Former police officer David Warren sentenced to 25 years in Henry Glover shooting

Published: Thursday, March 31, 2011, 9:16 AM     Updated: Thursday, March 31, 2011, 9:41 AM

Former police officer David Warren was sentenced to more than 25 years in prison this morning for the shooting of 31-year-old Henry Glover in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

 

 

Evidence from the Federal Courthouse in New Orleans presented in the Henry Glover Trial - autopsy photo of charred remains found in back of car found on levee

The sentence of 309 months in prison was imposed by U.S. District Judge Lance Africk.
Africk told Warren that his use of deadly force against Glover was unnecessary and that he did not believe Glover charged at him in a menacing way, as Warren claimed on the witness stand.
"You killed a man ... Henry Glover was gunned down because you believed he was a looter," Africk said. He aded that every day Warren has lived since September 2005 is one more day than Glover had.
Africk said Warren's conduct was in contrast to that of most NOPD officers, who helped people and saved lives in the aftermath of the storm. Actions like Warren's, he said, erode confidence in law enforcement.

Former N.O. police officer David Warren

Africk said a harsh sentence was necessary to deter other officers from such conduct.
In December, Warren was convicted of violating Glover's civil rights by shooting him, as well as using a gun in a crime of violence. A rookie police officer at the time of the storm, Warren had been guarding a police substation in Algiers on Sept. 2, 2005.
Warren shot Glover as he approached the substation, which was located on the second floor of a strip mall. Glover and a friend had gone to the mall to retrieve some items looted by friends.
Before issuing the sentence, Africk said that he had "given tremendous thought to this case. I can promise you, not everyone will agree with the sentence I impose," he added.
He promised, however, that the sentence would be fair.
Several friends of Warren asked the judge for leinency. "David is a man of God... a devout Christian," one said.
"He is not an evil man. He is not a racist," said another.
The Glover family, visibly devastated, then approached the podium and asked Africk to issue the maximum sentence allowed by law.
"I forgive these men," said Rebecca Glover, the victim's aunt, while holding a picture of her nephew. "If I don't, Jesus won't forgive me."