James Millard Whitehead

Deadly force

Whitehead, a Marine combat veteran diagnosed with PTSD, yelled at the manager of an auto parts store. Off-duty Captain Robert Arnold, accompanied by his daughter, told Whitehead to calm down. Whitehead used racial epithets against Captain Arnold, who was black. Captain Arnold left his daughter with a store employee, retrieved handcuffs from his truck and confronted Whitehead. Whitehead became combative and dared Captain Arnold to arrest him. Captain Arnold drew a handgun from his pocket and pointed it at Whitehead, who may have reached for it. Captain Arnold shot Whitehead once, fatally, in the chest.