The New Orleans police department has suspended an officer under who is currently under investigation for a fatal police-involved shooting for posting that Trayvon Martin "acted like a thug" and deserved to "die like one" in a comment on a news website.
The comment appeared on Sunday night beneath a news article about a rally for Martin. When another commenter called the posting Griroir's comment racist, Giroir replied that "Eddie come on down to our town with a 'Hoodie' and you can join Martin in HELL and talk about your racist stories!:-P," according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
The wife of the officer posted a similar comment on the site.
Ronal Serpas, the police superintendent, announced the suspension at a news conference this afternoon. "To say that I'm angry is an understatement," Serpas said. "I'm furious," said Serpas, who said the posts "embarrassed this department."
Martin, 17, was shot ad killed in late February by a neighborhood watch member who reported to police that the teenager looked suspicious. His shooter has not been arrested or charged, which has prompted rallies and protests around the country calling for an investigation and prosecution.
In early March, Giroir, the New Orleans officer, pulled over a driver for breaking traffic rules, according to a local television station. The routine stop escalated into a gunfight after other offiicers arrived. One suspect was killed in the shooting, and three people, including two police officers, were wounded. Giroir did not fire his weapon in the incident, but after the shooting, a bullet was found lodged in the Taser he was carrying.