actions at this traffic stop.

[–] [email protected] 29 points 1 month ago (9 children)

Honestly feel really bad for the guy. He goes to end his own life and gets murdered for it. He was right at the edge of what he could handle and the traffic stop and arrest was enough to put him over the edge.

Whether this sounds crazy or not, I possess the empathy enough to understand exactly how this person felt in his last moments.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Yea I feel bad for him too, you can tell when the officer tells him he has no choice to arrest him that he’s realizing how badly he just messed up.

In his mind he was about to lose his pardon and go back into the prison system.

But to me that also makes me think the officer is justified in his use of force. People that think everything is ruined are unpredictable and he was reaching for violence. While he was saying he was going to turn that violence on himself, there’s no particular reason to trust what he’s saying. I think there’s a very real possibility he gets the gun saying “I’m shooting myself” but then once he has it maybe shooting the cop sounds a bit better.

If I’m the officer I’m not rolling the dice to see if he points the gun at his head or mine.

And as much as I can empathize with the feeling of fear and loss in that moment, ultimately he made a bunch of choices that led to that. He did whatever he did to get his license suspended, he drove on a suspended license, and even in this instance he broke the speed limit knowing that the results of even a minor infraction could lead to the loss of his freedom.

At some point he has to be responsible for the consequences of his actions.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 month ago

The fact he brought up his pardon umprompted as if he thought it would be his get out of jail free card makes it hard for me to feel empathetic. Especially since there's a real possibility some cops have let him off scott-free in the past just because of his involvement in J6.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 month ago

I implore you to study the paradox of tolerance.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago

Honestly feel really bad for the guy

You shouldn't, they were a Nazi traitor to our country

He goes to end his own life and gets murdered for it

If he was actually gonna off himself then this is also a good thing: cop gets karma points for taking out a Nazi rather than the Nazi themselves

He was right at the edge of what he could handle

....because he was a traitorous Nazi, important context

arrest was enough to put him over the edge

Maybe if you're nervous about the law you shouldn't do 50% over the speed limit while also being a known regular bad driver

possess the empathy enough to understand exactly how this person felt in his last moments

As do many of us, we just don't feel it was nearly bad enough for him compared to what he deserved

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago

Suicide by cop is definitely a thing.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago

I've been on the edge before, called the police on myself and it caught me interesting that my movement he did reach for a weapon when I went to hand over the knife, so I should feel empathy. I feel empathy for the officer who was in a damned if you do damned if you don't situation, but...

I don't know. I'm out. This is a person who 1: Willingly joined in a coup to attempt to overthrow an election to 3: AFTER getting pardoned, get pulled over with a suspended license enough times for it to be a felony (I don't know about y'all, but it's kinda rare for me to get pulled over. And the times I have... I'll 100% admit I was way over, generally because I've missed the speed sign) 4: His FIRST interaction with an officer is how he was a Jan 6 pardon like it's a get out of jail free card. This shows he has zero actual fucking remorse for what he did and instead hoping the cop is on his side. 5: Go to his car and reach for a gun.

This is a man who has shown an actual pattern of not caring about anyone's safety but himself. His upset moment is when he's affected, but anyone else, damn them.

It's why I can't blame the cop in this one. This was a man in an unpredictable scenario who has shown these very things in decisions. Man could have easily said "I'm shooting myself" and instead shoot the cop. In EMS I've worked alongside too many cops, and I've talked to some who's had to shoot, most of them it bothers them. It should, honestly I'd question the ones that take a life and aren't haunted by it. This cop just dealt with a man reaching for a gun and the last thing he heard from the man is telling him he'd end his own life and the cop did it for him. So I can't help but to think that this is a Jan 6er who's managed to fuck up yet another life.

load more comments (3 replies)
[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 month ago
Officer says “no no no” and fires three shots at the guy.

I say the same thing when I see some asshole about to steal my kill in Call of Duty

[–] [email protected] 43 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Police officer: “And I took that personally.”

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 month ago

"Paid leave and I get to kill someone!"

