Investigation Finds More Than 400 Unarmed Drivers Or Passengers Killed At Traffic Stops In The Last Five Years

According to an investigation by the New York Times, police across the country have killed more than 400 unarmed drivers or passengers in the past five years. The victims were also not identified to be wielding a deadly weapon, such as a gun or knife. Typically these people were pulled over for common infractions like a broken tail light or speeding, and were not being pursued for a violent crime. Black people were overrepresented in the number of causalities, relative to the population. 

Meanwhile, only five officers have been convicted of crimes in those killings, according to a review of publicly reported cases. The investigation went on to find that at least $125 million dollars have been spent by local governments across the country to resolve legal claims in about 40 cases, with dozens more ongoing. 

So how could so many situations where people are being pulled over for something that could be so minor come to such a violent end?

We discussed the findings of this investigation with David Kirkpatrick, an investigative reporter with the New York Times.