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Oscar Grant III was fatally shot by BART Police officer
Responding to reports of a fight on a late-night BART train, five transit police officers stop two trains at the Fruitvale station shortly after 2 a.m. As hundreds of passengers look on, Officer Johannes Mesherle draws his gun and shoots Oscar Grant III, of Hayward, in the back. -
Surveillance Video.
A video that captured part of the shooting, recorded on a BART passenger's cellphone, is shown on television and posted online. Within days, the video racks up millions of views. -
Protesters for Oscar
Mehserle skips a meeting with internal BART investigators and quits his job. Later, several hundred people join a rally to protest the shooting, forcing BART to temporarily shut down service at the Fruitvale station. Several protesters become violent. In the brief riot that ensues, dozens of windows are smashed and cars are set on fire. More than 100 protesters are arrested. -
Report is Concluded
BART concludes its investigation into the shooting and submits its findings to Alameda County District Attorney Tom Orloff. The report does not comment on whether Mehserle should be charged with a crime. -
Threats against Mehserle
Orloff issues a warrant that charges Mehserle with murder. Mehserle turns himself in to authorities in Nevada, where he has been staying in the wake of several death threats. -
Bail
Mehserle pleads not guilty to the murder charge.
A judge sets Mehserle's bail at $3 million. Police quell a protest outside the hearing. Michael Rains, Mehserle's attorney, says the now-former officer meant to use his Taser rather than his gun. -
The End
Mehserle receives a two-year prison sentence from a Los Angeles County judge who refuses to send the former officer to prison. Instead, Mehserle is sent to Los Angeles County Men's Jail and told he would be released in about 11 months, with credits for time served. Protests break out in Oakland again, but this time police control the crowd.
