Christopher Eric Cooper
Name: Christopher Eric Cooper
Age: 17
Gender: Male
Race: European-American/White
Date: 11/08/2007
Location: Noland Road and Osage Avenue
Independence, Missouri, 64055
County: Jackson
Agency: Independence Police Department
Cause of Death: Vehicle
Intended Use of Force: Vehic/Purs
Media summary: Christopher Cooper was struck by a car being chased by police at about 80 mph while crossing the street on his bicycle. At around 9 p.m., officers were pursuing a Ford Crown Victoria that had fled the scene of a minor accident. After hitting Cooper, the fleeing car kept driving. The driver and passenger were eventually caught. As Cooper lay bleeding, police reportedly laughed around him with dash cam video capturing one officer saying, "They're like roaches, man. They don't die." Cooper died an hour later at a hospital. His parents sued and reportedly settled for $275,000. The driver of the Crown Victoria, Wilfredo Pujols, 24, pleaded guilty in December 2008 to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Also in the car was Wilfrido "Wil" Pujols, 20.
Unique ID: 6658
News article: Link
View Larger Map