[–] [email protected] 40 points 1 month ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 month ago (1 children)
load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (1 replies)
[–] [email protected] 40 points 1 month ago (1 children)

He’d still be alive if trump hadn’t pardoned him.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Then I suppose the pardon did some good for the world. Shame it did more bad though.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] [email protected] 38 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

Suicide is a crime. The cop successfully stopped a crime. /s

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Right, because that guy couldn’t have been lying about his intent as he reached for a weapon.

load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (1 replies)
[–] [email protected] 37 points 1 month ago

Lol the cop is like say less ill do it for free

[–] [email protected] 31 points 1 month ago

Every one of those fucking traitors should shoot themselves.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 1 month ago

"K. Bye." - Everyone who's not traitor scum.

[–] [email protected] 24 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I think it's important to point out that this is not justifiable because he was a jan 6 rioter, but because he was reaching for a gun.

It's a small distinction, but an important one, as justifications can easily stretch to encompass things they shouldn't. If it's ok for an officer to kill someone at a traffic stop solely because they were at the riot, then it won't be long before it's justification for killing someone at a protest, or just for speaking out.

So good riddance to bad rubbish in this case, but be wary of dismissing a police officer killing someone just because we don't like them.

[–] borf 10 points 1 month ago
[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

It's not OK for a cop to shoot him because he was at a riot. It's OK for a cop to shoot him because he's a traitor that tried to steal democracy away from the nation. He was an enemy of the state and the people.

The only good nazi is a dead nazi, and I hope his fate befalls every single one of those traitors.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 month ago

He was almost certainly lying. He was going to try to shoot and run. He demonstrated repeatedly that he didn’t care about the well being of anyone except himself.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 month ago

Rest in Piss, Bozo. Shouldn't have been a dipshit Nazi.

Lemme know where he's buried so I can use it as a public toilet.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Looks like the trash is taking itself out these days!

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 month ago (1 children)

More wasteful government spending. Guy said he was gonna shoot himself, why waste ~40 cents?

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 month ago (1 children)

The police officer even sprinted after him and tried to wrestle him down so he can’t get the gun. Kinda feel bad for the police officer. Which doesn’t happen often.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Most American headline ever.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 month ago

No big loss there.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 month ago

I don't think I will be mourning the death of any jan6 insurrectionist.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago
[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago

I felt bad for his dog in the back seat of the van when he got shot.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago
[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago (6 children)

It is astonishing to see the amount of cheering on of a cop shooting someone who just announced they were going to kill themselves.

In any other circumstance, you'd all be up in arms over this. I am ashamed to be a part of this community sometimes. There are zero circumstances where a police officer should shoot someone dead unless their life is literally at risk.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Uh the officer's life was at risk.

Are you implying the cop should have let the guy grab his gun?

Guy was a J6 rioter. By definition, stupid and crazy. Prone to making bad decisions, including a vocal declaration of suicidal intent to a police officer. What stops the guy from putting the gun to his head, then thinking "hey wait, I'm on Team Trump! Surely he'll pardon me for this too!" And then shooting the cop instead?

Should the cop have run away? Now you've got a J6 rioter with a gun in a stolen police cruiser.

Please run us through the scenario in which it's a good idea to let the mentally unstable rioter grab his gun.

And I'm not cheering the cop, either. I'm betting the cop is a fellow Republican, because...cop... but also because he foolishly trusted the J6 rioter to act reasonably and rationally. When the information presented by his computer stated this individual has a rap sheet and this situation was going to become an arrest, cop could have properly and immediately performed the arrest by standing between guy and car door then cuffing guy, thus not allowing guy the opportunity to make another stupid decision.

Cop treated this 70 in a 55 like it was a normal boring 70 in a 55 by a normal boring citizen, and this is what happened.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago (2 children)

The "othering" of opponents is how human deal with conflict and prepare themselves for violence since time immemorial.

Dehumanization is a really slippery second step. Fascists aren't the only people that find themselves doing it.

This isn't meant as an excuse, just an explanation. IMO, this fatal shooting is not an act to be celebrated.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago

Yeah, I really dislike how easy it is to dehumanized people. Regardless of this guys shitty politics, or what he did in the past, he didn't deserve to be shot dead during a traffic stop.

load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (4 replies)
[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago

I did not find the footage disturbing. Good riddance. to the neo-Nazi POS.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago

Any idea who's the younger traitor pardoned by Trump? Trying to estimate the maximum year for "pardoned rioter" news title.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago

Mission failed successfully?

load more comments
view more: next ›