Stanley Bates

How they died

Deadly force

Bates' mother was awarded a verdict of $7 million for her son's death. He was high on drugs and holding a knife when she called the police so he could sober up in jail. An officer shot him to death as he said Bates came at him with the knife, but investigators found that Bates was 35-40 feet away from the officer, who shot him three times including once in the back. The officer resigned and is reported never to have paid the verdict to Bates' mother.

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Stanley Bates, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources