Death of David Carson

"The killing of a 14 year old boy is a tragedy under any circumstances" - Arthur L Johnson on the killing of David Carson

On May 13th, 1962 at 14-year old David Carson was shot and killed by Officers Edward Zupancic and Peter Hall of the Petoskey Precinct. Officers Zupancic and Hall came across Carson when "he ran a red light across at Euclid and Lawton." The officers began to chase Carson. Carson then ran five lights before he crashed into a guardrail on the Lodge Expressway service drive. After the vehicle crashed, Carson exited the vehicle and began to run. Officers Zupancic and Hall said they ordered Carson to halt and then fired multiple warning shots. As he continued to run with his back turned to the officers, he was shot with one bullet to the head. After being shot he was transfered to the Receiving Hospital in Detroit where he was pronounced dead. David Carson was 14 years old. 

When Officers Zupancic and Hall spotted Carson on the intersection of Lawson and Euclid, Carson had recently escaped the Wayne County General Hospital just four days ago on May 9th.  Carson was a patient at the Wayne County General Hospital due to mental health. But his potential mental state and health were not considered when Officer Zupancic fired the shot that killed Carson. By age 14 Carson allegedly had a record that included, "...two felonies, auto theft, and felonious driving...".  And also by the age of 14, David Carson was 174-180lbs and 5'10-5'11 1/2. Carson's body weight and height at the time of his death would become a point of scrutiny and eventually justification for his death.  Officers Zupancic and Hall would argue they had no idea Carson was a 14-year-old child due to his size and the identifying paperwork found in the car Carson crashed was owned by a man who was 24 years old. On Tuesday, May 22nd 1962 Wayne County Prosecutor Samuel Olsen ruled the killing of Carson justified. Olsen made his decision with the evidence of 14 witnesses for the Detroit Police Department who believed Officers Hall and Zupancic gave adequate warning and on Carson's weight and height. Commissioner George Edwards would go on to agree with Arthur Johnson that yes David Carson's death was a tragedy but he too believed his death was justified. 

"They did not and could have not known that this physically mature male was, in fact, also a mentally disturbed 14-year-old-boy who had escaped from a mental institution."- Commissioner George Edwards on the killing of David Carson 

While Edwards and Olsen may assert there was no way to know Carson was 14 years old, this does not answer for the Detroit Police Department's procedure that allows officers to shoot to kill under their own discretion. It also does not explain why after Officers Zapuncic and Hall fired warning shots at Carson's feet, then decided to fire one shot in the back of Carson's head. Neither Zapuncic or Hall reported feeling any danger nor were any weapons found on Carson's body.

Little was known or reported on David Carson's life before he became labeled a fugitive, a bad boy, and a tragedy. His address is listed as 1975 Tuxedo. Even though he is 14-years-old, no parents, siblings or relatives are mentioned surviving him. But what the Detroit Free Press makes sure to mention is before Carson's hospitalization at the Wayne County General Hospital he lived in the Wayne County Training School. The Wayne County Training School was a state funded institution for children with developmental disabilities. The Wayne County Training School was historically involved in eugenics programs. [I need A LOT more information on the Wayne County Training School]. 

"...[I]t should be noted that the tragedy of David Carson started long before May 13, 1962" - Commissioner George Edwards on the death of David Carson

David Carson was not a tragedy as Commissioner Edwards stated. He was a 14-year-old child with a developmental disability who was murdered by the police.  His death was avoidable.  The NAACP Detroit Branch President Arthur L Johnson wrote a telegram demanding an investigation into the death and an overhaul of police procedure.  Commissioner Edwards in good faith towards his alliance with organizations such as the NAACP agreed to open an investigation on Carson's death only to rule it as justified and to imply that Carson's death was inevitable.  Carson died at 14 not because he was a felonious criminal or because he looked like an adult, but because Officer Zancic shot him. 

Sources:

Detroit Free Press, May 26th, 1962